BANKS has always been an artist to bank on. Ever since the release of her debut studio album, Goddess—which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary—Jillian Banks has remained a singular force in music. With her haunting vocals, genre-blurring production, and deeply personal songwriting, she quickly carved out a space that was entirely her own. Her ability to blend electronic, R&B, and alternative influences into something darkly atmospheric yet emotionally raw set her apart from the beginning; a knack for gag-worthy visuals cemented her place as a cultural touchstone. But 10 years is a lot of time to be front and center, and BANKS has inevitably evolved, pushing artistic and personal boundaries along the way. Over those years, her music has resonated with fans worldwide, inspiring countless artists who have drawn from her unique sonic approach. With the forthcoming album out now, V spoke with the singer-songwriter about the euphoria of returning to oneself in the most sensual and instinctual ways.

V MAGAZINE: Your new album is called Off With Her Head. Where does the name come from?

BANKS: I love when something isn’t what it seems—when something feels dark or almost demented, but actually holds a really light meaning to me. Off With Her Head sounds intense, like it’s about death, but for me, it’s actually positive. It’s about letting go of the past, cutting off negative voices—just “off with their head.” It’s about being present, in your body, and experiencing joy. I don’t think you can create art, enjoy life, or truly experience anything if you’re not present—if you’re just stuck in your head, living in a fake world. So for me, Off With Her Head means cutting that off, getting into your body, and fully living.

V: I would never have thought that!

B: I think it’s really positive. When I was younger, my nanny, Patty, helped raise me. She’s like my second mom; she’s this incredible Colombian queen. She used to always say, “Cancel, cancel, cancel.” If you had a negative thought and couldn’t logically think your way out of it, you just had to cut it off. That was her thing. And for me, Off With Her Head is my “Cancel, cancel, cancel.”

V: So it’s very related to the art of meditation, in a way.

B: Exactly. Instead of thinking, “Oh, I’m bad at meditating,” it’s just, “Oh, I’m thinking again. Okay, let’s come back.” That’s what this album is—it’s about acceptance, joy, and presence. A song like “Move” is about taking not one step for granted. It’s about moving your body, being in it. And “Make It Up”—that song took forever to come together. I started it with [Silva] in 2013. We wrote the chorus and first verse, and then ten years later, we came back to it, and the chorus we had written a decade ago just fit perfectly: “Making up for lost time, making up with me. We didn’t quite make it last time, but this time, you and me.” It was almost like we knew back then what the song would eventually mean. Sometimes I feel like my music brain is a fortune teller—it’s way ahead of me.

V: You recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of your album Goddess. What could current BANKS teach that younger version of yourself?

B: Oh my god. I just want to pick up past Banks and mother her. The Goddess anniversary shows were magical. I was completely alone on stage—no band, no dancers, just me and a piano. And I realized I don’t need anything. I can hold people’s attention, energy, and love on my own.

V: Did you not feel that 10 years ago?

B: Not at all. And honestly, it took me a long time to function healthily in this industry. I wasn’t the type of kid who dreamed of being a famous star. Music was therapy for me. I loved it so much, and I wanted it to be my life, but I wasn’t prepared for visibility. I went from making music alone to suddenly everyone knowing who I was. It was hard. There was a lot of mental warfare involved in overcoming that.

V: And now you have die-hard fans. People have expectations for your music in a way they didn’t before. Does that pressure affect you?

BANKS: It’s two-sided. I’m grateful that people care about my music, but at the same time, you have to learn not to care at all. I don’t want to be who I was 10 years ago, even if some people want me to be. Like, when people found out I was engaged, I saw comments like, “Oh no, I hope he breaks up with her so she makes good music again.” That’s insane. People fear change, even in the artists they love, but art has to change.

V: If you could only use a few words, how would you describe this new album? 

BANKS: It’s about friendship, forgiveness, trust, fearlessness, and joy.

V: And pleasure. Even Off with Her Head is about releasing into pleasure.

BANKS: Totally. Sonically, too. Some songs feel celestial—like sparkles in a pitch-black sky. That’s the energy.

V: Speaking of art—you paint too. Would you ever connect painting to your music more?

BANKS: I’d love to. I don’t have as much confidence in my painting as I do in my music—yet.

V: What non-musical influences have been inspiring you lately?

BANKS: Fantasy books, surrealist art, and this artist, Guillermo Lorca García. His paintings are wild—animals and people in surrealist situations where you can’t tell if the animal is about to attack or if it’s a pet. That kind of duality is something I love exploring—like in “Delulu,” where delusion can feel confident and dreamy instead of tragic.

V: I love that. This album plays with good vs. evil in such a compelling way.

BANKS: Yes! It’s about embracing our sinful selves.

This story appears in the pages of V153: now available for purchase!

Photography Alvaro Beamud Cortés
Fashion Christian Stroble
Creative Director / Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan
Editor Kevin Ponce
Hair Davontae Washington (Opus) using Wella
Makeup Adam Burrell (Opus) using MAC Cosmetics
Manicure Ginger Lopez (Opus) using Après
1st Photo Assistant Simone Triacca
Lighting Technician Paul Gilmore
Digital Technician Dillon Padgette
Production Suze Lee
Retouching Camillo Bernardi Studio
Location Smashbox Studios
Styling Assistant Mia Nicolai
Production Assistant Makram Kettaneh