EMBRACING HER CREATIVE ROOTS
Tinashe is living the dream, a force to be reckoned with, a creative powerhouse who is out to show the world that artists can take control of their music and have the freedom to forge their own paths. Since parting ways with her record company RCA three years ago, she’s released two albums, an EP, she’s producing, recording, touring and adding acting credits to her achievements along the way. Busy would be an understatement – but that dream she’s living, it’s not an accident, it’s just dedication and hard work. She’s opened for some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Queen B herself, and she’s hell bent on being around for the long haul. Staying true to her R&B, pop and hip-hop roots, this summer she released a deluxe version of 333 adding four new songs. Her new video HMU For a Good Time (featuring Channel Tres) is a bangin’ EDM track that will be blasting on dance floors on both sides of the Atlantic. I sat down with Tinashe to talk about what it feels like to “go at it alone”, how she’s grown and who she wants to work with next (spoiler: it’s James Blake, James if you’re reading – hit her up!).
EMBRACING HER CREATIVE ROOTS
Tinashe is living the dream, a force to be reckoned with, a creative powerhouse who is out to show the world that artists can take control of their music and have the freedom to forge their own paths. Since parting ways with her record company RCA three years ago, she’s released two albums, an EP, she’s producing, recording, touring and adding acting credits to her achievements along the way. Busy would be an understatement – but that dream she’s living, it’s not an accident, it’s just dedication and hard work. She’s opened for some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Queen B herself, and she’s hell bent on being around for the long haul. Staying true to her R&B, pop and hip-hop roots, this summer she released a deluxe version of 333 adding four new songs. Her new video HMU For a Good Time (featuring Channel Tres) is a bangin’ EDM track that will be blasting on dance floors on both sides of the Atlantic. I sat down with Tinashe to talk about what it feels like to “go at it alone”, how she’s grown and who she wants to work with next (spoiler: it’s James Blake, James if you’re reading – hit her up!).
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You were with a major label (RCA) three years ago and now you’re independent and rocking it. Has it been a rockier road since you parted ways?
I don’t think so. I think spiritually and psychologically it’s been much easier for me. I’ve felt the kind of freedom that I never had the opportunity to feel before, and that freedom, I think it’s given me so much more confidence as a creative. I feel so much more locked into my perspective as an artist, that to me is so important, and I didn’t realize it until I felt that it was being compromised. I feel so much more fulfilled and better about myself and my artistry. At the same time, there are obviously aspects of it that are difficult. In terms of how to navigate the industry independently, to sit in conversations and be at the same table with artists that do have the big machines behind them, I think that has been a process and is a journey that I’m still working on.
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It takes a lot of balls and character to push on with your craft independently. (She pays for it all out of her own pocket). It seems like you’ve said “fuck it / fuck them, I’m going to do it my way”. I imagine it must be stressful. Plus, you do it all financially on your own.
Yeah. It can be stressful, but a lot of the time I pull out my best stuff when I have some type of pressure or pain that I can transmute into something that is powerful, exciting, or sad. So, taking this route that is a little uncertain and “riskier”, funding myself, dealing with the possibilities of how I’m going to pay for it all, it is empowering. It feels amazing that I’m in charge of my own destiny. I’m hands on and have freedom which is really important, just to have that ownership.
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It’s a dream, you are your own boss! Kudos
Thank you!
Yeah totally. It’s almost unheard of, especially in a society where everyone is working for the man. It’s hard, it’s difficult but it also feels really strong.
-
Labels view you as an R&B act predominately. How would you classify your music?
I’m influenced by so many different genres, I think that is what really sets me apart from other artists. I’m just not wanting to sit in any particular box. I think the most inclusive term is a pop act or pop artist, that’s how I view myself, with an influence from dance, to electronic, to rock, to pop to hip-hop, which ends up being a melting pot of different sounds. Everyone now listens to so many different genres and to limit yourself just doesn’t feel right to me.
-
You were with a major label (RCA) three years ago and now you’re independent and rocking it. Has it been a rockier road since you parted ways?
