INTERVIEW: Aubrey Banks aka The Fresh Prince – Lifestyle Engineer, Brand Architect, Style Composer, and A&R of Musicheads

Based in Atlanta and Los Angeles, Aubrey Banks aka The Fresh Prince, is a Lifestyle Engineer, Brand Architect, Style Composer, and the A&R of Musicheads.

1. How did you get into the music industry?

Aubrey Banks: Honestly by accident, I was a celebrity stylist and was styling a lot of major musicians, then decided to venture into music production and it worked.

2. So how long have you been in the music industry?

Aubrey Banks: I have been in the music industry for almost 16 years to date!

3. Can you explain more about what you do with music production?

Aubrey Banks: I am not as musically inclined as most, So I decided to sign musically inclined people.  I have signed artist, producers, writers, and D. J’s in the past.

4. What is the Name of your company?

Aubrey Banks: Musicheads

5. Where is your company based?

Aubrey Banks: I have offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and will be branching off in Canada early 2021

6. Have you ever worked with any other companies in the music industry?

Aubrey Banks: I have worked with Interscope and Cash Money records as A&R and a couple boutique labels as Artist Development.

7. How did you grow your company within the music industry?

Aubrey Banks: I just outworked everyone around me because I knew they were more talented as far as music goes so I needed to make my mark in other ways.

8. What is your biggest accomplishment you feel you have had during your career in entertainment?

Aubrey Banks: My company at one point had 12 producers and writers signed to me during that period one of my producers where awarded a Grammy and another nominated so because they were signed to my company, I then became a Grammy award winner. Not being musically inclined that is my biggest accomplishment.

9. What do you feel like your biggest failure is?

Aubrey Banks: I have worked with some really big artists before the world knew them.  I just followed my gut feeling and signed them first.

10. What has been the biggest struggle on your journey?

Aubrey Banks: In the music industry you are only as good as yesterday, so for me the biggest challenge is just making sure I stay relevant.

11. If you could go back and change something what would it be?

Aubrey Banks: I created my own making the band type home. I purchased a huge home, let over 10 artists move in with me, built a studio and paid for everything myself so that these people could realize their dreams.  If I could I would have taken the $500,000 I invested in that initiative and used it for my own brand.

12. Why would you go back and change that, seem like it was successful?

Aubrey Banks: It was successful for the artists. I showed them a different side of life, a better side.  It really changed their lives, however there was no real benefit for me.

13. Is it hard to break into the Music Industry?

Aubrey Banks: I do not think so. I feel like if you understand politics, networking and selling yourself you can for sure get into the music industry.

14. But you did not mention talent. You do not feel like you need talent?

Aubrey Banks: I think talent is teachable. You can teach someone how to sing or rap, but you can’t teach them star power. It’s certain things that is just in you.

15. Have you ever taken someone with no talent and made them a star or successful?

Aubrey Banks: Yes, I have many times, and the first one was myself.

16.   What do you feel like your talent is?

Aubrey Banks: My brain.  I am smart.  Very smart and that is my skill.

17. Any other areas of entertainment you would like to enter?

Aubrey Banks: Sure. I never say never. I do not like putting caps on my success, so I am open to whatever the universe has to offer.

18. What are your goals for the upcoming year?

Aubrey Banks: Simply to be happy. I have already lived the life of 3 kings, anything at this point I consider a blessing and bonus.

19. Any Advice you could give someone trying to break into the entertainment industry?

Aubrey Banks: Believe in yourself, listen more then you speak, and never take no for an answer.  For every 1 that will say no there are 10 that will say yes. There is only one you and that is your power.

20. How can people get in contact with you?

Aubrey Banks: My Instagram is @_chasingbanks.  All my contact info is there.