Exclusive: Tinashe Talks New Album, Janet Jackson Collaboration, Ciara Comparisons & More

Published: Friday 19th Sep 2014 by Sam

Having dominated this Summer with club banger ‘2 On’, Tinashe is gearing up to unleash her debut album ‘Aquarius’ on the masses on October 7th.

With a sea of new names impacting the industry almost daily, the 21-year-old’s unique brand of sweet grittiness has resonated particularly well with critics and the record-buying public alike.

That Grape Juice caught with the rising star recently and chatted with her about a number of topics – including, of course, her LP, her wishes to collaborate with Pop queen Janet Jackson, the incessant Ciara comparisons, her inspirations and much more.

As ever, we ask the questions you really want answers to.

Check out our candid interview with a refreshingly frank Tinashe above…

tinashe-3-thatgrapejuice

{Photo credit: That Grape Juice / Seye Isikalu}

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  1. Beysus September 17, 2014

    This album needs to be a great body of work. Promotion has to go through the roof with this cause we don’t her ending up like the long list of Beyonce lessors… Which realistically COULD happen!

    • Beysus September 17, 2014

      *don’t want

    • Sara September 17, 2014

      STFU!!!
      Tinashe is old and fresh while Beyoncé is old and pruned!!!

      • Beysus September 17, 2014

        “Tinashe is old” DEAD

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  2. Kyle September 17, 2014

    I think now days more than ever it’s difficult to break through as a female R&B artist so it’s nice to see Tinashe doing her thing and being successful. She comes across very humble and down to earth in her interviews so this was a good watch! I’ll definitely grab a copy of “Aquarius” when it drops on 10/7!!

    • #TeamTinashe Stan (Pre Order “Aquarius” Now On iTunes) September 17, 2014

      Yay!

  3. HOTSTUFF September 17, 2014

    i like this girl. if u ever read this tho, MAKE MORE upbeat URBAN/POP music and slowly go fully pop/alternative or you will be a hot FLOP. Feels like vegas, Pretend are cute tracks but not single material (just good for the album) ! There’s no time for boring ass rnb songs, the genre is practically dead…( doesn’t mean u can’t do it but take notes on RIHSUS…. )

  4. AmbeRussell September 17, 2014

    I don’t seeit happening for here. Do I like her? Yeah, she’s cute, decent voice, dances well and does more choreography that is not just “1 and 2 spin, lick lips , hair flip and twerk, touch body, lick lips, hair lip other way & shake ass”. But as stated above, it is hard for female rnb singers to pop off and make a big impression in the music market right me. She is no different than sevyn streeter and we see how she turned out. But this girl had a summer smash so hopefully that will aid her when the album drops, though no other song has reall stuck like “2 on” has

  5. MMF September 17, 2014

    I love some Janet but stfu about calling her the pop queen. The only people that ever give her that title are the black queens that post on this blog. The world knows it’s Madonna if you like her or not

    • SH September 17, 2014

      B*******. Janet deserves the title, because not only does she belong to music’s royal family, but she has inspired legions of artists and has set industry records that have yet to be broken.

    • DerMc83 September 17, 2014

      It’s not a real title anyways. Folks get too carried away with these fake as titles. Some folks get really upset like its a real monarchy.

  6. Tisha September 17, 2014

    Parts of your site still aren’t working for iPhone users.

  7. FutureCIARA September 17, 2014

    I wish the best for her.

    • There once was a pimp and his h**…. September 17, 2014

      Wait a minute, your name is “YAWN’ce Can’t sing” yet you show a video of Beyonce embarrassing the hell out of some undercover fan who had a sign that claims she can’t sing.
      #Dazed and Confused

  8. CherylSoldierr September 17, 2014

    Cute

  9. #TeamTinashe Stan (Pre Order “Aquarius” Now On iTunes) September 17, 2014

    I love how my fave is so different from all
    the people they compare her to. Can’t wait when this album
    comes out and she’ll show everyone who she really is.
    http://youtu.be/3Q3GCfYBr90

    • CherylSoldierr September 17, 2014

      Eh

      • #TeamTinashe Stan (Pre Order “Aquarius” Now On iTunes) September 17, 2014

        ?

      • NOLIES September 17, 2014

        @tinashestan IGNORE LOCAL THOTS!!!!

      • CherylSoldierr September 17, 2014

        Tinashe is local lol

      • #TeamTinashe Stan (Pre-Order “Aquarius” Now On iTunes) September 17, 2014

        My everyday bottom…. smh.
        You still trying to get me to like your deportee fave? Well it ain’t going to happen, keep trying.

      • CherylSoldierr September 17, 2014

        U got all that from an “eh”? Death! Pressedttttt

      • #TeamTinashe Stan (Pre-Order “Aquarius” Now On iTunes) September 18, 2014

        I was referring to your “local” comment. It seemed shady and I didn’t like the “Eh” comment either. 🙂

      • CherylSoldierr September 18, 2014

        She is local though. That’s a fact. So it was ironic that that troll posted it, when Tinashe is the most local of them all. Worry about keeping feels like a flop in the iTunes top 200. Don’t worry about me or my fave babe.

