Tank and the Bangas is an American musical group based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest and in November 2019, they were nominated in the Best New Artist category for the 2020 Grammy Awards. They have released three studio albums, Thinktank (2013), Green Balloon (2019), and Red Balloon (2022). In 2025, they won their first Grammy for the 2024 album, The Heart, The Mind, The Soul for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.
History Members of Tank and the Bangas met at a New Orleans open mic show called Liberation Lounge at now-closed Blackstar Cafe and Books in the Algiers section of New Orleans and formed the group in 2011.
Style Writing in The Washingtonian, Heather Rudow described the group's work as "lively fusion of funk, soul, hip hop, rock, and spoken word." Speaking to the Times-Picayune, the musicians in the group mentioned a variety of genres they identify with, including rock, folk, gospel and Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph's invention "Soulful Disney". In addition to Disney, the group has also mentioned anime as influence on the group's "childlike" and "magical" sensibility, in Ball's words. In the Financial Times, Joshua David Stein said, "Tank and the Bangas don’t conform to the jazz stereotypes trotted out in the lobbies of convention hotels or milked on Frenchman Street. It’s New Orleans but it’s New Orleans now."
Reception In The Village Voice, Rajul Punjabi described the group's debut album ThinkTank as "sincere and eclectic. Ball’s vocals are strong and versatile—evidence of her childhood in church—and she coasts through sweet melodies and wide-ranging vocal undulations reminiscent of Nicki Minaj’s character voices. She throws gentle shade when reminded of this — 'I’ve been doing that before she came out,' she says."
Their song, Oh Heart, was featured in the BoJack Horseman season 4 episode Ruthie.
NPR Naming Tank and the Bangas the 2017 winner of NPR's Tiny Desk Contest for their song "Quick", NPR co-host of All Songs Considered Bob Boilen said, "What won me over about the band's performance of 'Quick' were the interactions among lead singer Tarriona 'Tank' Ball and her bandmates, and the way they seemed to surprise one another. It all felt so organic and on-the-spot." Juror Trey Anastasio of Phish said, "I immediately loved this...Tank is a force of nature, just full of joy—and her band is killing in the background." The story of the evolution of Tank's voice was covered in an episode of NPR's World Cafe show for essential and emerging artists.
Members Current members Tarriona "Tank" Ball – lead vocals (2011–present) Joshua Johnson – drums, musical director (2011–2024) Norman Spence II – keyboards, guitar (2011–present) Albert Allenback – alto saxophone, flute (2014–2023)
Touring members Performers that while not core members of the band, play with the band at live performances and on some album tracks. Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph – background vocals (2013–2022) Tia Henderson- Background Vocals(2019-2022) Danny Abel – guitar (2018-2022) Jonathan Johnson – bass (2017–present) Etienne Stoufflet – tenor saxophone (2013–present) Kayla Jasmine – vocals (2016–2019)
Past members Merell Burkett, Jr. – keyboard (2013–2020) Joe Johnson – keyboard (2013–2016) Keenan McRae – guitar (2013) Nita Bailey – percussion (2013) Christopher Menge – guitar (2013) Nicole Spence – background vocals (2013)
Discography
Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions USSales USHeat Think TankReleased: December 19, 2013 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming – – Green BalloonReleased: May 3, 2019 Label: Verve Forecast Records, UMG Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 73 3 Red BalloonReleased: May 13, 2022 Label: Verve Forecast, UMG Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 74 21 The Heart, the Mind, the SoulReleased: August 30, 2024 Label: Verve Forecast, UMG Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming ? ?
Live albums Title DetailsThe Big Bang Theory: Live at Gasa GasaReleased: December 5, 2014 Label: Self-released Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Extended plays Title Details Peak chart positions USHeatLive VibesReleased: April 21, 2016 Label: Verve Label Group, UMG Format: LP, digital download, streaming21Jam in the Van - Tank and the BangasReleased: August 1, 2017 Label: Jam in the Van Format: Digital download, streaming–Live Vibes 2Released: February 15, 2019 Label: Verve Forecast, UMG Format: LP, digital download, streaming–Friend GoalsReleased: November 20, 2020 Label: Verve Forecast, UMG Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming–Tank and the Bangas (Live)Released: September 9, 2022 Label: Verve Forecast, UMG Format: streaming–Pretty PoemsReleased: March 10, 2023 Label: UMG Format: Digital download, streaming–FloatingReleased: November 24, 2023 Label: Verve Forecast, UMG Format: Vinyl–
Singles As lead artist Title Year Album"Rhythm of Life"2013Think Tank"Drummers"2015rowspan="2" "Quick"2017"Smoke.Netflix.Chill"2018Green Balloon"Spaceships""I'll Be Seeing You"Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)"Ants"2019Green Balloon"Nice Things""For André"2020rowspan="2" "What the World Needs Now""Self Care"Friend Goals"To Be Real""Big"(with Big Freedia)2021Red Balloon"Back in a Minute"Madden NFL 22"No ID"2022Red Balloon"Black Folk"Pretty Poems and Floating"Stolen Fruit"Red Balloon"Why Try""Oak Tree""There Goes the Neighborhood"Pretty Poems and Floating"Outside"Floating"She's a Rainbow""Communion in my Cup"Red Balloon and Floating"DM Pretty"2023Pretty Poems and Floating
As featured artist Title Year Album"In My Bones"2020Djesse Vol. 3"Let My People Go"2021Goshen"Betty Bussit"Big Diva Energy
Music videos Title Year Director"Boxes" (ReLoaded)2013RandoMe"Drummers"2015RawKus TV"Quick"2017FosterBear Films"Spaceships"2018Nick Spanos"Spaceships" Kyle Goldberg"Ants"2019Jean Baptist's-Ramondi"Nice Things" Kyle Goldberg"Nice Things"Danny Williams"Hot Air Balloons"TATB and Tavia Osbey"Forgetfulness"Alina Kulieva"I'll Be Seeing You""Dope Girl Magic"2020Jake Wilson"Lazy Daze"David Bates Jr. and Tavia Osbey"What the World Needs Now""Self-Care""To Be Real"Tarriona Ball"Fluff" Baptiste Leroux"Big" 2021Marion Hill"No ID"2022Phillip Youmans"Black Folk" Michelle Renslo"Stolen Fruit""Black Folk" "Why Try""Communion in My Cup"
Notes
Honors 2014 RAWards Best New Orleans Artist of the Year 2014 Offbeat Magazine Emerging Artist Award 2016 Afropunk Festival contest winners 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner 2020 Grammy Award for Best New Artist (nomination) 2023 Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album (nomination for Red Balloon) 2024 Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance (nomination for "Todo Colores" with Ibrahim Maalouf and Cimafunk) 2025 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album (win for The Heart, The Mind, The Soul)
References
External links
Official Tank and the Bangas website Tank and the Bangas perform at the Kennedy Center, January 13, 2016