Tinashe Talks Summer of ‘Nasty,’ Feeling Validated & If She’d Want to Star in the Britney Spears Biopic

Michael Saponara
·12 min read
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After spending four years rebuilding her confidence as an independent artist following her toxic split from RCA Records, Tinashe became open to partnering with a label once again and she signed with Ricky Reed’s Nice Life Recording Company last summer.

Less than a year later, Nashe’s intuition paid off when she hit the jackpot with the release of her “Nasty” single in April, which is co-produced by Reed and arrived under exclusive license to Nice Life.

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Tinashe appeared poised to usher in a new era of R&B when invading the scene in 2014 with Mustard’s Cali bounce alongside ScHoolboy Q for “2 On,” but she wouldn’t find her way back to the Billboard Hot 100 as a main billed artist until about a decade later with “Nasty,” which broke through in June.

While some hits seemingly pop out of nowhere, “Nasty” had a rise that felt more organic — with the track exploding on social media platforms like TikTok thanks to a viral dance choreography that Tinashe herself leaned into. From Janet Jackson to Christina Aguilera and Rihanna, co-signs from legends that Nashe looked up to began to pour in one after the other.

Billboard “matched her freak,” with “Nasty” sitting at No. 69 on this week’s Hot 100 chart after reaching a No 61 peak — her highest on the chart since 2014. It’s also become a steady force at rhythmic radio as well (No. 3 on Rhythmic Airplay chart). The 31-year-old has become a people’s-choice contender in a robust Song of the Summer category this year with ladies like Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter also churning out major hits.

Moments like these aren’t always promised for artists. It’s a testament to Tinashe’s raw talent, relentless determination to stay the course and refusal to sacrifice artistic integrity. “Just having all this — I guess it’s like validation,” she tells Billboard over Zoom. “It just feels like I’m on the right track and doing the right things. It’s been an extra boost for this whole rollout, and it’s been fun.”

With the added eyeballs from “Nasty,” Tinashe looks to capitalize on her momentum and welcome the new fans to her world with Quantum Baby, an eight-track project that arrives on Friday (Aug. 16).

Billboard enjoyed a laid-back conversation with Tinashe touching on just about everything going on in the ethos of Nasty Nashe. Check it out below.

When did you feel like “Nasty” was really taking off? Was it the dance that went viral on TikTok?

Yeah, I saw signs in a couple different interesting ways. A lot of my peers were reaching out to me and telling me that the song was dope. That doesn’t really happen every time I drop. I went to China and saw that the song was really big over there, and everyone was doing the choreography to the music video. I thought that was really interesting. Then I started seeing it get meme-ified and then TikTok happened. There were so many different signs along the way.

Seeing it in real time felt so authentic. Was “match my freak” always a saying? 

No, it came straight from my brain. Straight from my noggin. I was driving and was just kinda freestyling and that’s kinda how I thought of it. I remember thinking after writing those lyrics, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say this before.” I just invented it.

Do you feel like hits need a virality to them or a memeability to give them a boost compared to 10 years ago?

Yeah, I do. I think it can help, obviously, a lot. I think it has a big impact, but I also think it’s fickle. I wouldn’t put all my eggs in that basket. I think there’s plenty of cases of songs that blow up in a viral way that don’t connect to a real audience. I think it’s a piece of the puzzle and part of what makes it successful.

Is that something you think about while creating?

I think it’s kinda dangerous to keep that in the front of your mind. I think it’s something to consider, but as soon as you start trying to cater your music to a 15-second snippet — once you chase things, period, the energy of chasing is not conducive to good creativity. It used to be chasing something that sounded like a radio hit and now it’s what’s cool on TikTok. Chasing anything isn’t wise.

Is “Nasty” the song of the summer?

Definitely, “Nasty” is the song of the summer. Without a doubt, to me. It’s the song of my summer. There’s been other songs too that are great, but “Nasty” is the one.

What was your reaction to the VMAs snubbing “Nasty?”

Disappointed but not surprised. I’ve never been nominated for an award, period. I did get nominated for a BET award once. Other than that, I’ve never been nominated. I definitely wasn’t counting on that.

What was your thought process on the “Nasty” remixes getting Tyga and Chloe Bailey on two separate versions?

I was enjoying giving “Nasty” several identities and breathing life into the song in a way that felt like a true remix like you were gonna get a different version. In the way we did the DJ remixes and got different feelings for the songs, I felt it would be great when it came to the artists I collaborated with for them to also have a strong identity. Chloe made so much sense for the “Nasty” girl remix. She’s already got this powerful, feminine, sexy, fun energy and she’s so sweet. I thought that was perfect. Tyga, he was bringing a whole entire different man-ish more club and West Coast energy. It give it a whole other flavor. All of the excitement surrounding the song is so fun and seeing how many people it touched — whether it was legends like Christina [Aguilera], Janet [Jackson].

How much did it mean to you to meet Janet Jackson? I think back to your “How Many Times” with Future sampling her. 

I love Janet and I love Future and I love that song. That’s a whole circle moment for me for sure. She did her “Nasty” version and put in the “Nasty Girl.” Then I got to meet her and told her she’s a huge inspiration. It was really wholesome.

You mention Christina, and I also saw Beyoncé and Missy Elliott show love.

