Tank And The Bangas Release New Song, ‘Stolen Fruit’
‘Red Balloon’ is out May 13.
Tank and The Bangas have released a new track, “Stolen Fruit.” The new music is the latest song to be revealed from the band’s third studio album, Red Balloon, set for release on May 13 via Verve Forecast.
Of the new song, Tarriona “Tank” Ball says, “‘Stolen Fruit’ is basically about the slave trade. There’s ‘Strange Fruit,’ and I call this one ‘Stolen Fruit,’ because not only were the fruit strange, but they were also stolen. They weren’t from here.”
The track follows “Black Folk,” which features Masego and Alex Isley. “‘Black Folk’ is about my love for Black people — everything that they are, everything that they do, their hair, the little girls, Jazzfest,” frontwoman and lead vocalist Tarriona “Tank” Ball shared in a statement on Instagram. “All the beautiful things about us and the things that we like to cover up with pain, laughter, food, and music, the family secrets, all of it. The way we look at other black people that have so-called “made it,” like Cicely Tyson and Serena Williams and Tyler Perry. It’s an ode to Black people.”
Throughout the song, Tank and The Bangas celebrate Blackness in all its variations, highlighting the way it manifests as family reunions in the park, revolutions, and something reminiscent of a completely different world. They reference classic shows integral to the culture, from Martin to Good Times.
“Black Folk” follows Tank and The Banga’s latest offering, “No ID” which explored the concept of being protective of your space, rather than welcoming everyone into your life without being sure of their intentions.
The two singles encapsulate the overarching vibe and theme of Red Balloon, of which the band has explained: “This has been one of the best attempts thus far at capturing what happens when we’re all playing at the same time. Red Balloon is coming straight for your heart and your neck. It’s going to make you bop and think and love, hopefully, and even love people that look different.”
