It’s hard to cite a busier band working the pandemic circuit than Tank and The Bangas. Somehow between endless livestream performances, the band NPR said “combines R&B with hip-hop’s poetry and rollercoaster storytelling, with a flair and alchemy that could only come from New Orleans” has found time to drop a new video and picked up a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

Tank and The Bangas will release a new EP, Friend Goals, on November 20 via Verve Forecast. The EP follows the release of the New Orleans-based band’s major label debut, Green Balloon, which arrived in 2019 to widespread critical praise.

The band debuts the EP’s lead single, “Self Care,” today, alongside a Fat Happy Media directed video. The track also features vocal contributions from various artists including Jaime Woods, Orleans Big and Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph.  Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball (frontwoman and lead vocalist) describes the song as “the quarantine song to get you moving! It shows that some of the best things can come out from solitude, especially when the beat hits this hard.”

According to a press release, the group recorded the EP at friends’ home studios in Chicago and New Orleans as well as bandmember Albert Allenback’s (alto saxophone, flute) house. Most of Friend Goals was created during quarantine using Zoom while also abiding by local social distancing guidelines. The EP also includes numerous musical contributions from various friends the band has made throughout their career including CHIKA, Duckwrth and PJ Morton as well as a number of New Orleans-based creatives.

For a throwback, check out Tank and The Bangas perform in OffBeat’s OnBeat series, directed by our own Noé Cugny here!