IN CONVERSATION WITH YSEULT AND BANKS

interview by JANA LETONJA

Yseult has garnered critical acclaim for her unique style, powerhouse vocals, and activism for inclusivity and empowerment in music and fashion. She was appointed as a global ambassador for L’Oréal Paris and has shaken traditional beauty standards across the globe. In 2024, she performed at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

BANKS is a visionary artist whose hypnotic fusion of alternative pop, electronic, and R&B has captivated a global audience. She’s headlined sold-out tours across five continents and delivered powerful performances at major festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Glastonbury. Her fifth studio album ‘Off With Her Head’ was released this February, and has been acclaimed as the best of her career. 

BANKS
dress ADEAM
shoes MIISTA

YSEULT
jacket BALENCIAGA
shoes CHANEL
necklace LAUREN DEWITT

Questions for Yseult

You’ve become a trailblazer in the music industry, both as an independent artist and a producer. How did you develop your unique sound, and how do you manage the balance between creativity and control over your music?

Honestly, my sound comes straight from the gut. I grew up between different cultures, different emotions, and I’ve always needed to express them in my own way. Being independent is both a strength and a challenge. I control everything, but I also carry everything. I try to find a balance between heart and strategy. My instinct leads the creation, and my standards make sure everything stays aligned with my vision.

Your music often speaks to inclusivity and empowerment. How do you think the industry is evolving in terms of representation, and how do you aim to contribute to this shift with your art?

Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword for me. It’s essential. I’ve been sidelined in this industry for a long time, and I decided to turn that into power. Things are slowly shifting, but there’s still a lot to do. I want to represent the ones we don’t see enough, different bodies, silenced voices, overlooked stories. My last project ‘Mental’ is a love letter and a form of resistance.

As someone who runs their own label, what are the biggest challenges and rewards of maintaining full creative control over your music and brand?

Starting my own label was the best decision I’ve made. The hardest part? Doing everything, all the time. You have to be in the studio, on stage, in meetings, handling budgets all at once. But the most rewarding part is freedom. I say what I want, I create what I feel, and I stand by every choice. It’s not perfect, but it’s 100% me and I’m proud of me because I’m aligned with myself. 

How does your partnership with L’Oréal Paris as a global ambassador align with your advocacy for breaking beauty standards and championing diversity in the fashion world?

My partnership with L’Oréal Paris isn’t just a campaign, it’s a statement. Growing up, I never saw myself in ads or runways. Today, I’m proud to represent new forms of beauty and help break the mold, and I am grateful to L’Oréal Paris. Together, we’re rewriting what it means to be beautiful, powerful, and unapologetically yourself. I’m worth it.

full look GIVENCHY

How do you navigate the pressures and expectations of being a fashion and beauty icon while staying true to your authentic self?

I don’t put pressure on myself. I dress to feel good, not to please. Being seen as a fashion or beauty icon is flattering, but it’s not a role I play. It’s just me, with all my moods, contradictions, and my body. I refuse to shape-shift to fit into someone else’s mold. What you see is who I am. Period.

What can you share with us about your upcoming projects?

I’m always creating. Writing, composing, dreaming big. There’s new music on the way, bold visuals, unexpected collaborations, and the same message: be yourself, even if it makes people uncomfortable. I want every project to feel like an experience, a reflection of what I’m living and feeling right now.

full look GIVENCHY

Questions for BANKS

Your music is known for its deep emotional complexity, blending vulnerability with power. Can you walk us through your creative process when crafting such personal yet universally relatable songs?

Writing is kind of like peeling my own skin back to get to the root of something. It usually starts with a feeling - raw, messy, sometimes painful - and I sit with it until it begins to take shape in melody or words. Just honesty. Ideally in the end, it becomes something people can see themselves in. That’s the magic part I never try to control.

dress ADEAM
shoes MIISTA

With over a billion streams and a decade of critical acclaim, how has your approach to music evolved over the years, and how does your latest album ‘Off With Her Head’ reflect this evolution?

I honestly think my approach will always be the same. When I feel something I can’t express and need to, I barf it out in music. 

You’ve performed at some iconic festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Glastonbury. Do you have a standout performance or moment that really stands out to you in your career?

Coachella will always hold a surreal place in my heart. It was the first festival I ever went to as a fan, so playing it felt like a big moment for me.

You’ve collaborated with major fashion houses like Chanel and Dior, and your visual identity is a key part of your artistry. How important is fashion to you as a form of self-expression, and how does it intersect with your music?

Fashion is another language for me. Just like a chord or a lyric, the way I dress tells part of the story. I’ve always seen my songs visually - textures, shapes, movements - so when I perform, the clothes are part of the alchemy. Clothes can cloak or reveal. I use them to do both.

Being a muse for major brands must be an exciting aspect of your career. How do you approach the balance between artistic integrity and the commercial side of fashion collaborations?

I only say yes when it feels like a mirror of my soul, not a mask. If a brand wants me for the spirit I already carry, then we’re aligned. The moment it becomes about shrinking or changing myself to fit into something, I step back. My art is sacred to me. So the commercial side has to orbit that, not the other way around.

BANKS
dress ADEAM
shoes MIISTA

YSEULT
jacket BALENCIAGA
shoes CHANEL
necklace LAUREN DEWITT

With ‘Off With Her Head’ receiving critical acclaim, what’s next for you? Any exciting festivals we can expect to see you at this Summer?

The next chapter is already unfolding. I’m writing again, experimenting, moving. But first, I want to bring this album to life in the wild. Tour baby. I’m working on the creative and movements for the tour and I’m so excited to get out there and experience it with people  

TEAM CREDITS:

talents YSEULT & BANKS
photography COLIN SOLAL CARDO
photography assistant KOSTIANTYN GAIDUK
retouching MARGARITA IVANOVA
styling HARPER SLATE
makeup CLOTILDE PUVIS DE CHAVANNES
hair ETIENNE SEKOLA & LAURIE NLT
movement direction NICK COUTSIER
location HOTEL BVLGARI PARIS
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN