Tinashe stakes her popstar claim with Popstar

After more than 12 years as a solo artist, Tinashe may be nearing the breakthrough long expected of her, ERR music critic Neit-Eerik Nestor writes in an 8/10 review of her album Popstar.

Tinashe, who has worked in entertainment for more than 25 years, has spent much of her solo career being viewed as a promising alt-R&B and pop artist. Her 2014 debut raised expectations that she could become a major star, but those hopes faded as she continued releasing music independently after becoming disillusioned with the music industry.

Nestor writes that Tinashe’s albums this decade have sometimes had more attitude and image than songs. The idea of the artist, he says, has often seemed more compelling than the music she was able to make or release on her own.

Her experimental album Quantum Baby began to sharpen that picture, the review says. The song Nasty and a remix of No Broke Boys helped renew the sense that Tinashe could break through, more than a decade into her solo career.

The single Pillow Fight, released a few weeks before Popstar, stood out to Nestor for its blend of Tinashe’s strengths and contemporary pop, with echoes of alternative R&B artist ABRA. But he calls the album opener, Sunglasses, aimless, saying its loose beat and casual delivery do little to suggest a song launching one of the year’s most praised records.

Too Easy, which follows, makes a stronger impression. Nestor praises its simplicity and effectiveness, writing that the track feels natural and well suited to Tinashe.