Breakout New Orleans-based five-piece Tank and The Bangas are signing a record deal with Verve Forecast. Of the signing, president and CEO Danny Bennett says, “You only have to experience Tank and the Bangas perform live to understand why they are exploding on the music scene worldwide and why they are on everyone’s short list of artists to watch. Their artistry makes it crystal clear what the future of music has in store and embodies everything that the Verve Label Group hopes to achieve. We are honored and proud that they are part of our family.”

Verve Forecast is the home for eclectic and non-jazz facing artists on the Verve Label Group (Universal Music Group) roster. Initially created in 1964 as Verve Folkways, Forecast has been the home to artists as legendary and varied as Tim Hardin, Richie Havens, John Lee Hooker, Elvis Costello, Susan Tedeschi and now Tank and the Bangas and Yuna, among others.

Additionally, the band will release Live Vibes—an exclusive Record Store Day limited edition record pressed on yellow vinyl—on Saturday, April 21. Recorded live at Gasa Gasa in New Orleans in 2017, the recording makes fans feel like they are in the front row of one of the best live shows around. Live Vibes comes packaged in a die cut jacket and features a very special custom color print found in the interior of the jacket.

The band will take their lauded live show on the road this spring, confirming an extensive run of North American dates. The shows include stops at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre, New Orleans’ Tipitinas, San Francisco’s The Fillmore, Nashville’s The Basement East and Denver’s historic RedRocks Amphitheatre as well as festival appearances at Coachella, SXSW, Newport Folk, Hangout, BottleRock and more. See below for complete tour details. Additionally, they are currently touring in Australia and will tour Europe this summer.

Tank and the Bangas unanimously won NPR’s Tiny Desk contest with “Quick,” a riotous single they released in 2017, which Bob Boilen proclaimed, “This band combines R&B with hip-hop’s poetry and rollercoaster storytelling, with a flair and alchemy that could only come from New Orleans.” There’s more new music to come as the group works on the follow-up to their debut album, Think Tank.

The band’s ongoing evolution involves more than just music—lead vocalist and songwriter Tarriona “Tank” Ball continues to grow and develop as a performer and writer. Even back in the open-mic days, she was a force of nature. “I don’t know if there’s such a thing as too free, but it was totally uninhibited. She was inspired,” Norman Spence (synth keys, bass) says, laughing at the memory. More recently, Ball has become less of a dervish onstage—“I was running around so much I didn’t have time to sing at all,” she say—while finding new ways of expressing herself as a writer.

The band have performed with acts such as Lianne La Havas, PJ Morton, Galactic, Big Freedia, The Revivalists, Lyfe Jennings and The Soul Rebels while making major festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Jazz Fest, Pickathon, Hullabaloo and more.
Tank and The Bangas are Ball, Spence, Merell Burkett (keyboards), Joshua Johnson (drums) and Albert Allenback (alto saxophone, flute).

LIVE VIBES TRACKLIST
1. Not Mr. Rodgah’s Neighborhood (1:12)
2. Quick (8:11)
3. X’s (5:04)
4. Ripperton Love (7:21)
5. Boxes and Squares (7:41)
6. Twice (All Wayz) (8:33)

TANK AND THE BANGAS LIVE
March 7—Sydney, Australia—Oxford Art Factory
March 8— Adelaide, Australia—WOMADelaide
March 11—Auckland, New Zealand—Festival Playground Music Arena
March 15—Austin, TX—The Gatsby
March 16—Austin, TX—Hotel San Jose
April 5—Houston, TX—White Oak Music Hall
April 6—Dallas, TX—Club Dada
April 7—Austin, TX—THE SCOOT INN
April 10—Santa Fe, NM—Santa Fe Brewing Co.
April 11—Tucson, AZ—191 toole
April 12 & 13—Indio, CA—Coachella
April 17—Solana Beach, CA—Belly Up Tavern
April 18—Los Angeles, CA—Fonda Theatre
April 20—Indio, CA—Coachella
April 21—Charleston, SC—High Water Festival
April 27—New Orleans, LA—Tipitinas
April 28—Oxford, MS—Double Decker Arts Festival
May 4—New Orleans, LA—The Civic Theatre
May 6—Memphis, TN—Beale Street Music Festival
May 9—Louisville, KY—Headliners Music Hall
May 11—Richmond, VA—Brown’s Island
May 12—Saxapahaw, NC—New River Ballroom
May 13—Asheville, NC—The Grey Eagle
May 15—Charlotte, NC—Visulite Theatre
May 16—Knoxville, TN—U.S. Cellular Stage at the Bijou Theatre
May 17—Nashville, TN—The Basement East
May 18—Atlanta, GA—Terminal West
May 19—Gulf Shores, AL—Hangout Music Festival
May 24—San Francisco, CA—The Fillmore
May 25—Napa, CA—BottleRock Napa Valley
May 27—George, WA—Sasquatch! Festival
June 15—Bergen, Norway—Bergenhus Festning
June 29—Ewijk, Netherlands—De Groene Heuvels
July 7—Copenhagen, Denmark—Pumpehuset
July 28—Newport, RI—Newport Folk Festival
August 22—Denver, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre

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Taylor Moxey is a force. She first appeared on our radar as a result of her culinary achievements with baking in particular. In the time that her brand has evolved, we have witnessed a philanthropist, a modern dancer, and a book author emerge proudly proclaiming after conquering each endeavor that girls can do anything. Armed with sincere confidence and two supportive parents (Fabia and Vernon) the sky is the limit for Taylor. Read more in our latest compact issue.

