Exclusive: Black Pumas & Tank and the Bangas Talk Best New Artist Nominations at Spotify Bash

Spotify’s Best New Artist Party was an exciting and star-studded night of fun in Hollywood, with people from all over the Entertainment Industry gathered together to celebrate the success of eight musical newcomers nominated for the Grammy Award “Best New Artist.” We had the chance to catch up with two much-talked-about acts that are nominated for the coveted award this year, Black Pumas and Tank and the Bangas.

Black Pumas, one of the nominees for Best New Artist, told us that they’ve gone through “a myriad of oceans together” and it’s “surreal” to be nominated for Best New Artist. Their difference in age and experience (Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton are 15 years apart, and Quesada has earned a grammy before with his previous act, Grupo Fantasma) makes their relationship “very yin and yang.” Everything where I’m like “Oh, I could use some help on that is exactly what he’s good at” (Burton). When asked about what direction their music will take after this honor, Black Pumas hinted at greater creative boldness: “the more we create with each other, the more eclectic the music feels” – we’re excited to see their upcoming daring in their art.

Tank and the Bangas, another nominee for Best New Artist, told us that this nomination meant a great deal because it is “something you can only get once” and is a “platform to take [their] music in new directions – it’s another level.” These new opportunities just remind them “to be more authentically self” and remain themselves, not go with the wave, and “create with the heart”. Some of their biggest inspirations for that are seeing how “people are impacted by their music – it’s like, oh wow, this had purpose now.” Having their fans repeatedly come to shows, and telling them how their music has helped them through difficult times is profound for them – it reminds them that “now, your work has meaning.”