Tank And The Bangas channel 2020’s complicated “Feelings” for NPR’s Morning Edition

NPR has been asking artists to compose original songs that capture what it’s like to live through 2020 for a new Morning Edition series. Between the pandemic and protests against racism and police brutality, Tank And The Bangas had a lot to say.

The New Orleans group was also bracing for a hurricane and mourning the loss of community members to COVID-19 when NPR’s David Greene spoke with bandmates Tarriona “Tank” Ball and Norman Spence earlier this month. The overwhelming barrage of emotions is summed up succinctly in the new song’s title: “Feelings.”

According to Ball, “since I don’t even know exactly what’s really going on inside of me all the way, and I know a lot of people probably feel this way as well, you just got feelings. You don’t really know how to express all of them, but you got some feelings.”

Despite it all, Tank And The Bangas still try to channel the love that they know is out there. “I don’t know how to change the heart of America,” says Ball. “Especially when it was built and founded on so many terrible and horrible things that have been done to people. But I can try, with songs and poems and conversations with those that I care about and love that’s in my circle. That could effect even the little bittiest amount of change.”

Listen to “Feelings” below.