When exactly Tinashe's sophomore album, Joyride, is coming out has been as difficult to pinpoint as any of the anticipated releases of the last year. 2015 wrapped without any sign of it, but today's announcement that the singer will be heading out on a world tour in support of the LP next month is surely a sign it'll be out soon, right?
Regardless of when we'll actually hear the album, we have very high hopes for Tinashe's follow-up to her excellent debut album, Aquarius, so we've decided to organize a few of our ideas into a list today.
Will Joyride spawn Tinashe's first Billboard top ten hit? Will it feature some of the most exciting names in rap? We'll have to wait and see, but for now, all we can do is speculate.
Well-Selected Rap Features
Well-Selected Rap Features
Tinashe seems to know when and when not to feature a guest on her songs. Future's appearance on "How Many Times" was jarring when it first entered, but by the end it was clear it added an essential rhythmic component to the slow-burner. Likewise, ASAP Rocky's "Pretend" verse featured dynamic shifts that felt integral to the movement of the song, acting more as a bridge than an attempt to add star power.
The Aquarius singer also recently called upon Young Thug for "Party Favors," perfectly placing his unique manic energy within the intoxicating chaos of the record.
We're hoping Tinashe's ear for exciting voices in rap continues into Joyride. Perhaps tour partners like Rae Sremmurd, DeJ Loaf, or even Nicki Minaj could be incorporated into her insular world?
Max Martin's Touch
Max Martin's Midas Touch
It's no secret that Max Martin knows how to write a hit. As of this summer, the Swedish mastermind had 21 Hot 100 #1 records under his belt, and 58 top ten hits, with only Paul McCartney and John Lennon eclipsing his stats.
Tinashe has revealed that Martin will appear on the project, and we're hoping that the two find the sweet spot in their songwriting approaches.
As we saw with The Weeknd last year, Martin was able to help the singer sculpt his sound into something more universal than ever, producing the smash record "Can't Feel My Face". We feel Tinashe could reach similar heights teaming up with the superproducer, and hopefully they've got more than one song in the bank.
"Working with Max Martin and his camp was a huge honor," Tinashe told Rolling Stone. "I've been a huge fan of his since his Britney Spears days. I loved being able to work with him."
Great Music Videos
Tinashe's music easily stands on its own two feet, but with the release of "All Hands On Deck," she opened up the possibility of being a truly innovative video artist as well. Combining her undeniable skill for dance performance with some thrilling imagery, the singer created something truly iconic, recalling the work of Janet Jackson. It even earned her enviable co-sign of Kanye West,
Tinashe has continued to hone her aesthetic through moodier pieces like "Bet" and "Party Favors," as well as another dance-oriented venture in "Player," making us hopeful she'll be dropping another event video on us soon.
An Overarching "Feel"
Tinashe's mixtape work is what built her initial fanbase, and that all came from recording songs all on her own in her bedroom. By the time Aquarius arrived, the singer made sure to keep the same cohesive, insular atmosphere of her early work within the material, branching out into more pop-influenced sounds while still maintaining the very murky, intimate space that she's always occupied.
The singer told Rolling Stone that despite the various songwriters involved in the album (Dev Hynes,, Boi 1da, Dr. Luke, etc.), she has kept up this recording process on a selection of the songs. "I think it's also important for me to maintain my authenticity, and I think my fans are going to hope to see that I've recorded some songs in my home bedroom..." she revealed. "I made a genuine effort to record certain songs and create material in my room."
Certainly with making an LP that thrusts further into the single-oriented world of pop, it can be easy to come out with a project that feels scattered. Nevertheless, we think Tinashe can come through with the big singles she's looking for and still hit the mark in terms of cohesion.
A #1 Hit
Her Biggest Smash Single Yet
So far, Tinashe's inescapable dance record, "2 On," is the only one of her singles to crack the Hot 100 (peaking at 24), but with a heightened presence in pop culture and some talented producers lined up for her sophomore album, this could be the singer's time for a certified smash.
Tinashe has expressed that achieving a #1 single on the Hot 100 is one of her career goals, and with the right combination of her many strengths, (visual, dance, songwriting, the right selection of feature and producer), it's certainly not out of the question to happen this year.
With the album surely on the horizon, we're thinking something big will be dropping very soon.