Tinashe Talks Leaked Drake Collaboration, Performing at Prom, and Those Janet Jackson Comparisons

Tinashe has always looked to Janet Jackson for inspiration, so it's no surprise to her that people draw comparisons between them. Actually, she takes it as a compliment.

The "2 On" singer spoke with us about touring, that leaked Drake collaboration from a month ago, and performing at her brother's high school prom (she never got to go to her own). Find out what she had to say about each of these, as well as what's to come from her musically, in the Q&A below.

Could you talk a little bit about Amethyst? How was the process for that different from Aquarius?

Amethyst was just something I wanted to put out, sort of as a gift to my fans. I always like to give them new content. I felt like it was a snapshot of where I was creatively, and I wanted to express that and give them something free and easy.

How long did it take you to put together?

I worked on Amethyst for a couple weeks over my Christmas, quote unquote, break, while I was home from touring, before I left on my world tour. So it was cool because I had a different process than recording the album, which involved a lot more people. With this project, it was kind of just me in my room recording it.

How has touring been?

Touring was amazing. I got to go a lot of places that I’ve never been before and really just experience a lot of new things. It’s really inspirational to see the fans in different places so far away from home. We went to Asia, we went to Europe, we went to Dubai, Australia. It was really amazing.

Was there one place where you felt that you really connected with the crowd?

A few places, a lot of really amazing fans in Paris, a lot of big fans in Japan as well.

Let's talk about the “All Hands On Deck” video. It's dope.

I really wanted a video that showcased dance in a respectful way that took place in a striking location and setting. I had the idea of doing it in a shipyard. I wanted it to be a post-apocalyptic, hard-to-place society type of feel. That’s the vibe that I went for and I’m really happy with how it turned out. It showcased the dancing in a really interesting and creative way.

When did you start dancing?

I started dancing when I was four years old. I started in ballet, tap, and jazz training, and I was in a competitive company throughout my years in school. That was a big part of my life.

What do you think of the comparisons people draw between you and Janet Jackson?

I try to take all comparisons as a compliment, especially when they're about people I respect musically. Janet Jackson is definitely someone that I always look up to dance-wise, music-wise, video-wise. I definitely appreciate the honor.

What's the deal with the “On A Wave” song with Drake that leaked a couple of weeks ago?

Drake was actually sending me the different things and we worked back and forth and that was how we came up with that particular bit. That song was originally for Aquarius, but because we just really didn’t have time to finish it, and I released the album, we never really finished it. The leak was the really unfinished version of the song.

Do you two have any plans to collaborate in the future?

No solid plans as of now, but it definitely is something that I would be open to, for sure.

How was performing at your little brother's prom?

That was really fun because it was the high school that I graduated from. I didn’t ever have a chance to go to my own prom, so to go back and perform there and see how excited everyone was, it was pretty cool.

Why didn’t you get a chance to go to your own prom?

By then, I already tested out of school and I was focusing full-time on music, so I didn’t really do the whole prom deal.

Are you close with your family?

I’m super close with my family. They’re my biggest fans and I love being able to do things for them, take them places. They’ve always been a great support system.

Do they influence your music?

They probably indirectly influence my music, I think the biggest thing they influence is my sense of confidence because they always believe in me.

Which artists are you paying attention to right now?

I am obviously a fan of people who I’ve been influenced by, like Little Dragon. Definitely James Blake, those are the people that I’ve always really loved.

Can you share details about your sophomore album?

Yeah! I’ve been really excited. I’ve been working with some of my favorite producers from the past. I’m working with Rich Reynolds. I’m working with Dr. Luke. It’s like starting to try new things and see the evolution of material because it’s definitely evolving. It’s exciting.