Prelude Press
Prelude Press – An independent music outlet focused on discovering and sharing the best emerging artists and diving deeper with the ones you already love.
After building buzz worldwide and inciting anticipation among fans, rising British singer, songwriter, and actress Asha Banks has revealed her anxiously awaited debut EP, How Real Was It?, out now via Island Records. Listen to it now below.
On the inspiration behind the EP, Banks shares, “How Real Was It? is definitely a continuation from ‘Untie My Tongue’, but it carries a more nostalgic tone. These songs feel more reflective—rather than being caught in the moment, they look back at the feelings and situations I was in, and how I’m digesting them now. It’s about what emotions have lingered, and discovering what’s changed.”
Featuring her buzzing singles “Mascara Tears” and “Rerun,” the eight tracks on How Real Was It? embody the breadth of Asha’s vision, the power of her voice, and the vulnerability of her songwriting. On the new standout song “Saltwound,” she’s unafraid to confront heartache head-on. Backed by soft strings, her vocals teem with raw emotion that overflows on the chorus, and she sings, “If it’s gonna sting, let it sting until I die.” Elsewhere on the EP, Banks’ evocative delivery floats through delicately strummed acoustic guitar on the track “Done is Done.” She takes a moment to reflect on a turbulent romance, going on to remind herself, “I know we agreed that what’s done is done.” On “Delay,” the chorus repeats in hypnotic fashion as she sings, “I’m stuck in delay.” Coming to a close, the finale “Headstart” bottles the complications of a complex relationship into relatable lines like, “Baby I could break your heart, but I’ll give you a headstart.” The EP establishes Asha Banks as a dynamic artist and songwriter to watch.
Banks set the stage for How Real Was It? with previously released singles “Mascara Tears” and “Rerun,” which have amassed millions of streams to date. Atwood Magazine recently applauded her music as “honest, unfiltered, and deeply human,” and declared her “one of the UK’s brightest emerging voices and a definitive artist to watch.” Meanwhile, Euphoria Magazine praised her sound as “dreamy soft-pop,” and noted she is “making her mark.”
Up next, Asha is set to bring her new music to the stage and will embark on her first-ever headline tour, with shows selling out within hours of on sale. She will kick off the tour in North America in December with a sold-out show in Los Angeles on December 10th. The tour also includes additional sold-out nights in Toronto, Chicago, and New York. Banks will then take the tour across Europe and the UK in the spring. See the full list of upcoming dates below.
The world has already fallen in love with Asha Banks, enamored by her magnetic presence in-person and on-screen earlier this year, leading Prime Video’s global success My Fault: London and Netflix’s hit series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, among numerous other film and television credits. However, music has always remained close to her heart. At barely six years old, she penned her very first song and forever harbored a dream of becoming an artist. Growing up, she intently listened to everyone from Joni Mitchell and Norah Jones to Jack Johnson, Johnny Cash, and AC/DC.
On the touring front, Asha recently took the stage for her biggest headline show to date at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, and earlier this summer, she supported Noah Kahan at BST Hyde Park. Banks has already received a slew of critical acclaim from press around the globe. Most recently, she was featured on the cover of Rollacoaster’s Autumn/Winter 2025 issue. She also graced a special Digital Cover of NOTION, who proclaimed, “From starring in My Fault: London to releasing her debut EP, actor and singer Asha Banks is opening herself up in all its forms.” Not to mention, earlier this summer, she teamed up with BRIT Award-winning and Ivor Novello Award-nominated artist Holly Humberstone to collaborate on her fan favorite single “Dive.” It soundtracked the credits of My Fault: London and landed looks from DORK, The Line of Best Fit, and more, with Asha and Holly delivering a head-turning live rendition of the song at Queen Caroline’s Temple at Hyde Park in London—watch HERE.
Asha Banks has solidified herself as one to watch for 2026—stay tuned for more.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
December 10 – The Echo – Los Angeles, CA*
December 12 – The Drake Underground – Toronto, ON*
December 14 – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL*
December 16 – Baby’s All Right – New York, NY*
March 4 – Debaser Nova – Stockholm, Sweden
March 5 – Vega – Copenhagen, Denmark
March 7 – Mikropol – Berlin, Germany*
March 8 – Botanique Witloof Bar – Brussels, Belgium*
March 9 – Tolhuistuin (Paradiso Noord) – Amsterdam, Netherlands
March 10 – Les Etoiles – Paris, France*
March 12 – SWG3 Studio Warehouse – Glasgow, Scotland
March 13 – Club Academy – Manchester, UK
March 15 – Roundhouse – London, UK
*SOLD OUT