Tinashe hints at continuing to question the nature of reality in new era, following the release of Pasadena
Over the last few weeks, we have got to enjoy, process, and live our best lives to Tinashe’s Pasadena. The Buddy assisted first single from her upcoming album (possibly titled ‘333’ as per GENIUS) left fans polarized but overall appreciative of the songs uplifting summer vibe. Maybe looking to address some of the initial feedback she had received from the track, Tinashe took advantage of release day and blessed us all with a live on her Instagram page.
While the beginning of the live was plagued with a poor Wi-Fi connection, fans were able to join T and take part in the joyous moment. Tinashe was beautiful as ever, exuding all the post song release excitement and emotions. Tinashe experienced a mix bag of fans during her live, some who had not heard the new song yet, some who could not connect, but also some very charming and sweet fans that shared their memories of the singer.
My huge takeaway from the live was not only realizing how thirsty and desperate I probably appeared trying to go live with her. Which, was only because I have burning questions that I KNOW the fans want answers to, such as:
Is there an official title for the album already?
Will you be doing any more promo for the single, aside from IG live and the press release?
Will there be more production from Oliver Malcom on the album (Because we love Pasadena and Songs For You cuts – Stormy Weather and So Much Better)?
Will we ever see the Ghetto Boy music video? (DYING FOR THIS ANSWER)
Nevertheless, the major takeaway was what Tinashe divulged about her next album. In addition to having fans join her live, she was able to do a Q&A. Some of the questions were lighthearted, asking about the fun she had making the new song and the overall tone of the upcoming album (“Will we be getting POPnashe?” – The answer is partly yes, as we know Tinashe loves to be unexpected and not be boxed in). But the question that stood out to me was when a fan asked about the artwork for Pasadena, referring to how Tinashe is wearing VR goggles. The fan asked:
What’s the inspiration behind the photo? Virtual reality?
I edited Tinashe’s response to the question for you below, but I have to say it was a pleasure to see her enjoy the question and have the opportunity to share the meaning. I am SO glad that someone asked a GENIUINE question about her art because I believe it truly gives us a glimpse into how multifaceted Tinashe is as a creative.
I appreciate Tinashe’s philosophical perspective on reality and enjoy how she blends it into her music so effortlessly. This has been a big part of why I love her and her music since I discovered her Reverie mixtape (my first Tinashe song was Ecstasy). So, to hear that this theme of questioning the reality of life and reality manifestation is continuing has me VERY geeked. Be it that I am a SUPER fan and have been following her music since she introduced this theme, I have broken down each song/visual since her Reverie mixtape where I feel this has come through.
Tinashe mentioned that we will get more of this in the coming era, but it all began with Tinashe's 2012 sophomore mixtape, Reverie.
Reverie (literally means being in a dream)
Fear Not – The track opens with a spoken introduction about the contradictions that exist in the world to which Tinashe boldly responds with a proclamation that she is trying to live with her cause and with the intention to break out of society’s mold - to love and live free.
Illusions – Tinashe has accepted that what we perceive IS NOT as we think it is. This quick interlude expresses Tinashe’s position that “this life is an illusion”. Further assuring listeners that if you are not happy with who you are, that’s actually good news! “You’re not who you think you are, who you think you are is – is who you think you are”
Reverie – Tinashe’s hypnotizing chorus tells it like it is – “We are in our reverie and everything you thought you knew isn’t what it seems… The truth will set you free”. Tinashe uses the verses as an opportunity to wake us up to what is happening all around us:
We've been eating these lies
And they've been feeding us all lies
What happened to our blue skies?
Yo, they be getting us young, learn to love institution
Aquarius
Aquarius – The title track from her debut album sets the tone for what will become synonymous with Tinashe’s sound – dark, moody, understated, and beautiful. The statement is bold for so many reasons: Tinashe is an Aquarius herself, this is the dawning of her debut/foray into the mainstream, and the opportunity to show people that she is multifaceted and that there is depth to the messages in her music. She confidently sings:
In a world full of darkness, a brand-new age has finally begun
This life right here won’t hold me down
The government, the media, want us blind, blind
And my mind, mind, mind numb, numb, numb
Time, time, times gone, gone
Nightride
Lucid Dreaming – Tinashe mentioned this song in her IG live. She sings “If there's one thing I've learned, it's that it's up to me”, sharing the realization that perhaps reality is what you make it. The track concludes with a male vocal sample speaking about lucid dreaming and that “the mind can manifest reality”.
Promotional video for Nightride – I must preface this one with my opinion that THIS video displays the artist that Tinashe WAS/IS at the time that it was released. She had tried to show us SINCE the beginning that she wants to say SO much more than that what she might have been able to (see label drama). This is evidenced in the beginning of the video when she says:
I am so sick of trying to appease everyone, you’re right, I’m wrong
You have to be a soldier, you have to be willing every day to go out here and look at the world and say ‘Hey I know this situation is fucked up and I know it isn’t fair, but you gotta enjoy it for what it is’
SHE WAS ON TO SOMETHING here. At the ending of the visual, you can hear Tinashe declaring “I can change the world”, which again lends itself to this ideology that she is expressing through her art. Anything is possible for someone who has learned to control their reality.
Trailer for the Ghetto Boy video – Right off the bat we hear the voice of the legendry Allan Watts posing the question, “What would it be like to go to sleep and never wake up… you will find out among other things – that it will pose another question. What was it like to wake up after never having gone to sleep?” This is pulled from his lecture titled Who Are You Really? Allan Watts is famous for being a pioneer in spreading eastern thought, philosophy, and questioning the true nature of reality. I was SUPER excited to see where Tinashe was going to take this especially with this track, it was definitely one of the standouts from Nightride (AND co-written and produced by Dev Hynes, you know…BLOOD ORANGE)
I feel like after this Tinashe maybe hit the brakes on further exploring this concept in her music, as I did not feel it was present in the Songs For You era. However, I cannot wait to see where she takes it. At any rate, if Genius is right about her album being titled 333, it would not be a bad thing. Seeing as the internet tells us that 333 is an invitation from the universe to move forward.
Lastly, I want to end with just HOW MUCH FUN I had going back through all her mixtapes hoping not to forget anything that I could connect to this piece. Man, I have SO many memories to songs like “Ecstasy”, “Wanderer” (I personally connect to this song on so many levels), and “Worth It” (Because that SAX SOLO - I still have an MP3 rip of JUST the solo that never gets old). I encourage everyone to check out Pasadena and keep an eye out for more coverage on Tinashe in the coming weeks here on RNBNerd.com.
