Tinashe Brings Quantum Baby to The Brooklyn Paramount
2024 is the year of the superstar, and Tinashe’s Brooklyn stop of the “Match My Freak” tour proved why she’s one of the best. After all, since the successful release of her album Quantum Baby, who isn’t trying to be a “Nasty” Girl?
On November 4, In the heart of downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Paramount was the place to be. Fans flooded the recently opened venue, brimming with excitement, and dancing to song selections of Tyler, The Creator and Beyoncé beneath the Paramount’s glowing art deco glass ceilings.
a dreamy evening with raveena
The upbeat tempo of songs like “Sticky” don’t quite prepare you for the ethereal performances of an artist like Raveena, serving as the tour’s opening act. The stage was set with a decadent prop tree, diamonds, and stones splayed all over its white branches. Next to it, was a keyboard dressed in royal blue chiffon, adorned with Raveena’s name in neon green.
Raveena is a smooth, silky performer, lilting through tracks like “Pluto” and “Mystery” while spinning gracefully across the stage. There’s an otherworldly quality to her, voice echoing like a siren over a rapt audience while her hair blows gently in the wind of a fan.
Far from one note, Raveena took the crowd through a sultry and tempting “Baby Mama.” But seamlessly changed into the soaring and uplifting “Rise” — a track dedicated to all peoples suffering under the thumb of oppression.
“I think we both get our inspirations from the same place,” says Raveena of Tinashe, speaking to both of their early aughts R&B influences, before launching into an acoustic cover of Aaliyah’s “At Your Best.” It’s what makes Raveena such a strong opener for the tour, that she and Tinashe both have similar roots yet translate them differently.
a natural born superstar
CCTVs, massive LED panels, and a small platform were set up ahead of Tinashe’s entrance. As the lights dimmed, the large screens began to strobe, flickering with explosive visuals of Tinashe while electronic music billowed through the venue. And after a few seconds, Tinashe made her way to the stage sporting an off-white colored two piece set, paired with ripped tights and denim knee high stiletto boots. Her outfit was sexy, yet chic — perfectly summing up the performance that was set in store for fans through the night.
There’s nothing quite like a Tinashe show, which packed its near hour-and-a-half show with all the intricate handheld camera work, intense choreography, and impressive vocals that make Tinashe that girl. She started off the evening with “Getting No Sleep” and “When I Get You Alone” off QUANTUM BABY, but quickly segued into hits from previous albums like “Needs,” from 2023’s BB/ANG3L, and “Link Up” from 2019’s Songs for You.
The setlist was a tour de force of Tinashe’s best works, spanning her entire career. Debut Aquarius had its moment with “2 On” and “All Hands On Deck,” all the way up to this summer’s viral smash “Nasty.” And when the first few notes of her 2014 hit “2 On” played, the hype was tangible. Fans lost themselves in the music, screaming every lyric, and never missing a beat. Collaborations also had a spotlight, with fans screaming along to the Kaytranada feature “The Worst in Me” and Chance the Rapper’s collaboration “All My Friends.”
The set took fans through all of Tinashe’s strengths as an artist: her undeniable stage presence; catchy hooks; and dance worthy instrumentals. Lesser performers might have been overshadowed by such a strong discography, with fans getting lost in the club-like atmosphere, but Tinashe kept fans captivated all night.
MATCHING TINASHE’S FREAK
It was hard to keep your eyes on just one spot. Did you follow Tinashe herself? Or her dancers, making easy work of intense choreography through the night? The word of the night was “vibe.” The crowd swayed, whined, and gyrated to the smooth R&B tracks.
Tinashe has a strong sense of camaraderie with her fans, almost as if she is dancing with them, not just in front of them. The concert felt more like a party with Tinashe at the very center of it all. She commanded the stage, and despite the dancing crowd, she was still the center of everyone’s attention. That didn’t mean everyone was just watching her though, as tracks like “No Broke Boys” and “Throw a Fit” had fans — and even some venue staff — jumping and dancing along.
Tinashe is one of those performers that feel like a privilege to see live: she’s truly an artist at her very best and this tour is just a showcase of that. But there’s little moments, like the pause she takes at the end of the show to sign a fan’s album, where one gets the sense that the audience isn’t the only one feeling lucky.
Looking for more concert recaps? Read our recap on Atarashii Gakko’s show at Terminal 5 in New York City here!