All of those are really affirming for me. Missy Elliott is someone you look to for having impeccable taste and always being a tastemaker. I think her support means that it’s dope. Christina Aguilera was one of my “Big Three.” My “Big Three” growing up was Christina, Britney [Spears] and Janet [Jackson]. Beyoncé used it in a Sacred ad, and Rihanna used it in a Fenty Beauty ad. That’s amazing. All of the main girls have showed me love. That’s a great feeling.

What do you hope to accomplish with Quantum Baby?

I think it’s just continuing to tell the story and getting people to know me. Obviously, hopefully “Nasty” has put a few new people on and brought them into the world. Hopefully, this project brings them deeper into the world that’s constantly evolving and genre-blending.

What’s your label situation right now with Nice Life?

Going independent was a big turning point for me, and a game-changer in terms of how I perceived myself as a creative — and it helped me rebuild that confidence. Because I was able to rebuilt that confidence, I felt like I got to a place where I was more opened to working with another label. It was kinda like the perfect compromise. They’re independent and it’s more direct art. You can talk to the people involved and have close relationships with everyone on your team. It feels very artist-first. I didn’t have to make compromises, but [I] have the benefit of having extra team members to help make everything successful.

I saw this story on Reddit going viral about you losing your ticket at a Charli XCX show and they found it and went in with your tickets. I guess you still got in after. Did you see this? Is it true?

Yes, that’s true and of course I saw it. I was like, “You little f–ker. I knew one of you motherf–kers had the ticket.” It was like retrace our steps so quickly. I knew one of those motherf–kers picked it up. Thank God they just let me in anyways.

Were you looking around like, “Who has my ticket?”

Yes, I was. I was trying to make contact with everybody standing around because I was like, “I know one of you people.” I was right, clearly.

What do you think about Charli XCX’s moment as well? It’s cool to see her breaking through again after putting in work for a decade-plus. 

It’s amazing, it’s inspiring, it’s exciting. I think it’s great. Any time you see somebody that’s been working really hard get the shine they deserve, we love it.

How was working with Kaytranada?

I love Kaytranada. We’ve worked together a handful of times. I feel like every time we work together it’s heat. We have a great vibe in the studio. He’s so cool and down to earth. It feels really natural.

Did you ever reconnect with Chris Brown after his comments last year? 

I did not speak to him, because I just don’t think he listened to the context of the interview. 

We got a Britney Spears biopic coming. In an alternate universe, is Tinashe playing Britney?

I mean, listen, that would be great. I think I could give — I have a long history of studying Britney’s ways. I think I could hit the moves.

You were into acting [growing up]?

Yeah, I did a ton when I was young. I did a bunch. I stepped away when I was 16 just to focus on music fully. I’d like to get back to it at some point, but it doesn’t feel like pressing like I need to do it today. Music is my main priority today.

Are you still playing Warzone?

Yeah, still on the Call of Duty.

I went back to the last time I tweeted you. April 2020, “How does Tinashe have more Warzone wins than me on Call of Duty right now?”

I’m dead, that was the early days of [playing] all day.

I loved Verdansk. That map is so much better than what we play now. 

I know, I am constantly like, “Bring back Verdansk.” They keep saying it. I’ll believe it when I see it.

When you’re playing Call of Duty, what are you on? What’s your go-to gun?

PlayStation, PS5. I’m usually on the snipers. They call me SniperNashe. I love to hit a snipe.

I feel like there’s a lot more girl gamers compared to when we grew up. Have you noticed that?

Yeah, I think it’s less taboo.

Now it’s like everyone plays video games and streams. I just missed the boat by about five to 10 years here. 

It’s definitely a generational shift in just how people talk about it. There’s no way people weren’t playing before, but people were just more quiet about it. Once people started making money for playing video games, now it’s cool.

What did you take from touring as an opener for Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber?

When you open for people, that’s another level of experience that you have to get because people aren’t necessarily there to see you. So it’s potentially harder to win over a crowd. That’s a good practice in learning how to put on a show that’s gonna engage people who aren’t your core audience. I think it’s really valuable to open for people and get that experience. Also just to build up your performance chops in that way. It’s part of the process. Playing your own shows is a lot easier when everyone’s singing your songs and excited to see you.

It seems like that’s a lost art. Now, I feel like people get one viral moment or hit and they’re thrown out there to the wolves. 

People skip steps. There’s no substitute for experience. That’s why all those things made me the performer I am today.

As a rap fan, did you enjoy the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef?

I’m here for it. I loved it. I thought it was exciting just to see how much discourse was going on. It just reminded me of a blog era spirit. How quickly everyone was releasing things and it just felt free. It felt real and it wasn’t label politics or on some intricate timeline and rollouts. It was just raw so I love that.

Who did you have winning?

You know we gotta go with the West Coast. We gotta go with K. Dot.

What are some of your favorite style trends this year?

I love wearing boxer shorts. I love being comfortable. I love dressing like a tomboy. I love the big oversized and straight leg sweatpant. I love a super-wide leg jean. I love boxer shorts underneath both of those things.

Are you really from Lexington, Kentucky? How long did you live there?

Three months. I don’t think I’ve been to Lexington since I was three months old. I do not claim that place, although they try to claim me. I don’t know s–t about that place.

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