Tinashe ‘Popstar’ Review
Gemma Imbriano reviews Tinashe’s eighth studio album ‘Popstar’, a record that reveals a different side of an artist she thought she already knew.
One Monday night, a couple of weeks ago, I heard an incredible sound coming from the radio. I Shazamed that quick. It was Melatonin by the one and only Tinashe. From that moment on, I don’t think I have given another song a chance, it’s barely left my headphones for the last two weeks. So when Popstar, Tinashe’s eighth studio album, finally arrived, I was locked in. This was a side of Tinashe I wasn’t used to hearing. The same woman behind the timeless ‘2 On’ with ScHoolboy Q. Who I thought I'd known as an R&B artist, was now diving headfirst into techno, hyperpop and electronic music. Reflecting on my initial surprise, maybe this left turn wasn’t quite as unexpected as it first seemed. Between ‘No Broke Boys’, her dance heavy recent releases and her appearance on Charli XCX’s ‘B2b featuring tinashe’, Tinashe had already been pushing further into electronic territory. Popstar feels like the moment she decided to fully embrace this side of her artistry, merging techno, house and hyperpop with the R&B sound that’s always been at the heart of her music.
Popstar is Tinashe embracing everything she is, all at once.
This album is commercially appealing without ever feeling predictable, it is as experimental as it is classic, genre hopping while still feeling completely natural, and vulnerable without ever losing its confidence. Most importantly, it centres Tinashe entirely. Her career, her position in the industry, her personal identity and ultimately her understanding of her own worth.
The multifaceted artist wastes no time getting into it. The opening track ‘Sunglasses’ immediately sets the tone with her stating “music is my religion.” Produced by experimental electronic artist and legend Arca, it’s dreamy and slightly otherworldly, immediately telling us that this isn't going to be a straightforward pop album. Then comes’ Too Easy’ the lead single released in the lead up to Popstar. Essentially, Tinashe was giving us a hint on exactly what we were in for with this release. There’s no easing into this album.
Then we’re straight into ‘Melatonin’. This track is anything but tired. In fact, it might just be my song of the year. The production is energetic and intricately layered, combining electronic percussion with processed vocals, darting synths and hyperpop inspired textures before building into an acid house influenced finish. This one is for the clubs. With this track being the song that pulled me into Tinashe in the first place, hearing it within the context of Popstar makes it even more impressive. Her ability to move between R&B, hyperpop, techno and dance while maintaining a sound that still feels distinctly her own is remarkable. It’s a perfect example of just how versatile Tinashe has become as an artist.
‘Empty Stadium’ brings the energy down slightly, but doesn't lose the electronic edge. Bassy production sits underneath lighter elements, while Tinashe sounds more exposed. ‘Flashbacks’ takes us somewhere much more familiar. Slower production and classic R&B textures give her vocals the room to do what they do best. When we get to ‘I’d Rather Be Alone’ we truly could’ve been transported back to the 2010’s. It's the kind of song you catch yourself singing with everything you've got when you're alone in your bedroom. The idea of not needing to settle runs throughout Popstar, be that in relationships or careers. There’s an unwavering sense that Tinashe knows exactly who she is, and she doesn't need anyone else to validate it, as she says on ‘Crash Out’ “I don’t wanna be humble”.
The title track, Popstar, arrives at track 13 and it makes everything make sense. It’s almost a mission statement for the entire album. Confidence, insecurity, sex, fame, ambition, loneliness and the strange reality of being Tinashe all rolled into one. Every girl needs this song in her headphones. I’ll admit I found it quite funny to have a song called ‘Brainrot’ on an album called Popstar. It is objectively funny, but it also fits perfectly into an album so interested in modern pop culture.
Finally, the closing track ‘Heavy Weight’ sounds completely different from all the tracks that came before it. Rather than ending with one last huge club moment, Tinashe strips things back and becomes vulnerable again. “I bet you think that it’s magic.” It’s a fitting way to end the album because there is something slightly magical about what Tinashe has managed to build here whilst inviting us to understand how she has felt.
Popstar is ultimately an album about becoming comfortable with the person you are, and what it’s taken to become that. While it is undeniably full of club ready moments and songs designed to get stuck in your head, there’s something much more personal underneath it. Tinashe has spent years refusing to be boxed into one genre. She’s previously spoken about her frustration with genre labels and her desire to create without being restricted by them, and Popstar feels like the fullest expression of that attitude yet. Tinashe is in a league of her own. Popstar doesn't feel like an artist desperately trying to prove she deserves the title. It feels like someone who has finally realised she never needed permission for it in the first place. I came into this album knowing Tinashe as the woman behind ‘2 On’. I’m leaving it wondering how I managed to sleep on her for so long.
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