Paul Julian Banks is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and DJ. He is best known as the lead vocalist, lyricist, and guitarist of the rock band Interpol. Banks released an album named Julian Plenti is.

.. Skyscraper in August 2009 under the name Julian Plenti. His solo material is now recorded under his real name. As a singer, Banks" voice lies in the baritone range. In the summer of 1997, Banks ran into fellow NYU undergrad Daniel Kessler, whom he had met previously on a study abroad program in Paris.

Kessler then asked Paul Banks to join the band he had started with drummer Greg Drudy and bass guitarist Carlos Dengler. Banks was initially not inclined to join a band as he had been writing songs as a solo artist, but eventually joined Interpol as a guitarist and vocalist after listening to the type of music they were writing and playing.

Banks" voice, singing style, and lyrics have been strongly compared to, most notably, Ian Curtis of Joy Division. Banks has said that he does not try to emulate his greatest influences because he thinks he cannot live up to them, saying "I would never try to sing like Frank Black or Kurt Cobain because you just can"t do it.

" Beginning with the recording Interpol"s fifth album, El Pintor, Banks has assumed bass duties. In the music video for the album"s lead single "All the Rage Back Home", Banks can be seen playing a Fender Precision Bass.

Banks released a solo album under the name Julian Plenti on 4 August 2009 entitled Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper. Banks claims to have multiple solo projects and monikers in mind. He released a five-song EP entitled Julian Plenti Lives.

.. on 26 June 2012. His second full-length studio album, Banks was announced on 6 August 2012 and was released on 22 October 2012. In addition to the full-length albums, Banks self-released a mixtape entitled Everybody on My Dick Like They Supposed to Be in 2013, which included contributions by Talib Kweli, El-P, High Prizm and Mike G.