Jake Banfield’s music career couldn’t have happened without what felt like a cruel twist of fate. The Oklahoma native was an All-State point guard who had his sights set on his hoop dreams. Plans for a successful collegiate run and plans for a pro career in Europe felt possible. Those hopes were dashed when he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t treatable through a surgical procedure.

Bedridden but not out, Banfield turned inward. He picked up a guitar at a local pawn shop, learned how to play on his own, and took to writing music. Initially a hobby as he rehabbed from his injury, things would soon take a turn in a direction he never expected. Through social media, in particular, TikTok, Banfield released his acoustic-driven tunes. Primarily derived from his mental health experiences at the time, Banfield’s songs caught on, with “Hold Me” going viral.

After spending a few years writing for artists like Madison Beer, Anne-Marie, and Little Mix, he pursued his own career. His song “Lasso” - a pepped-up line dance song with hip-hop undertones - captured good-time vibes and quickly became a bar anthem. So much so that it amassed over 22 million streams in the first two months of its release and landed Jake on Spotify Viral 50 charts in 13+ countries, as well as iTunes charts in 20+ countries. That song, which is on his debut album, Open Bars, out everywhere via EMPIRE, set the tone for several of his radio-ready anthems. Jake is set for a monumental 2026 with non-stop new music releases and tour stops!