Courtney Alexander is guided by faith and her ancestors. Armed with creativity, talent and intuition she has created a Tarot deck that has taken the world of divination by storm

She did it her way and on her own. Courtney Alexander is the creator of the Dust II Onyx Melanated Tarot that literally every creative person has been talking about. The artwork, the reading spreads, the concept, the fundraising and the mailing out process were all executed with minimal assistance. It is a story that tugs at the heartstrings of any entrepreneur. Fueled by supernatural talent and assistance, the idea of Dust II Onyx was manifested and made available to the masses by the support that Courtney courted from strangers on her Kickstarter platform.  She successfully raised $29,870 with 531 backers. While there were delays, what materialized in the hands of her supporters, myself included, was well worth the wait.

“I was doing the work of seven or more people on my own. There were delays in getting the cards out but I wanted to do it right. I was so grateful. I wanted people to feel like the investment was worth it. I felt like, ‘I only got one shot.’”

Despite understandable delays, Courtney executed a Tarot deck that can only be described as exceptional even if tarot is not your thing. The first edition is already sold out. The cards feature 77 mixed media collage paintings accented with metallic and holographic foils, featuring cultural myths, symbolism, history and icons within the Black Diaspora. The guidebook features multiple keyword lists (numerological, elemental and astrological) and full color images of the artwork with unique titles and art descriptions. Each card has been carefully researched with nearly 75 resources cited, providing a wealth of educational material. And while she is enjoying the success of a completely sold out deck that is being praised on every media platform, she is already focused on what comes next.

“It’s still surreal. I’m seeing videos of people enjoying the cards. I feel very grateful. But there is still work to do.”

Photo by: 

Lena Hyde- www.LenaHyde.com

Perched away in paradise  West Palm Beach’s nationally renowned philanthropist, Karin Taylor’s, jaw-dropping Weisberg Stables in Jupiter, FL is a 20-acre home to over 150 animals including: mustangs, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, tortoises, goats, miniature donkeys, ponies, emus, and even wallabies. Karin is making a difference in the lives of those with special needs, foster children, veterans, and at-risk youth through her profound equestrian therapy programs, sensory petting zoo, farm tours, and horse riding lessons/clinics.

“Our family philosophy is that everything you are given is meant to be shared.” Karin said.

Photo By: Lena Hyde- www.LenaHyde.com

One of Karin’s most celebrated programs is called Unbridled Power, a one of a kind equine assisted learning horse therapy program that focuses on helping veterans, disabled youth, and children develop critical life skills. Equine assisted learning is a remarkable learning approach that promotes the development of essential life skills through groundwork activities using horses as the teacher. This type of therapy has been proven to be more effective than talk therapy, and is especially beneficial for children with Autism.

This spring, Karin will be offering chickens to local nursing homes who would like to have a community coop for their residents. Karin’s hope with her estate’s programming is that it will inspire other local farmers to open up their land to those in need.

International Stylist and Curl Master Creator of The Doux

Gets Real About Real Hair

People with wavy or curly hair are always looking for new products, tips and tricks to lock in their desired look. Whether they want to blow it straight, create looser curls or maximize their tighter coils, Maya Smith, Celebrity Hair Stylist, salon owner and creator of The Doux, the “Indie” haircare line with cult following now available at Target, is truly the master. Here she shares her best tips for girls with curls who want to revel in their natural hair and create a style they love.

Understand the battle between oil and moisture.

The first thing people must understand is that there are opposite things going on at the same time. “Due to the shape of curly haired strands, the hair tends to be under moisturized. On the other hand, the curly haired scalp can get very oily. Managing these opposite demands is the struggle of girls who wish to keep their curls. The key here is knowing how best to address both,” explains Maya who led the movement for women to transition from relaxers to natural curls.

Be gentle when washing curly hair.

According to Maya, kinky, thick, coiled textures tend to appear “tough” and strong enough to withstand heavy manipulation. “In my experience, these hair types are actually the most delicate, and should be handled with care, she recommends.”

Step One: Pick your products wisely.

Maya applied over 2 decades of research and development based on working knowledge of hair texture and listening to what people wanted. “I created The Doux™ SUCKA FREE Moisturizing Shampoo and FRESH RINSE Moisturizing Conditioner as the one-two step that delivers both deep cleaning plus exceptional nourishment necessary for styling.” It’s now available in Target stores and the full product line is available online at www.thedoux.com.

Step Two: Prep for shampoo.

