Tinashe speaks about pressure before Popstar release — Rolling Stone
Tinashe, in New York, United States, spoke about the heightened attention surrounding her eighth studio album, Popstar, which was due to be released a week after the conversation. According to the performer, she feels pressure because of active discussions about the release, its cover art, and the choice of singles. Rolling Stone reported this.
Tinashe came to New York for a performance that opened the Tabby Tour event series by Coach and Spotify. She explained that the title Popstar was meant to emphasize her confidence and her desire to assert her own place in pop music. In her view, this simultaneously sparked more discussion and additional pressure ahead of the record's release.
Discussion around the cover art
Social media users discussed the album's design: the cover shows a close-up of Tinashe's face, with a ring of stars in her eyes and headphones on. One X user suggested using another promotional photo in which the performer sits on the edge of a building in Los Angeles, with the U.S. Bank Tower in the background.
Tinashe responded that creative decisions do not come down to choosing a simply attractive shot. She explained that she deliberately chose a visual image less typical of a pop star because it should spark conversation and create a sense of a broader story. The artist also criticized an approach in which music is judged solely by the potential of short viral clips or visual impact.
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Five released singles
Before the release, Tinashe had already presented five tracks: Pillow Fight, Crash Out, Melatonin, Too Easy, and I’d Rather Be Alone. She noted that these tracks differ in sound, while the album's other 11 songs are meant to develop the themes introduced in the singles.
The performer said she does not plan to adjust creative decisions because of online audience demands. According to her, listeners often do not delve into the reasons behind artistic choices. Tinashe has worked independently since 2019, when she ended her collaboration with RCA Records; at the time, her manager described the move as restoring the artist's creative control.
Tinashe also said that the modern understanding of pop music is often too narrow and that performers who do not fit conventional frameworks should be included in the conversation about the genre.
