Tank & The Bangas are a New Orleans based musical group. Their innovative sound is an eclectic combo of hip-hop, funk, jazz, dance, and spoken word styles. This mash-up of originality won’t disappoint either your dancing feet or your lyrical minds.
The band quickly gained recognition when they won NPR’s Tiny Desk contest back in 2017. This series of live concerts, hosted by NPR Music and Bob Boilen, began in 2008. Folk singer Laura Gibson performed at Boilen’s desk, and the spontaneous video made its way online. In 2014 NPR started to host a contest whereby musicians could submit their videos in an attempt to earn their spot performing a Tiny Desk Concert.
The Tiny Desk series has long been incredibly popular, with its effortlessly cool and intimate way to bring us fresh new talent, established favs and cutting-edge sounds. It’s no wonder Tank & Banga‘s epic musical styles so easily complimented the vibe. Beating 6,000 other competitors, they stole our musical hearts.
The group is made up of Tarriona aka ‘Tank’ the lead singer, and then there’s Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph also bringing some stunning vocals. Merell Burkett takes the spot as keyboardist along with Norman Spence who also brings us some fresh styles on the bass. Albert Allenback is the group’s flautist, and Josh Johnson keeps it real on the drums.
Two years on, 2019 has seen the release of Tank & The Bangas’ second studio album, ‘Green Balloon‘. This album showcases what their true originality is all about with a mixture of poetry, rap, saxes, flutes, hip-hop beats, and magic vibes.
One of the most fun-loving songs on the album is probably ‘Smoke Netflix & Chill.’ An upbeat, bubbly summer hip-hop number that ensures high energy all around.
‘Ants’ brings us a different sound with some fresh spoken word chat over a down-tempo flow. The lyrics bounce fast around the room, and you get caught up in the relatability of the words before the chorus hits you with some beautifully sung melodies.
‘Spaceships’ grabs you with something entirely different again with its stylish beats, fluidity, and carefree quirkiness.
The thing about this album is that the tunes are all so varied that you never know what you may hear next. Tank & The Bangas are a largely eccentric kind of group. Though you learn of their charming unpredictability- the effects are still epic.
Whether you’re usually a fan of hip-hop genres or not, you should check out Tank & The Bangas as they are too niche to fit into just one style. Their music wonderfully draws across multiple genres to create something unmissable. They are one of those bands where the fans cannot be defined as one scene because their versatility is both weird and wonderful.
