Credit: Sully Sullivan
For Ranky Tanky, every song begins with the heartbeat of the Lowcountry. On their new single, “Be Alright,” that pulse takes on new shape and meaning as the Charleston-based quintet channels the spirit of Gullah resilience into a modern affirmation. The two-time GRAMMY Award winners have always turned community into sound, and with this release, they invite listeners deeper into that circle. The result is a song that steadies the soul and reminds us that rhythm itself can be an act of faith.
Listen to the song here, or watch a live performance recorded at the Charleston Gaillard Center below.
Mixed by Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, The Revivalists), “Be Alright” offers the first look at the group’s forthcoming album, This Village, set for release in 2026. The single arrives as both a reassurance and a renewal.
Built around Quiana Parler’s commanding, tender, and unflinching voice, the track leans into a deep pocket laid down by Kevin Hamilton on bass and Quentin E. Baxter on drums, while Charlton Singleton’s trumpet lifts the melody into the air like a prayer answered in real time. Clay Ross’s guitar threads through it all—rhythmic and bright—giving the song its heartbeat.
“As long as we stick together as a family and community, it’ll be alright,” says Singleton. “As long as we keep the faith, it’ll be alright. Those are two of the sayings and ways of life I grew up surrounded by in the Gullah community.”
Ross recalls that the song was born in an offhand moment. “The phrase came from something Quiana sang during a soundcheck,” he says. “I built the lyrics around that spark, wanting to connect with how Gullah music transforms pain into praise and struggle into song. ‘Be Alright’ carries a spirit of hope and joy. Our mission has always been to honor and uplift the Gullah tradition, guided by the voices who come directly from it, and to share its message of strength, love, and community with the world.”
Ranky Tanky’s catalog has always lived at the intersection of history and groove, where ancestral rhythm meets present-day urgency. Over the past decade, the band has transformed Gullah roots into a living, breathing language of American music—earning two GRAMMY Awards for Best Regional Roots Album, topping Billboard’s Jazz chart, and bringing their message to audiences worldwide through performances on NPR’s Fresh Air, The TODAY Show, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
In 2025, the band was named to Charleston Magazine’s “50 Most Influential” list, recognizing their ongoing role in shaping the city’s cultural identity and amplifying Gullah heritage on a global stage.
“Be Alright” finds the band leaning further into its purpose—a reminder that what sustains us is connection. That the groove, like faith, keeps us moving. And that no matter what, when we lift our voices together, it will be alright.
For more information and a list of tour dates, visit rankytanky.com.