Asha Banks Talks Embracing Vulnerability, Chaos and Connection on Her Latest EP, How Real Was It?
After the release of her second EP last November, Asha is gearing up for a bigger and better 2026
2025 was a “mad” year for Asha. In the space of just 12 months, we saw the release of her first EP, Untie My Tongue. We were introduced to her character, Noah, in Amazon Prime’s My Fault London and saw her complete a true “bucketlist moment” – dropping her first collaboration, Dive, with the incredible Holly Humberstone, who she’s “been a huge fan of forever.”
Her second EP, How Real Was It?, hit streaming platforms last November. Full of self-reflection, this project explores the emotions and experiences of a 20-something-year-old. Tackling these vulnerabilities was an important step for Asha to grow as an artist: “With this EP I really tried to delve into myself and be super honest,” she shared.
“I think that it’s easy to underestimate the challenge of putting a project together and everything it involves, and I think that Untie My Tongue was the first time ever trying to figure out if one song worked with another or fit in the same universe. Cohesion is such an important thing that I learnt with Untie My Tongue – that sort of world-building and making sure all of the songs felt really cohesive.
“How Real just became an extension of that. But ultimately I learnt that I’m still learning… Hopefully we’ll go on to the next things and I’ll just pick up more as I go along, and continue to grow.”
Banks’ latest EP feels like a collection of journal entries – we really get a glimpse into her unfiltered thoughts and feelings. “All of the songs amount to me as a person and all the contrasting feelings I have,” she shared. Lead single Rerun explores wanting to return to something you probably shouldn’t: ‘Back to square one / Break the ice on / Are you looking for a rerun?’. Her ability to be deeply honest in her lyricism is clear in fan-favourite, Mascara Tears: ‘Cause I cried so hard I started choking / And I miss you still, it’s not a joke that / I know I hurt you, but can I hurt too?’
“I’ve learnt so much about myself through the music that I make and through forcing myself to dive deeper and really think about everything that’s happening.
“As a songwriter, everyday I’m trying to be more honest… the scariest thing you have to say is the thing the people want to hear the most.”
Even though it can be daunting sharing personal experiences, this is something Asha does so well in her songs. She added: “I find the most impact comes from having a balance of the storytelling and the hard-hitting home truths.”
This EP has been inspired by many of Asha’s favourite artists. From the likes of Noah Kahan, Bon Iver and Joni Mitchell, the influences run through her music both within the storytelling and the production. Special mentions to Gracie Abrams and Lizzie McAlpine who’ve encouraged her to embrace an honest side to her writing: “I’m always in awe of their vulnerability.”
It’s Asha’s unashamedly honest and truthful songwriting that makes her music so relatable. The relatability and connection that fans feel through her songs is really important to her, and a huge motivating factor when it can feel difficult to articulate those home truths. “It’s so validating to put pen to paper with my feelings and then have other people agree, connect and relate to them.”
Off the back of the release of How Real Was It?, Asha is embarking on a headline tour this March. With a string of shows throughout the UK and Europe, she’ll be closing the tour to over 3,000 fans at the iconic Roundhouse in London.
Asha reflects on the kind of experience she wants her fans to have at her shows: “I love live shows so much and I’ve always loved going to them. It’s wild to think that the feelings I feel going to a show might be somewhat similar [for the fans].
“I’ve left shows before dancing, I’ve left before sobbing! I’ve left shows before arm in arm with friends smiling and crying. I always feel elated and inspired, and I hope that that’s what somebody coming to my show would feel.”
As for the rest of the year…“I think I sort of thrive with chaos, so hopefully more of that. I’m just having the best time and I find so much joy in everything. I hope to still be completely surrounded by joy and the love for everything I do.”
If 2025 is anything to go by, we’re about to see Asha step into a very promising chapter – this truly feels like it’s just the beginning of an exciting journey for the 22-year-old.
