Multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter, producer, DJ and entertainment ace Tinashe proves she’s light years ahead of the pop game in her eighth studio album, Popstar. Released on September 25, the 16-track project instantly captured the attention of music aficionados with its prismatic tracklist and intimate narratives. Popstar is an unfiltered commentary on what being on the pop music pedestal entails, and Tinashe has plenty to say after spending over a decade vying for respect in the industry. Told through a paradigm-pushing blend of genres only an artist as tenacious as Tinashe could execute, she chronicles the Odyssey-esque journey she’s endured and why she continues to stand on stage despite it all.
The Popstar Poster Girl
Popstar hooks listeners from the jump with the psychedelic “Sunglasses.” The track features unmistakable experimental production by avant-pop pioneer, Arca, alongside Tinashe’s frequent collaborator, Machinedrum. “Sunglasses” describes Tinashe’s unwavering commitment to music and how she will forever find herself engrossed in the art form. She repeats like a manifestation above hypnotic vocal splices: “Eyes straight forward, I see tunnel vision / Speaker so loud, music my religion.” As a self-proclaimed “independent shorty,” this opener, and Popstar by extension, prove that Tinashe is unwilling to compromise her artistry.
Popstar’s first pre-release single, “Too Easy,” succeeds “Sunglasses” with a resonant drum rhythm that instantly feels anthemic. Tinashe’s vocals take a backseat in the chorus to let the pulsating pop beats courtesy of kimj shine, and also make way for a dance break choreographed by the iconic JaQuel Knight. In the satirical music video, Tinashe proves that she is a one of a kind talent that can’t be replicated (or whose nachos famously can’t be reheated). Her influence on the pop genre, especially in K-pop, is undeniable, as her sonic and visual execution is nothing short of blueprint-worthy.
The seamless transition from “Too Easy” into “Melatonin” is one of a WeHo DJ’s dreams with “Melatonin” in and of itself resembling a DJ mix with its uncompromised melting pot of genres. The certified club-ready anthem even shouts out those who get emotional when exiting the function — seemingly self-aware of this track’s target demographic. “Melatonin” is another request from Tinashe to receive her rightfully deserved flowers as she compares the sleep-regulating hormone to how she has been “slept on” or overlooked. This call to action segues into the raw “Empty Stadium,” which detours from the high-octane dance tracks.
Just like how melatonin can evoke strange dreams, “Empty Stadium” depicts a nightmare that every artist fears. Tinashe recounts: “When I realize I’m alone, I’ve been singing so long and nobody hears it / And I’m just standing on the stage just waiting for applause that’ll never exist.” The track’s haunting trills and strings carry into the adagio piano in “Flashbacks.” It’s a classic Tinashe tune with suggestive lyricism, but its ambiance steers toward slow and sensual as opposed to upbeat.
“We Live In A Society”
As “Flashbacks” fades out, listeners are welcomed with the first interlude, “Overdramatic.” Tinashe confidently sings about her self-proclaimed “baddie” status with a playful melody over the track’s trap beats. The song’s distinct neo-soul blend, despite its short runtime, had fans hoping for an extended version in the potential scenario of a deluxe album.
“Overdramatic” leads into the emotionally charged “I’d Rather Be Alone” which dropped as a surprise to fans alongside “Pillow Fight.” The electro-pop-focused track delves into the heartwrenching realization that you’re better off alone rather than trapped in a one-sided relationship. This solemn vibe doesn’t last as “Crash Out” enters with a bass-heavy crunk-and-b beat that feels like an upgrade of early hits from Aquarius.
You might have seen that video of Tinashe smashing a car and writing “CRASH OUT” on its side — while some believed it, others knew another single was on the horizon. As the song’s title suggests, Tinashe confronts those who like trolling on her image, calling them out for hiding behind a screen but not being able to rebut: “How you talk shit, but can’t back it up? / ‘Bout to hit a switch, ’bout to cut ’em off.”
