By Lucky Felder and Madeline Tanaka
On November 14th, actor and singer Asha Banks released her second EP “How Real Was It?” Having put out a second set of songs only eight months after her debut EP, many fans were pleasantly surprised at the new artist’s ability to write songs so quickly. Banks is known for her calming voice and acoustic melodies, paired with beautiful lyrics. Here are our ratings and thoughts of each track on the EP:
- Rerun
Lucky (7.5/10): This song is an amazing opening for the EP. I love the upbeat instrumental and background vocals, and the whole vibe feels very fall-esque. My only gripes are that the verses feel a bit empty and the song is quite repetitive. It includes one of my favorite aspects of Asha Banks’ music, which is that she starts the song off with soft vocals and lets it intensify. “Rerun” showcases the feeling of being uncertain in a relationship, yet always wanting to return to that person.
Madeline (9/10): This was Asha’s first single for this EP and I think she did a great job capturing the vibe of the album in a song. I really like that the song is more upbeat than others from her last EP. While others may say that the song is repetitive, I feel as though it effectively emphasizes the theme of the song. I really like this as her opening song.
- Half Built Bridge
Lucky (9/10): The guitar pattern that continues throughout this track is so beautiful and calming, I instantly fell in love with it on my first listen. Banks sings about doing all of the work to restore a friendship, and feeling like the other person isn’t taking responsibility for their actions, which is a sentiment I can relate to. This song is filled with so much passion and emotion, which makes it heartbreaking and yet still a wonderful listen. Definitely one of my favorites on the EP.
Madeline (10/10): The instrumentals on this song are actually magical. Banks’ vocals on this song are so raw and honest and I think that really adds to the message of the song. I also really like the melody and lyrics of the chorus as they feel very vulnerable and real. I love the buildup to the bridge as well as the bridge itself. The entirety of the song is very catchy and the meaning behind it is so significant.
- Done is Done
Lucky (7/10): I love how the lyrics on this track flow, and the more airy tone she uses during the verses. Once again, Asha Banks created a strong, emotional chorus, which she expresses through her vocals and lyricism. I especially like the line “I wish we’d have walked so we didn’t run out of air, out of life, out of everyone.” In this song, she reflects on a relationship that felt all-consuming when it was happening, and how she’s having trouble getting over it even after they agreed “what’s done is done.” I will say a few of the lyrics get pretty repetitive, which I’m not a big fan of.
Madeline (8/10): I really enjoy the guitar instrumentals that are heard throughout the EP. While I really like her voice in this song, the melody is what really catches my attention. I love that it’s not a melody heard everywhere in the modern music industry. The pre-chorus is amazing as it catches the listeners attention, which I feel like I haven’t heard as much in the artists I typically listen to. I think this song really showcases her singing and songwriting abilities that weren’t really heard in the last EP.
- Saltwound
Lucky (8/10): This track may not be my favorite to listen to, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it has some of her best lyrics! After a few listens, it’s definitely grown on me, and I love how strong the second chorus and the bridge are. It’s one of the more sad songs in the tracklist, telling the story of a relationship that feels like an open wound because of the way it ended so abruptly, with no clear cause. I think this song really showcases Asha Banks’ talents and just how amazing of an artist she is so early into her career!
Madeline (7/10): Banks did this in her last EP as well, but in this song, I really like the intro instrumentals that then cut off into her singing. I don’t know if I’d purposely click on this song to listen to, but I think this song, lyrically, is one of her best. The bridges in her songs always hit so hard and this song was no exception. I think this song is what really shows me that her career is just starting and, while it might take time, her singing and songwriting will be recognized for what it is.
- Every Way You Look At Me I Honestly Die
Lucky (9/10): Oh my gosh, this song is so so cute. The acoustic instrumental makes me want to sway, and I love the simplicity of it. It describes an innocent relationship and has a slow melody, making for a really sweet song.
Madeline (7/10): With the longest title on the EP, I was a bit skeptical about its “listenability” during my first listen, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this song is much more. Even though it isn’t ranked as high on my favorites list, the song is very catchy and I honestly kind of love the yearning aspect of it.
- Delay
Lucky (6.5/10): This song has a pretty instrumental and some harmonies that I really like, but it’s a little bit slow for my taste. I’m also not a big fan of how she repeats the same note in the verses, because it sounds like she’s talking. However, I love the chorus. In this track she talks about wanting to keep something the same, despite the fact that she knows it has to change. Not my favorite, but I would definitely give it a listen on a rainy day or late at night.
Madeline (8/10): I think this song is more wintery, so right now it’s not one that I would put on my playlist. The melody and instrumentals make this song very melancholy and I really like that (I’m a big fan of ballads). This song gives off the vibes of a montage in a coming-of-age movie where the main character just got their heart broken and I’m kind of here for it.
- Mascara Tears
Lucky (7/10): On the second to last track, Banks’ asks, “Can I break your heart and still feel broken?” She describes the guilt of hurting someone, and wonders if it’s okay to feel the same hurt herself. I think this song shows off her vocals really well, and it has powerful lyrics, it’s just a bit boring to listen to for me.
Madeline (10/10): I love this song so much. The melody is definitely unique from what you hear from more mainstream artists and I really appreciate that from Banks. I think I love this song so much because I kind of see myself in it. Banks perfectly capture the feeling after hurting someone whilst hurting yourself. I think that’s a truly powerful statement to make, especially from someone with as big of a media presence as Banks does.
- Headstart
Lucky (10/10): From first listen, this was instantly my favorite song from the EP, and it still is. The first verse and chorus are soft with muffled vocals, almost making it sound like a demo, and then her voice becomes clear as the song intensifies. Her voice is so strong and passionate in this track, and the guitar instrumental draws me in. She sings about the complexities of a relationship, and wanting to try even though she knows it might not end well. Also, as a person who loves listening to albums all the way through, this song was the perfect closing to “How Real Was It?”
Madeline (8/10): Even from the beginning, I could tell this song would be good. The lyricism of the song is completely different from what I hear on my playlists but in a good way. Banks’ vocals are extremely powerful in this song and, layered on top of the guitar instrumentals, combines to make a great listen.