Interview: Grammy-winning vocalist Tarriona "Tank" Ball on her time in Indianapolis

If you’re a devoted public radio listener, the name Tank and The Bangas may be familiar.

The New Orleans band won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2017. Tank and the Bangas will be performing in Indiana on March 14 at the Brown County Music Center. WFYI’s Kyle Long recently spoke with the band’s vocalist Tarriona “Tank” Ball.

This transcript has been edited for style and clarity.

Kyle Long: Among music fans, Tank and The Bangas are synonymous with their hometown New Orleans. So it may come as a surprise to some that the group's vocalist Tarriona “Tank” Ball spent part of her youth in Indianapolis.

Tarriona “Tank” Ball: People would think that, “Oh, you must have just started driving and never stopped.” You know, like who comes from New Orleans to Indianapolis?

Long: I first spoke with Tank in 2019 after the band's performance for WFYI’s Small Studio Sessions. Tank told me her family sought refuge in Indianapolis during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Ball: My aunt Gloria came out here, and my cousin Alexia, and they told us, you know, while we were basically escaping the storm, to come up here, you know, “We have housing for you and people that will treat you real kind.” We drove all the way up here with our grandparents and our family, and that's exactly what we got. That was just the worst and best year of my life, because I was able to meet so many people, you know? I mean, who wants to be separated from their home their senior year? But I needed it, because without Indianapolis, I wouldn't be the artist I am.

Long: When I spoke with Tank in 2019, Tank and The Bangas were an up and coming act, but my recent conversation with Tank came on the heels of the band's first win at the Grammys. Their 2024 album, The Heart, The Mind, The Soul took home the award for Best Spoken Word Album. I asked Tank how she felt receiving the award.

Ball: Surreal, like a manifestation, like magic, like destiny, it was an incredible night.

Long: Tank says The Heart, The Mind, The Soul was inspired by her love for poetry.

Ball: The concept came about as I was thinking about the different relationships I had with my heart, my mind, and my soul, and even my body, because it was even going to be a longer title than it was. And just right after I went to the Grammys last year I saw the category of spoken word, I was like, “That's my category.” That's when I began to really craft The Heart, The Mind, The Soul, the concept and the trilogy around poetry. It's a passion project, as my label would probably call it.

Long: Tank and the Bangas will be performing in Indiana on March 14, and Tank told me that Indiana still holds a special place in her life.

Ball: I'm looking forward to coming there, because I still have family there. It's the last place I saw my grandparents and I hope to always see friends that I went to high school with. They always come out and show support. My aunt comes out. So I always look forward to coming to Indianapolis.