Hailing from a small town near Dayton, Ohio, Mike Bankhead has been fascinated with music since childhood, with early inclinations towards rock and roll and grunge. His latest album, "I Am Experienced," is a poignant concept album. Bankhead stated, "The songs on this project are all very much about Black experiences." The album features Dayton "R&B" singer/songwriters Mariah J and The Kadence.
What Worked
The EP starts with the chugging "Latent," backed by gang vocal shouts and stomping keys, before shifting gears into the melancholic "Plantation." The song shifts from bouncy, Jellyfish-esque verses into a soulful organ-driven chorus highlighted by Mariah J's layered vocals. Kicking up the tempo follows on "Good Times," with Bankhead trading vocals with The Kadence before downshifting into the piano ballad "We Are Broken," showcasing Bankhead's best vocal performance. The EP wraps up with the chilled funk of "Hey Baby Take the Keys" and the album ender "Chameleon Skin," which features one of the stronger choruses on the EP.
What Didn't Work
Bankhead's talent as a songwriter, arranger, and player is evident by the smooth shifts between genres, but the vocal performance can sometimes sound flat in comparison. A few tweaks to the production, from adding some doubled harmony or octave vocals to fill out the sound, or changing up the delivery with a bit more bite, would push this from good to great.
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