Tinashe: Broke Boys, Golf Bros & Short Kings

Early Music Career and Industry Pressures [00:00:00]

• Tinashe's music career began at age 14 in a girl group.
• She experienced the music industry firsthand, including touring and studio work.
• A significant early experience was opening for Justin Bieber on his "My World" tour.

  "I still to this day probably have not heard like decibel levels in a in an arena that loud like the girls screams the screams were out of this world."

Navigating Marketing and Authenticity [00:05:00]

• Tinashe felt confusion around how to market her unique sound after the success of "2 On."
• She had to push back against expectations to "water down" or change her artistic identity.
• The industry often tries to fit artists into predefined boxes like "Britney" or "Beyoncé."

  "but at some point they carved their own lane of course and so you have to have an open mind in industries to allow people to be like i'm gonna disrupt this in my way."

The Threat of Being "Shelved" [00:10:00]

• Tinashe discusses the pressure to conform to avoid being "shelved" by a record label.
• Being "shelved" means a label stops funding a project, leaving an artist in limbo.
• She recounts experiences of older men in suits dismissing her ideas.

  "you know you want to work with the people who are you're working with and you want to be somewhat cooperative but it would be it would be really interesting being in these rooms with these older men and it would only be me and i would just be like i think i think it should be like this."

Support System and Mental Well-being [00:15:00]

• Tinashe relied on her family for support during difficult industry experiences.
• The music industry can be isolating and lonely, making self-advocacy hard for young artists.
• Protecting mental health and well-being is crucial, though challenging in the industry.

  "it can be super tough and it's very isolating it's very lonely a lot of times you are the only person in these places and and in these rooms and advocating for yourself as a young person can be hard for sure and it and it's so intimidating."

The "POP STAR" Album and Artistic Identity [00:20:00]

• Tinashe's latest album, "POP STAR," explores classic pop star tropes.
• The album features a variety of genres, including dance, hip-hop, pop, and R&B.
• She views "pop star" as an umbrella term, challenging exclusive genre definitions.

  "i wanted to put out a body of work that represented all of the things that make me me and like we said earlier i don't subscribe to like one particular sound one particular genre."

Personal Contradictions and Vulnerability [00:25:00]

• Tinashe identifies as both introverted and extroverted, enjoying solitude and entertaining.
• She uses her art as a safe space to express vulnerability that might be difficult in daily life.
• Balancing confidence and vulnerability is a personal ongoing process.

  "i use my art as kind of the funnel for my vulnerability i think it kind of gives you a safe safety net in a sense because it's art and it's under the guise of art."

Dating Approach and Situationships [00:30:00]

• Tinashe is currently single and approaching dating with intentionality, avoiding apps.
• She believes in taking time to "research" potential partners.
• Past career focus led her to prioritize career over serious relationships.

  "i've genuinely felt that if i had gotten into a serious relationship a bit earlier in my life that i had fears that i wouldn't have felt fulfilled in my career."

The "No Broke Boys" Rule [00:35:00]

• Tinashe's song "No Broke Boys" reflects her dating standards.
• The "broke" aspect refers to both financial and emotional/mental emptiness.
• She shares a past experience of being a "sugar mama" and regretting it.

  "girl i'm not gonna lie there was a couple times i was taking cash out of the atm no you're like this is for dinner i was like uh here you go i was pissed too pissed oh my god."

Social Media and Trust [00:40:00]

• Tinashe prefers partners who are not overly active on social media.
• She has experienced being deceived by information found on social media.
• Discovering infidelity or hidden relationships through social media is a common issue.

  "i found out so much stuff via social media but that's the thing like they're not that smart so it's really easy it's really it's too easy."

DJ Promoters and Height Preferences [00:45:00]

• Tinashe's standards exclude DJs and club promoters, based on past experiences.
• She prefers taller partners, humorously stating a minimum height preference.
• Her mother's opinions on dating partners have influenced her perspective.

  "i mean like am i kind of trolling like i'm exaggerating a little bit but i do like tall guys i agree."

Physical Attraction and Chemistry [00:50:00]

• Tinashe requires immediate physical attraction to consider a man.
• Intangible qualities like confidence and comfort also play a role in chemistry.
• She acknowledges that pheromones and scent can be deal-breakers.

  "i am not really sexually attracted to someone that i'm not like attracted to by my eyeballs so if i don't like immediately already like see it for you then i'm not gonna get to that place."

Emotionally Unavailable Partners [00:55:00]

• Situationships are a common sign of emotional unavailability.
• Tinashe finds situationships more painful than defined relationships that end.
• She admits to having feelings in casual arrangements and experiencing "cat and mouse" dynamics.

  "i mean i think it's easy when you're busy you got a lot going on you're like let's just you know let's see how this goes and i think that's the thing it's like there's a lot of upfront chemistry and excitement."

Healing from Breakups and Self-Abandonment [01:00:00]

• Tinashe describes healing from breakups as taking years, not just days.
• She has learned that "potential is just potential" and not to hold onto what could be.
• Lying to oneself and self-abandonment are painful aspects of relationship cycles.

  "i've learned that it's worse to look back and admit i lied to myself when i always knew better i was like yeah oh because then you're basically self-abandoning totally in these moments."

The "Crash Out" Music Video Stunt [01:05:00]

• The sledgehammer car-smashing stunt for "Crash Out" was a publicity gag.
• Tinashe wanted a "gaggy moment" to promote her album "POP STAR."
• She found the sledgehammer surprisingly heavy and challenging to wield.

  "well at the end of the day my album's called pop star and a lot of the themes surrounding it are like classic like pop star tropes whether it be like performances or stunts so i was like we should do a stunt."

Dealing with Internet Hate and Societal Expectations [01:10:00]

• Tinashe has experienced shifts in public perception, from "butt of the joke" to "internet darling."
• She developed thicker skin over time, though criticism that taps into insecurities is still difficult.
• The pressure to be a "good girl" and palatable is something she rejects, valuing authentic self-expression.

  "i think in my life career i think there's also like this framing around what people expect of me what people expect of women what people expect of i guess yeah being a professional."

Evolving Confidence and Future Success [01:15:00]

• Tinashe has journeyed from intense self-doubt to a confident self-acceptance.
• She no longer needs external validation to define her worth or artistic process.
• Future success for her means continuing to create art comfortably and sustainably.

  "i've taken it all the way there to where i cared a lot about what people thought all the way to not caring at all and it's way better over here."