I don’t think so. I think spiritually and psychologically it’s been much easier for me. I’ve felt the kind of freedom that I never had the opportunity to feel before, and that freedom, I think it’s given me so much more confidence as a creative. I feel so much more locked into my perspective as an artist, that to me is so important, and I didn’t realize it until I felt that it was being compromised. I feel so much more fulfilled and better about myself and my artistry. At the same time, there are obviously aspects of it that are difficult. In terms of how to navigate the industry independently, to sit in conversations and be at the same table with artists that do have the big machines behind them, I think that has been a process and is a journey that I’m still working on.
-
It takes a lot of balls and character to push on with your craft independently. (She pays for it all out of her own pocket). It seems like you’ve said “fuck it / fuck them, I’m going to do it my way”. I imagine it must be stressful. Plus, you do it all financially on your own.
Yeah. It can be stressful, but a lot of the time I pull out my best stuff when I have some type of pressure or pain that I can transmute into something that is powerful, exciting, or sad. So, taking this route that is a little uncertain and “riskier”, funding myself, dealing with the possibilities of how I’m going to pay for it all, it is empowering. It feels amazing that I’m in charge of my own destiny. I’m hands on and have freedom which is really important, just to have that ownership.
-
It’s a dream, you are your own boss! Kudos
Thank you!
Yeah totally. It’s almost unheard of, especially in a society where everyone is working for the man. It’s hard, it’s difficult but it also feels really strong.
-
Labels view you as an R&B act predominately. How would you classify your music?
I’m influenced by so many different genres, I think that is what really sets me apart from other artists. I’m just not wanting to sit in any particular box. I think the most inclusive term is a pop act or pop artist, that’s how I view myself, with an influence from dance, to electronic, to rock, to pop to hip-hop, which ends up being a melting pot of different sounds. Everyone now listens to so many different genres and to limit yourself just doesn’t feel right to me.
-
No limits!! Who are your artistic influences?
My background, I grew up a huge fan of the pop girls in early 2000s, with Britany Spears, Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child. Just seeing that confidence, power, sensuality sexuality was a big inspiration for my artistry and what I want to be able to give people in terms of a listener experience.
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You’ve opened for Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and Beyoncé, AND Janet Jackson hand selected you. Who else would you love to add to that list? On second thought, maybe you should just be the headline act!
Yeah 1000%. I think, I’m growing into that. Playing shows with other artists is always an amazing time because you get to experience their fan base and get to be in front of new people. But yeah, you’re right, I’m really working on growing into the head line artist slot. I’m building up my shows on a really organic level and I think that playing your own shows just hits different.
-
Your latest album release is 333, how did the tour go?
Great! Lots of sold out shows, it felt so good to be back on stage after a couple of years. It was a huge lifestyle change for me, I dove into creating 333 and took that whole creative process very seriously. The US tour was so amazing and then we had a little break and did Europe in July.
-
How does it make you feel to see your audience react to your performances?
I just did a run in Europe, I sold out all these crazy shows and the fans were insane. Just seeing that really authentic and genuine build overseas, so far away from home, meant so much to me. I was so excited to be out there and hear people sing my songs, it made me feel alive again. The music really connected to people and I was able to see that first hand which was inspiring for me.
-
How do you feel you have evolved as an artist since the beginning of your career?
I think that the biggest way I’ve evolved as an artist is how I see myself. I think that has developed a lot. I’ve changed, I’ve grown and evolved. Now I look at myself as a legacy artist, someone who is going to have a very long career. Before it used to be about instant gratification, numbers and how everyone was perceiving my art.
-
You’re going to be the head liner!!
Yesss!
I’m constantly working on music. I’ve been in the studio for the last couple of days. Creativity is always tricky, it’s not always consistent. Some days are amazing somedays not, I’m still experimenting and getting inspiration. I feel like I’m getting somewhere so that’s good.
-
No limits!! Who are your artistic influences?
My background, I grew up a huge fan of the pop girls in early 2000s, with Britany Spears, Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child. Just seeing that confidence, power, sensuality sexuality was a big inspiration for my artistry and what I want to be able to give people in terms of a listener experience.
-
You’ve opened for Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and Beyoncé, AND Janet Jackson hand selected you.Who else would you love to add to that list? On second thought, maybe you should just be the headline act!
Yeah 1000%. I think, I’m growing into that. Playing shows with other artists is always an amazing time because you get to experience their fan base and get to be in front of new people. But yeah, you’re right, I’m really working on growing into the head line artist slot. I’m building up my shows on a really organic level and I think that playing your own shows just hits different.