Putting her frustrations aside, Tinashe transports us to the flirty “Pillow Fight.” Adding to Tinashe’s amatory catalog, “Pillow Fight” joins “Bouncin’” and “Nasty” as another bedroom favorite track. She samples the dreamlike sounds of Alony’s “Skylight” and Laura Branigan’s “Self Control” in this jazztronica and alternative R&B blend. Not shying away from her sexual confidence, Tinashe expresses that she’s not as innocent as she seems.
The vibe switches up on “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore,” whose industrial rock tinge even spurred the nickname “Nine Inch Nashe” in reference to the band Nine Inch Nails. Though she questions the intentions of those who refuse to dance, it does not stop Tinashe whatsoever — emphasizing the ongoing theme of Tinashe unabashedly living her own truth. The album circles back into an introspective lens after critiquing the scene with the deep house funk of “Twentyfive Eight.” Tinashe reflects on the truth behind her hustle like a therapy session: “Spendin’ the days and nights climbin’ the ladder to nowhere / Get so emotional thinkin’ ‘bout who I used to be / If you win the rat race and you come in first place / Then you’re still a rat.” After describing her overtime grind, “The Show Must Go On” interludes into the cautionary tale of “Popstar.”
Weight Off Her Shoulders
Hollywood life is meant to be glamorous, and though it is on occasion, Tinashe questions the price of fame. In “Popstar,” she critiques the performative nature of the industry and how naivety can cause young hopefuls to romanticize a dangerous lifestyle. The album’s namesake showcases the alternative R&B sound Kingdom honed with artists like Kelela, fused with the addictive melodies of pop hits penned by Ricky Reed. The track ends with background echoes of fans screaming and camera flashes going off.
The Tinashe-cosigned Janet Jackson deep cut, “Empty,” feels like an early precursor to the subsequent track, “Brainrot” — a title used to describe the emptiness caused by an unfulfilling, repetitive lifestyle. The monotonous, robotic tone used to repeat the song’s title throughout “Brainrot” reflects the song’s message. This numbness is left behind once the tempo speeds up as we head into one of the album’s final tracks.
Tinashe’s spirits lift in the hyperpop-inspired “Cloud 9,” where its prominent bass drums feel like the opening of a new journey. Tinashe embraces a euphoric feeling for someone, comparing the sensation to being on cloud nine. The outro’s beat drop feels like a last dance-pop hurrah before the album’s final track, “Heavy Weight.”
“Heavy Weight” strips down the electrifying energy from the previous tracks and closes it all out with just her vocals and an acoustic guitar. The track carries the weight of the emotional exhaustion Tinashe has been burdened with since her youth. As the “oldest daughter” of her family, she’s always felt pressure to set an example — one heightened by her decision to pursue a career in entertainment. Tinashe closes Popstar by finally having the strength to share the truths she held back since she stepped onto the scene.
What’s Next For Nashe
The Popstar era sparked the “uplift Tinashe” movement across social media with audiences everywhere sharing their admiration for Tinashe’s consistent quality and resilience throughout the years. The movement paid off big time when Tinashe took to Instagram to share, “Yall really uplifted me all the way to a #6 debut on the Billboard 200 chart.” This feat makes Popstar Tinashe’s highest-charting album and first-ever top 10 placement on the Billboard 200.
Tinashe has a myriad of exciting plans lined up to celebrate the project’s momentous release. Popstar’s tracklist will make its on-stage debut during three headline shows entitled “Three Nights with a Popstar” in the United States.
Tinashe also sold out her upcoming intimate live performance and Q&A on October 22 at Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace in LA hosted by The Grammy Museum. If you are still looking to catch Tinashe onstage, she was recently announced as a special guest on Harry Styles’s “Together, Together Tour” during his stops in Phoenix, Arizona on April 2 and 3.
Popstar is now available to stream on music platforms. “Save Room” for Tinashe and follow her on Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
Interested in more new releases from the pop realm? Check out EnVi’s album breakdown on Indonesian girl group no na’s debut album, Island Girl!
