Your Inclusive Artistry Matters at TATANKA

This website was written in English but based on your IP address, it should have translated automatically into your local language. However, because TATANKA will be based in the United States and English will be our “operational language,” everyone needs to be able to effectively communicate with each other in English (as we learn each others’ languages), so please be sure to respond on the form below IN ENGLISH. If your native language is different, GREAT and let us know the languages in which you are fluent! Multilingualism adds to our diversity and strength, musically, culturally and otherwise,and yes, if you write lyrics in another language, we do NOT want you to sing in English to help TATANKA and our audience learn and grow. If any page on this site has not translated, please click on the drop-down menu at the top-right of any page to select any of the 110 available translations:

Update: We continue to work toward securing funding to launch this behemoth! If you think you would make an ideal TATANKA, we’d love to hear from you, but please keep in mind if we’re a good fit, you’ll be added to our Wish List. Once we are able, we will be able to offer contracts, and yes, membership is salaried, with health and other benefits, to keep the focus on all things TATANKA.

Thanks, JJ

TATANKA ISO Musicians, Singers, Performance Artists

All locations around the globe. All genders. All ethnicities. All faiths. All beliefs. All preferences. ALL-inclusive. It takes a GLOBAL village.

Hey, you.

Yeah, YOU!

Are you looking?

We are!

We seek members from all places and walks of life.

We seek all types of musicians, vocalists and performance artists, but everyone needs to be able to play at least one instrument and sing well enough for performance. You also need to be open to learning and applying more musical skills. And you read and agree with the *Inclusivity Disclaimer above.

Question: What does an “Americana Orchestra,” aka TATANKA, sound like?

Answer: Listen to this YouTube Playlist

Question: There are over 500 songs in that playlist. Do you seriously expect me to watch/listen to all?

Answer: Yes. If you can’t spend the time to understand and appreciate the scope of music we propose, then we would not be a good match.

The three main genres showcased in the playlist and TATANKA include Rock (all forms), Britpop (including the original British Invasion), and Americana, which includes multiple genres itself:

• Blues
• Alt Country & Western
• Gospel
• Jazz/Bossa Nova
• Folk Music/Acoustic
• Roots Rock
• American Standards

Another Question: Why all the genres?

Answer: Our demographic is diverse, like TATANKA, so we need to deliver a divergent musical and performance art production, one that will be memorable, danceable, and worthy of return visits to other shows.

Since we will begin covering other artists’ music, popular songs dating back to the 1920s through today, we will add and begin our own originals. Every member will have a mini digital recording studio in their quarters, and we will teach each other new instruments and songwriting techniques. Since we will write (and record) as a group, we also will encourage and support individuals’ work, and if “Pods” or groups of different members collaborate in writing and/or performance, everyone will be expected to not only sing and play their instrument(s), and write new material. At the end of the playlist above are a few of my older songs and below are more recent, mostly covers, but some originals as well as “collaborations” with AI. My songs just represent what I will bring to TATANKA, but the decisions to add ANY song to our setlist will be made by consensus. I might be the Band Leader, but we will democratically decide what stays, and what goes.

Read “PITCH” below in its entirety before responding!

It contains additional information including the 24/7 and episodic live streaming, the various plans for revenue, the mission, the location, details of the funding pitch, and more. Keep in mind that we are working on securing funding, so you are applying to be in the pool of potential members/staff.

Yes, part of the plan is all roles will be salaried to avoid anyone needing a “day job” so they can focus on TATANKA, which is a full-time job itself, but, we want everyone to understand that until we are funded, we cannot yet offer any contracts.

If you want to be part of the TATANKA family, let us know. If anything brings you pause, we are not a good match. Honesty and transparency are policies, for everyone, so please understand that expectation.

• Ambitious? Yep.
• Difficult? Hell, yes.
• But if this defines YOU, and you can meet or exceed expectations, let’s talk!

Still interested? If so, read on!

• After reviewing everything, please submit the form at the bottom of this page, being sure to share a video of you performing live or lip-syncing to your original music, or cover songs, but the music and vocals must be YOU.
  • All artists, regardless of craft, must be able to sing and ideally play an instrument.
• For example, below is a truly awful video of a gig I played in Chicagoland in 1998 at a university fundraising event. The VHS camera was just awful, it’s virtually black and white, the audio was recorded through the camera mono microphone. Also, the band, ΩHM, was hastily constructed just for that event. AND, it is not my best or proudest work, but I share it because the video shows me singing and playing (bass), so again, make sure yours does too.
• If you don’t have a video, film yourself or have someone do it with a camera or phone, but we can’t remotely gauge how well you play and sing without a video.
  • No video = no consideration.

Thanks again,

JJ (TATANKA)

In search of talented musicians to join our diverse and inclusive music community. From vocalists to guitarists, bass players, drummers and keyboardists, we welcome musicians of all backgrounds and identities. Our goal is to create a rock orchestra that celebrates the richness of different global cultures and perspectives.

We are actively looking for singers who bring a unique voice and style to our music. Whether you identify as Indigenous, LGBTQ, a person of color, or belong to any race, nationality, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, or if you are disabled in any way whatsoever, we value you and your contribution to our musical ensemble. Embracing diversity is at the core of our mission, and we believe that every individual adds a distinct flavor to our sound and vision.

Regardless of your gender identity, transgender status, age, or disability, you are welcome to be a part of our music family. We encourage individuals with conservative, liberal, or independent views to come together and collaborate in harmony. Our commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion is unwavering, and we strive to create a safe and empowering space for all musicians, and our audience, aka the HERD.

Join us in promoting diverse talent and inclusive music. Our intersectional art aims to empower diversity and foster unity in music. Together, we can create a musical experience, a movement, that transcends boundaries and celebrates the beauty of differences. Let’s make music that reflects the tapestry of our global society and resonates with the spirit of TATANKA.

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