Early Career and Influences
- Tinashe began acting at five years old and always enjoyed performing. 2m41s
- At 14, she joined a girl group to gain experience, even though she wanted to be a solo artist. 6m21s
- Tinashe's family moved to Los Angeles to support her career, and she felt a sense of pride and confidence knowing she was helping to support her family financially. 5m18s
- 6m24s Tinashe's first experience recording in major studios and songwriting began when she went on tour with Justin Bieber, which opened doors for her as an artist.
- 6m41s After her time with the girl group ended, Tinashe decided to pursue solo endeavors and started making music on her own due to a lack of access to studios and collaborators.
- 7m15s Tinashe learned how to use music production software and equipment through YouTube tutorials and began creating and uploading her own music and videos online.
- 7m45s This DIY approach helped Tinashe gain initial attention from record labels and was crucial in her early career.
- 8m6s Tinashe believes that getting her own recording equipment and starting to record music in her room was a pivotal step in taking control of her narrative as an artist.
- 8m27s She recorded her first two mixtapes quickly and connected with producers and collaborators via Twitter, maintaining a DIY spirit.
Transition to Major Label and Challenges
- 9m1s Tinashe's studio debut album "Aquarius" on RCA took two years to complete, a process that was different from her previous work due to the involvement of high-profile producers and the need to adjust to a slower pace.
- 9m54s Tinashe learned the importance of maintaining her perspective and negotiating her ideas while working with major producers and being the only woman in most studio sessions.
- 10m31s After signing with a major label, Tinashe scored a hit with "2 On," but disagreements with the label over her follow-up projects led to the need for a fresh start.
- 10m47s The success of "2 On" was followed by challenges when subsequent singles did not perform as well, leading to feelings of insecurity and doubt.
- 11m58s Tinashe managed these challenges by focusing on making music she loved, such as her album "Nightride," but struggled when she couldn't finalize her next album.
- 12m27s Tinashe's "Joy Ride" album was completed much earlier than her record label anticipated, leading to a four-year gap between her first and second albums.
- 12m55s This period was challenging for Tinashe, affecting her self-confidence and sense of direction.
- 13m7s Despite believing that everyone had good intentions, Tinashe acknowledges that some poor business decisions were made.
- 13m26s Tinashe felt unsupported at times but viewed it as a learning process for both herself and the label.
- 14m1s Tinashe learned to stay present and not let low moments overwhelm her, understanding that nothing lasts forever.
- 14m27s Reflecting on her albums, Tinashe feels "Joy Ride" was disjointed, while "Night Ride" was one of her best projects, fully representing her creativity.
Going Independent and Redefining Success
- 15m29s After "Joy Ride," Tinashe decided to go independent, realizing the relationship with her label was not beneficial.
- 15m58s The label allowed her to leave her contract, which she appreciated as a kind gesture.
- 16m17s At 25, Tinashe moved out of her parents' house and made significant life and career changes, including setting up a home studio.
- 16m47s Tinashe believes successful collaboration requires an open mind and understanding boundaries.
- 17m16s Around this time, Tinashe also changed her entire team, including management and styling, which involved difficult conversations.
- 18m2s Tinashe had anxiety about leaving the industry "machine," fearing she might not compete in the same spaces or be blacklisted.
- 18m27s Tinashe leveraged her experience, loyal fan base, and confidence to motivate herself despite the challenges.
- 18m51s She found it empowering to take full responsibility for her decisions after being released from her record deal.
- 19m8s Freed from her deal, Tinashe released music on her own terms, impressing critics and delighting fans, culminating in her biggest record.
- 19m36s Her goals for going independent included making whatever she wanted and proving she was still active in the music industry.
- 20m5s Each of her records has a distinct identity, and her creative process involves an exploratory phase before honing in on a specific sound.
- 21m18s Tinashe adapted to changes in the music industry, making her projects more frequent and shorter to match current consumption trends.
- 22m22s She released her current project in three parts to give each song a chance to shine and maintain consistent releases.
- 22m41s The success of her record "Nasty" was particularly gratifying, as it broke through in a significant way, receiving positive feedback from peers.
- 23m36s Tinashe defines success as creating the art she wants, connecting with fans, and being creatively fulfilled rather than focusing on numbers or charts.
- 24m4s Looking ahead, she aims to achieve personal fulfillment in her career without setting specific bars of success like a number one song or a Grammy.
Future Goals and Perspective on Success
- Tinashe states that she wants to perform larger shows, release more music, and purchase a house. 24m41s
- She believes that patience is important and that things will happen according to the universe's timing, which may differ from personal timelines. 24m59s
- Tinashe finds that success at age 31, compared to 21, brings a sense of inner peace and is less reliant on external validation. 25m51s
