Tinashe is set to tour Australia for the first time this month after the release her debut album, 'Aquarius'.
Since its release last year, ‘Aquarius’ has been a commercial and critical success, hitting the charts in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Australia. It’s not hard to see why; ‘Aquarius’ heralds a new age of R&B with its inspired sound, mature songwriting and collaborations with notable urban artists, including: A$AP Rocky, Future and Schoolboy-Q.
As her first major studio release – Tinashe previously released a number of mixtapes: ‘In Case We Die’ (2012), ‘Reverie’ (2012) and ‘Black Water’ (2013) – Tinashe reflects that while it was exciting process, recording her debut album was also challenging. “'Aquarius' was a very collaborative [process] with a lot of new people, so that was a new experience working face to face. With the mixtapes, I was kind of writing all of the music on my own in my room. I think 'Aquarius' has a different vibe because of that.”
'Aquarius' marks a departure from the contemporary R&B sound of her mixtapes to include elements of pop, indie and electronic; reminiscent of a new genre emerging from the urban scene that some have labelled as PBR&B, a genre linked to artists like Frank Ocean and The Weeknd. “[I’m] about trying new things and blending genres and experimenting with the sounds… that's the beauty of creativity in that you can do whatever you want with it. It’ll be exciting to see where [PBR&B] goes in the next few years,” Tinashe says.
Lyrically, the album represents where the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter is in her life. “I think all of my art is a reflection of where I am. Like at the time of being a 21-year-old woman in the recording industry was reflected as I was writing that album. I think every project will be an evolution. So that is what that project said, it'll be interesting to see what the next one says.”
The biggest single from album so far is ‘2 On’, which features West Coast rapper, Schoolboy-Q. “For me, ['2 On' is] about being really hyped and being really excited about something. It's also in the literal sense, when you're kind of faded [but] you're kind of feeling really good. Extra awesome… Like when you’re ‘on’ and when you're just like ‘too on’.”
The release of 'Aquarius' has seen the young artist receive favourable comparisons to Janet Jackson and the late Aaliyah. “You have to take [the comparisons] as a compliment as the people I'm being compared to I really respect. At the end of the day, I obviously want to be known as myself. I hope as people get to know me more, that those artist comparisons will stop.”
While her releases only go back to 2012, Tinashe has been recording and performing since she was 14, starting in the all-girl group, The Stunners. At the same time she suffered from high-school bullying. But it was these experiences that shaped her as an artist. “It pushed me to pursue my goals sooner and not wait to pursue a career and just dive into it. I think it made me really like school but focus on my music career.”
Much like how her album doesn’t confine itself to one genre, Tinashe doesn’t confine herself to one particular talent; she also has an impressive acting resume, appearing in ‘Two And A Half Men’ as Jake’s girlfriend Celeste Burnett, and in ‘The Polar Express’ alongside Tom Hanks. She reflects that acting could be something she returns to. “I hope to get back into it in the future, but for me it's nice to pursue music. I want people to know that at the end of the day, music comes first for me and I'm a music artist first and foremost.”
Written by Nicholas Ivanovic
Tinashe Tour Dates
Sun 15 Feb - The Triffid (Brisbane)Wed 18 Feb - Metro Theatre (Sydney)
Fri 20 Feb - The Hi-Fi (Melbourne)