-
Your latest album release is 333, how did the tour go?
Great! Lots of sold out shows, it felt so good to be back on stage after a couple of years. It was a huge lifestyle change for me, I dove into creating 333 and took that whole creative process very seriously. The US tour was so amazing and then we had a little break and did Europe in July.
-
How does it make you feel to see your audience react to your performances?
I just did a run in Europe, I sold out all these crazy shows and the fans were insane. Just seeing that really authentic and genuine build overseas, so far away from home, meant so much to me. I was so excited to be out there and hear people sing my songs, it made me feel alive again. The music really connected to people and I was able to see that first hand which was inspiring for me.
-
How do you feel you have evolved as an artist since the beginning of your career?
I think that the biggest way I’ve evolved as an artist is how I see myself. I think that has developed a lot. I’ve changed, I’ve grown and evolved. Now I look at myself as a legacy artist, someone who is going to have a very long career. Before it used to be about instant gratification, numbers and how everyone was perceiving my art.
-
You’re going to be the head liner!!
Yesss!
I’m constantly working on music. I’ve been in the studio for the last couple of days. Creativity is always tricky, it’s not always consistent. Some days are amazing somedays not, I’m still experimenting and getting inspiration. I feel like I’m getting somewhere so that’s good.
-
You seem like such a busy woman, apart from working on your music, what do you like to do in your free time and do you still intend to work in television?
I’m definitely focusing on my music. If anything in acting presents itself, I will definitely take those opportunities. I’m really picky what I want to be involved with and how I spend my time. I don’t have free time but mostly I try to get outside, spend time with my parents and hang out with my cat and dog. I’m lucky to have my family nearby and get to enjoy my dad’s cooking.
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If you could collaborate with any artist today, who would you choose?
James Blake!! I think we could make something really cool.
-
Does he know?
I don’t know! Please, hit him up!!
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You’re already paving your way to stardom, what’s your cherry on the cake? What I mean is, you sing, dance, write, produce and act. What’s your ultimate creative goal?
That’s a hard one for me to answer. It used to be something very tangible, I wanted to win a Grammy award so bad, that’s still a goal but it’s not at the forefront of my mind anymore. I’ve let go of tangible goals, I’ve allowed myself to have more long term and more general goals. I obviously wanted to have a number one song and a number one album, and I still do, but my biggest goal is to feel successful and feel content in whatever I’m doing musically and artistically. I could sit with that. That would be great.
-
That already sounds within your reach and definitely tangible. Sounds like you’re already living your dream!
Totally!
I am really grateful for my career and my fans. Yeah, it is the dream. I am living the dream.
-
You seem like such a busy woman, apart from working on your music, what do you like to do in your free time and do you still intend to work in television?
I’m definitely focusing on my music. If anything in acting presents itself, I will definitely take those opportunities. I’m really picky what I want to be involved with and how I spend my time. I don’t have free time but mostly I try to get outside, spend time with my parents and hang out with my cat and dog. I’m lucky to have my family nearby and get to enjoy my dad’s cooking.
-
If you could collaborate with any artist today, who would you choose?
James Blake!! I think we could make something really cool.
-
Does he know?
I don’t know! Please, hit him up!!
-
You’re already paving your way to stardom, what’s your cherry on the cake? What I mean is, you sing, dance, write, produce and act. What’s your ultimate creative goal?
That’s a hard one for me to answer. It used to be something very tangible, I wanted to win a Grammy award so bad, that’s still a goal but it’s not at the forefront of my mind anymore. I’ve let go of tangible goals, I’ve allowed myself to have more long term and more general goals. I obviously wanted to have a number one song and a number one album, and I still do, but my biggest goal is to feel successful and feel content in whatever I’m doing musically and artistically. I could sit with that. That would be great.
-
That already sounds within your reach and definitely tangible. Sounds like you’re already living your dream!
Totally!
I am really grateful for my career and my fans. Yeah, it is the dream. I am living the dream.
CREDITS
Talent - Tinashe
Photographer - Jason Kim
Creative Director - Azadeh Zoraghi
Stylist - Rafael Linares
Make-Up Artist - Marlaine Reiner
Hair Stylist - Nina J
Nail Artist - Sojin Oh
Styling Assistant - David Gomez
Casting Director - Christian Meshesha
Narcisse Magazine - Issue 12
TINASHE
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