  10. Nikko September 17, 2014

    Why did this clown bring up beyonce in the interview it’s obvious she only cares about her true inspirations Janet and Britney…..

  11. There once was a pimp and his h**…. September 17, 2014

    She seems real sweet. I’m actually surprised she really wants to collaborate with other females. Most females I see make it so obvious that they want to be the only one dominating so it’s refreshing to hear this from her. I’m definitely going to be checking for her music.
    #Not bad honey

  12. A. September 17, 2014

    Sam, what happened to the Brandy interview? its been some weeks since it was recorded

    could u tell us at least if its coming next week, or next month?

  13. NOLIES September 17, 2014

    O.k. This was a cute interview. She gave homage and it was genuine. You can’t help in her for that. Gotta wish it to happen for her.

  14. Mingxxx September 17, 2014

    She is o.k and i mean o.k. she shouldnt pull any stunts like queen of copy beyonce who was caught lip synching on video .. for the got the runs paris show by an upset fan who felt the fake b**** was trying to dupe the a.ssholes who brought tickets
    just be you and sing. not a fake fraud lip synch like beyonce

  15. did you say Justin Bieber,one Direction,ladygaga,miley or beyoncè September 17, 2014

    Her pic be giving me Aaliyah tea,like after c-error they should have learnt u can’t recreate Aaliyah her family have copyright but #kermitpic

  16. Stephy. September 17, 2014

    Her head & facial structure is annoying. But, get your money boo.

    • #TeamTinashe Stan (Pre Order “Aquarius” Now On iTunes) September 17, 2014

      Let’s see your face 🙂

  17. justin September 17, 2014

    I want her to do some deep, smooth Sade/Late 90s Janet type of music. I also want her to do some pop songs too with African stuff she did in Staying Afloat. What’s wrong with her putting some jazz in music? I’m gonna need her to stop trying to be like Rihanna, Beyonce, Ashanti and Britney Spears too. I just want my baby Tinashe to be dope, CLASSY and unique. Ima need my baby to stop lieing about things too.

    • Queen booboo September 18, 2014

      Lying about what??

      • justin September 18, 2014

        *lying
        I dint think she made all the beats to her mixtapes by herself

  18. P**** Juice – Returns September 17, 2014

    She’s cute. Her music is intersting, i’ll be checking her album for sure.

  19. xharlie September 17, 2014

    this is cool! i remember when y’all gave zero phux about Tinashe. she’s come a long way.

  20. SC_ September 17, 2014

    Boring….

  21. Jhené Aiko Stan September 18, 2014

    I’m starting to hear Pretend everywhere on the radio, so for those who thought she’d be another one-hit wonder Cassie, think again. She’s gorgeous and even though she isn’t delivering anything new or fresh, I lovin her music all the same. There’s been a void since Keri Hilson took an unnecessarily long break and I think Tinashe is ready to take that R&B/Pop lane over. She just needs the right cross over hit. What I like the most about her is her down to earth personality. I’m ready for that album!

  22. The Wig Snatcher September 18, 2014

    The interview was good with the exception of Sam’s random desperation to include Beyonce in the line of questions. What was the purpose to throw her name in there when Tinashe never mentioned her as inspiration? The desperation of the BeyHIVe to make Beyonce a tour de force when she’ll never be that is real.

    • Special Delivery September 19, 2014

      *Googles list of artistt influenced by Beyonce*. You were staing?

  23. Antonio September 18, 2014

    i think the Ciara comparisons come from the fact Ciara’s soft voice is always on hard, gritty beats like Goodies, Oh, Ride, Gimmie Dat and Got Me Good. Musically, singers like Tinashe, Zinashe and Mila J are different from Ciara, but style wise, they’re somewhat similar

  24. #TeamTinashe Stan (Pre-Order “Aquarius” Now On iTunes) September 18, 2014

    I am so glad Tinashe has an album coming out. Just when you thought you already knew…… she just switches it up on you 🙂 And real Tinashe stans know that there is more to her than “2 On” and she is far different than other females she gets compared to.

    NowPlaying: Tinashe – “Biding My Time”
    P.s this song is so dark!
    http://youtu.be/lET8kVX_0e4

  25. cocobutta September 18, 2014

    Quite interesting alternative tastes in music. Might help her if her sound is more than just R&B/Hip-Hop.

    Nice and cute and got personality so i’ll keep my ears open to other songs and see.

    Good interview

  26. Timago September 18, 2014

    Folks, all I have to say is…

    SMELLY FLOPLAND.

  27. ZimbabweanQueenTinashe September 18, 2014

    She’s good & fruitful she can bring young & raw but nothing a few years in the business can’t fix, but unfortunately she’s coming in2 the scene in an era where black music is suffering…

  28. Junior in Jamaica September 18, 2014

    She is all over the place with her face and hair and the glances. She needs to be less fidgety.

  29. MariahIsMusic1 September 19, 2014

    She’s cute… I wish her all the best & I actually wish her longetivity

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