Tinashe is just now making a name for herself, but she’s always been a part of the entertainment industry in one way or another. The Los Angeles-based star got her start as an actress at the ripe age of five — if you’re curious, look up Cora Unashamed — but made an ‘organic’ shift into music at the age of 16.
Now, at 22 years old, she’s released a successful debut album in the form of 2014’s Aquarius, her single 2 On charted in the Top 40s in America, and she’s had the support of her peers — including her Body Language collaboration with none other than Usher. Her latest feature will hit shelves this Tuesday, titled Drop That Kitty with Charli XCX and Ty Dolla $ign.
Last week, she chatted to tabloid! ahead of her RedFestDXB performance on February 12, and discussed the importance of supporting other female artists.
“I think that’s the biggest lesson that women — feminists — should always keep in mind: hard working women, we should support other hardworking people [who are] achieving great things,” she said.
She added that people who criticise singers like Beyonce are “missing the point”.
“The point is that Beyonce is an extremely successful woman, who’s just crushing it and doing it amazing. So maybe you don’t agree with everything that she does, but I think you have to focus on the bigger picture,” she said.
The singer, known for her melodic and evocative songs, is heavily involved with the creative process behind her music, writing her own material and even directing several of her own videos. Another talent of hers? Dance. Formally trained in jazz, ballet and tap, she has gained several comparisons to the late and great Aaliyah.
“I didn’t grow up listening to her music,” Tinashe admitted. “She died when I was very young. I think I was 10? So my parents never played her music around the house when I was growing up — I think they were kind of too old for her, and I was just too young. But when I grew up a little bit, I was able to then rediscover her music.”
Asked whether or not it’s been tougher to break out in the music industry as a young woman, she replied: “A hundred per cent. Isn’t tougher to be a woman in any industry?”
“People want to just think that you’re just a cute girl, pretty face, that you don’t actually have an opinion or creative perspective,” she said.
“It took me a while to establish that respect level amongst people that I work with. But that’s obviously really important to me.”
