Published: August 29, 2009 12:26 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight August/September 2009 Edition
Tye Banks
Tye Banks
Raleigh, NC is the home of some of the best new talents in Southern Hip-Hop. Well, add another name to the growing impressive list of talents from this area. Tye Banks is crafting his own Southern Hip-Hop flavor that will surely have you wanting to hear more from this young and gifted artist. What makes this entertainer so refreshing is the originality of his music. He sings, raps, writes, and does just about everything else musically. With such a diverse array of different skills, Tye Banks is putting his heart and soul into his music; and it shows with tracks like "Good Times" and "I'm Still Cool". One of my favorite parts to the track "Good Times" is that the music comes out sounding smooth, sexy, and seductive; something that everyone can relate too.
Isaac: We'd love to know about your inspirations growing up. I hear so many influences in your music. How old were you when you first discovered music? Is there any kind of musical history in your family?
Tye Banks: Actually, much of my inspiration comes from Go-Go music. In the past, I would go to see a lot of Go-Go bands with my family and friends. I had to be around 8 or 9 at the time. But my grandfather on my father's side use to have his own Jazz band. I never met him but my other grandfather told me he was pretty good.
Isaac: What drew you to pick up a mic in the first place?
Tye Banks: Just to hear my voice on a song. The first time I heard my voice on a song I couldn't stop smiling. I and my homeboy did a song and we use to play that song 20 times a day! LOL You couldn't tell us anything after that (lol)!
Isaac: As you hit your teenage years, did you know that this was what you would be doing for the rest of your life?
Tye Banks: Oh yeah! When I was thirteen, a friend of the family asked me what I want to be when I grew up and I said the owner of a record label (so I could make my own music), a baseball player, a basketball player and a football player. I was going to do them all. LOL
Isaac: Is there a performer in any genre of pop culture that you would like to work with?
Tye Banks: That's a hard question because there are so many great performers and artists out there but I would love to work with Timbaland, Will.I.AM, Mannie Fresh, Ne-yo, and Jazzee Pha just to name a few, but the list goes on and on.
Isaac: Who are some musicians that you really like, present or past?
Tye Banks: It really depends on the day to be honest with you. Sometimes I listen to Lenny Kravitz, Rick James, Outkast, or Hall & Oates. And other days I'm listening to some indie rappers from Cali to the Carolinas. It really doesn't matter I just like to listen to a wide variety of artists, that's more important to me.
Isaac: What is your ultimate goal with your music career?
Tye Banks: I have to say my ultimate goal is to be able to live a financially stable life by doing what I love. That's definitely my goal - I've got to make that happen!
Isaac: What have been some of the obstacles it has taken to get this far in your career?
Tye Banks: Well Hip-Hop is a funny genre sometimes. People do things in Hip-Hop they would never get away with in other genres of music. Like instead of paying artists some promoters are charging artists to perform at shows, even open mics where there's no prize and the patrons get charged less than the artist just to come in! It's just too many hustlers in Hip-Hop and not enough business-minded people. But what can you do? You just have to learn from situations and keep moving forward.
Isaac: Would you recommend this "field" to others who are aspiring to be musicians like you?
Tye Banks: Actually, I would but I would also recommend to them to get a degree in business while pursuing their music career, because at the end of the day it's mostly about knowing the business aspects that will keep them in control of their career. The tricky part is turning something you love (music) into something profitable without losing your integrity. Also, I would tell them that they should really get to know who they're dealing with when dealing with other musicians, artists, producers, and so on. Some people view making music as a hobby, even though they don't want to admit it. If someone does music as a hobby, that's cool, they can do whatever they like. But if you want to make a career out of it and start moving forward like that, they may get mad at you and even try to sabotage you. That's B.S. If you work with people that take it seriously, then things will go a lot smoother.
Isaac: Describe one piece of advice you've been given by others in the music industry.
Tye Banks: 85% of doing things is just showing up!
-Latino Saint
There are basically two types of people in this world, those who do things and those who watch.
-Red Man
You'll never get a head just watching and you'll never do anything if you don't show up. Best two pieces of advice I could ever pass on.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider most of your music?
Tye Banks: It's Southern Hip-Hop but it can also be R&B and Pop at times too. But if I had to give it a title, it would be "sexy Southern Hip-Hop with substance." And it sounds like the "Lost Boys hanging out in Mayberry!"
Isaac: What has been your favorite piece of work?
Tye Banks: Right now, I have to say my newest album "Living A Dream". I really like how well-rounded it came out. I think I did a great job on the beat selection and rhyme styles. Plus, it has an inspirational, uplifting, party feel to it as well. I do have some serious moments on the album; but, I also have some comedic songs as well. It's balanced. I think y'all will like it.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Tye Banks: You can just visit my site http://www.TyeBanks.com. There you will find videos, song snippets, ringtones, photos, and links to my Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and YouTube pages. And when people sign up on the site they can hear whole songs and get a free song download just for joining. Plus, I do a cool blog on there that they can subscribe to where I talk about all kinds of stuff. The album is also available on ITunes and Amazon.
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Tye Banks: I-40 Films, Anne & Rudy Greene, Sci-Fi, Tin Men Productions, Back Focus Films, Zoning Media, Watkinz the General, Foutz Studios, Hylandah, my family and friends, and especially my fans - I couldn't do this without y'all support!
Isaac: Any last words?
Tye Banks: Never give up on your dreams! Life is too short to not take a chance on happiness!
