The return of the banks: “I carry a power within me that I have never felt before”

Over the years, love rivals have inspired almost as many great songs as love stories. Imagine if Dolly Parton never dated a certain redhead? Or if Sabrina Carpenter’s old flame hadn’t returned to his ex (minus half his wardrobe)? The world – or at least our Spotify playlists – would look completely different.

The latest entry in the genre comes courtesy of Banks, who has created something of a modern answer to the 1998 classic “The Boy is Mine” with its succinct title “I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend.” Rapper Doechii’s vocals on the track are the Monica to Brandy Banks, 90s landlines have been replaced by Saint Laurent and cigarettes, and the lyrics are at least 50% more scathing. (Compare “you’re still acting like a fool” with “someone help her little face”).

In addition to releasing her first new music in two years, the newly engaged Banks is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut album, Goddess. She spoke to British ahead of her intimate anniversary concert at Koko in London Fashion about her return, paying tribute to her past and the revival of Gothic.

Banks and Doechii in the music video for “I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend.”

Doechii is featured on your new single; tell me how the collaboration came about?

“I thought it would be really cool to do a new-era Brandy and Monica thing with a ‘The Boy is Mine’ vibe. I’m a huge fan of Doechii so I reached out and she responded in the sweetest voice saying that she had been listening to me from the beginning and that Goddess it really inspired her. It was cool. I feel like music comes from the same place in all of us. It was really natural. And when she sent me back her verse, I was like, wow!”

The subject of the song is a quite universal experience…

“Yeah. When we first wrote it in the studio, we were joking and I told this crazy story about something that happened to my ex’s ex… we were riffing, and then as a joke I said (imitates taking the mic and singing), ‘I hate your ex “Girls.” We thought… it’s actually fire like a hook! It’s not that deep – it’s just fun.”

And a very funny video. I read that you wanted them to include important fashion moments. Could you tell us about some of them?

“At first I’m wearing a Saint Laurent dress and then an old Gucci dress. I wanted it to look like a movie – really shiny.

Do you engage in that side of things? How important is fashion in your creative process?

“I am deeply, internally committed to everything I do because I cannot do anything that is not my style. My stylist, Harper Slate, is one of my closest friends – she’s amazing and has the best taste – and we had a great time doing fittings and creating mood boards. These characters were fun to create. The first one looks a bit like a mafia wife. In fact, the same blonde!

You’ve always had a very specific, darkly sexy aesthetic. We’ve been talking a lot about the Gothic revival lately, are you aware of it?

“I don’t notice the hypertrends that are happening, but if it’s true, then… it sounds great! This is my vibe. Romantic, feminine gothic – with a bit of chic.”