While fans eagerly await “Joyride,” Tinashe’s sophomore album, they certainly can’t complain about a dearth of new music.
Just five months after the release of “Aquarius” — Tinashe’s low-key 2014 debut (featuring the mega-hit “2 On,” with Schoolboy Q) — the 23-year-old singer-songwriter dropped “Amethyst,” a self-recorded mix tape, as a thank you to fans. She has since released “Player” (featuring Chris Brown) and other “Joyride” singles on her SoundCloud account, and she’s treating shows on her current world tour as “Joyride” listening parties, allowing fans to preview the album, while also revisiting material from her DIY days.
Tinashe performs at College Street Music Hall in New Haven on Friday, March 11, at 8 p.m., with Toronto-based singer, rapper and producer Jahkoy opening.
Q: I was looking at the set list from the tour opener in Minneapolis. With so much material to choose from, how do you go about putting together a show?
A: First off, I wanted to reconnect with my fans. I wanted everybody to get excited about “Joyride” coming out. I wanted to be able to preview some of the “Joyride” songs at the shows, to make it feel sort of like a listening party and to get everybody excited about them. At the same time, on a production-value level, I just wanted to step up my game in all aspects, from choreography to the lighting to the band. I wanted everything to be an experience, and I want people to leave feeling inspired and pumped up.
Q: With “Joyride” not yet released, you’ve given fans plenty to listen to. The “Amethyst” mix tape seems to have come together fairly quickly.
A: I think I created it in a month and a half. I’m a big believer in content, giving it to people and feeding the streets. I have a lot of really great music and I just can’t wait for people to hear it.
Q: What’s your recording setup like at home?
A: I have studios in L.A. that I can go to work in if I want, but I have a home studio set up in my bedroom. It’s super cozy. It’s in the room that I grew up in. It’s a small setup, but I’m really comfortable there, so I really enjoy recording there.
Q: Who are some of the songwriters you admired growing up, and what did you take from them?
A: My biggest influence is Sade. I like Janet [Jackson]. I really love how, with Janet’s music, it’s hard to place the genre. I think Sade’s lyrics are amazing. There’s definitely been a lot of influence from them in my music and how I go about creating it.’
Q: You paid tribute to Janet Jackson in dance at the BET Awards last year. Those dance moves are so iconic. Were some of them ingrained in your mind already?
A: Yeah, of course. Her moves are iconic, and so are her videos. It was amazing to be a part of a tribute like that.
Q: Do you prefer doing your own shows, in somewhat smaller venues (for now), or do you have more fun at an arena show, opening for Katy Perry or Nicki Minaj? I imagine both situations are fun.
A: They both have benefits. I really like performing for arenas. There’s that crazy energy. There are so many people there. Aside from that, it’s really fun to be able to expose your music to entirely new audiences. That’s why opening for people is fun, because you get to do that. However, doing my own show, on a slightly smaller scale, is maybe more fulfilling for me, because the crowds are there to see you, they know your work, everyone is pumped up. I guess I would say I enjoy those shows more.
Q: You’re on tour non-stop through May, and then you take a break. Do you get a chance to see places and do things?
A: At this point, I’m just trying to stay focused and healthy and sleep as much as I can. Once you get sick: that’s the worst thing on a tour bus, when you have shows back to back to back. But when we go to places overseas, places I’ve never been before, I really do try to enjoy each city as much as I can, even though there’s very limited time. We’re just getting started. We’ve got to ease into it.
Q: How many people do you have on tour with you?
A: I have two band members (a drummer and a keyboard player), four dancers, and my entire crew of people running lights and sound. I have a photographer, a tour manager, somebody doing the merch. It’s more people than you’d think.
Q: Did you hope that “Joyride” would be out by the time this tour started?
A: Initially, when the tour was booked, it was with the intention of the album being out at this point. Delays happen all the time. I don’t think it’s very surprising in the music industry to have an album release pushed back. I’ve decided to change my attitude, as far as touring is concerned, and look at it more as a chance to promote the album and get people excited and play the new music and reconnect with my fans. Obviously, when the album does come out, I hope to do more shows and another leg of the tour, to continue to build and grow.
TINASHE performs at College Street Music Hall in New Haven at 8 p.m., Friday, March 11, with Jahkoy opening. $27 to $30. Information: collegestreetmusichall.com