Maya’s professional instructions for curl mastery begins with rinsing hair thoroughly with water for a minimum of 30 seconds. “This helps to eliminate any water-soluble product buildup, such as hair gel or heat protectant. It also helps you save shampoo! Assuming you’re shampooing in the shower, letting the water run over the hair in a downward motion helps prevent further tangling, and allows the hair shaft to swell and the curl pattern to fully rebound.” For those with extremely thick hair, Maya suggests separating hair into 4 sections prior to wetting the hair for increased manageability.

Once the shampoo is applied, Maya recommends light manipulation at the scalp, going from the crown of the head to the nape of the neck. “Squishing” the hair up toward the scalp is a no-no. “Shampooing this way can cause unforgivable tangling and matting. I recommend repeating the shampooing process at least once.”

Step Three: Condition and comb through like a pro. 

If your scalp was properly shampooed, conditioning is easy. “This time, you’re focusing on your thirsty ends first, working upward toward the scalp. Gently detangle with a wide-toothed comb or detangling brush (our favorite is Felicia Leatherwood’s “Brush with the Best” detangling brush) before rinsing, starting at the ends, working up toward to the roots. Remember to rinse with cool water which snaps cuticles shut, locks in moisture, makes your hair shinier and reduces frizz.”

When it comes to “co-washing” or “conditioner washing” Maya equates the popular trend to washing your clothes with fabric softener. “In my experience, co-washing causes build-up on the hair, coating the cuticle and impairing the hair’s natural ability to absorb water. Oils, waxes, and product residue harden on the hair shaft, making it more brittle and less porous over time. When the hair can no longer effectively absorb water, the elasticity of the hair is compromised, leaving the hair “crunchy” and stiff, where it is more likely to break. The result is hair that feels dry and brittle, no matter what product you use to moisturize it,” explains Maya.

One of the things Maya Smith and her team of stylists are known for is their ability to restore hundreds of their clients’ curls, simply by getting them to trade in the co-wash for a gentle, pH-balanced moisturizing shampoo, like The Doux’s SUCKA FREE which properly cleanses hair of product residue. “Once you have the hair thoroughly clean it “drinks” up the necessary amount of moisture, and returns to its natural softness,” Maya clarifies.

Avoid alcohol and kick the crunch to the curb.

Styling products high in alcohol give curls a crunchy feel.  They suck up every last bit of moisture.  Hair spray tends to contain the most alcohol, while gels, mousses and anything that provides hold or lift come in second. “I recommend water-soluble gels that don’t feel sticky on your skin, and aerated mousses or foams that resemble beaten egg whites, to give hair fullness, control, and non-brittle curls,” Maya says.

She adds that she created The Doux so it can be used on hair that is worn curly or straight. “Our clients purchase one set of products, and apply them differently to achieve the style they want. If you’re rocking curly hair today, you’re using The Doux’s Mousse Def and Bonita Afro Balm for softness and definition, and The Light for shine. If you’re wearing a blowout, you’re still using the same products, but applying them less liberally, and using the shine mist as a heat protectant. It’s super simple and easy to follow once you’ve seen the results each of them deliver,” Maya explains.

Blow-Dry with a diffuser or hooded dryer.

Maya’s first choice for curly styles is to air dry. “If you don’t have the time to air dry then dry with a diffuser or hooded dryer on a low heat setting.  A regular blow dryer nozzle disrupts the curl pattern and focuses hot air on one small section at a time while a diffuser, dries curls evenly for a full, uniform look,” she explains.

Maya recommends always applying a heat-protecting product, then flipping your head upside down using a diffuser at the roots and mid-length making sure to dry the area completely to lock in volume. “It’s important to leave the ends for last, and leave them only semi-dry. Air drying the ends is your best option.”

Care for the curls you were born with!

About Maya Smith:

Maya Smith is an International Master Stylist and Founder of The Doux Salon and haircare line now available in Target. With over two decades of styling experience Maya dedicated two decades to cracking the code on curl care, maintenance and expert styling. When it comes to caring for one’s natural hair and styling it, Maya is the best there is.

While still in high school, Maya got her hair cutting license and graduated from beauty school. Soon after graduating high school, Maya began following her passion and worked as an assistant for celebrity stylist Tracy Johnson. She learned from Johnson and progressed as a hair stylist for celebrities and entertainers. Years later the military wife would relocate to Germany, where Maya opened up her first salon The HoneyComb, a mecca for textured hair care for women from all over Europe, The UK, and as far as Africa. Maya’s unique system of textured hair styling sparked the development of The DOUX® haircare products, first launched overseas, and distributed throughout Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Currently, Maya leads a carefully selected team of stylists at The DOUX® Salon in Macon, Georgia and on Christmas Eve 2017, celebrated the arrival of The DOUX® in Target stores nationwide. Maya Smith, wife, mom of 5 and savvy business woman is an example not just for women of color but for all women who believe their gifts can impact the world, striving for entrepreneurial endeavors with grace, ease and hustle.

To hear more details about the event such as what was in our Worthy Gift Boxes, be sure to sign up for our listserv. Just email worthy@worthy-magazine.com

All photography by Karl Alexander