Words / Madie Doppelt
Photos / Jenn Li
The term “popstar” is typically associated with a certain intangibility. The flashing cameras, the hoodies and sunglasses, the leaning into public personas in order to protect some semblance of privacy. In her eighth studio album Popstar, Tinashe flips the term on its head. Through the lens of a subject that is typically manicured and staged– or hidden altogether– Tinashe invites fans to peek behind the curtain into a world of vulnerability, longing, and introspection.
These themes jumped from speaker to stage in Tinashe’s “Three Nights with a Popstar” tour, which kicked off at Chicago’s Salt Shed last weekend. The cheekily named three-stop tour (Chicago, New York, L.A.) has the intimacy of a listening party with the production value of a world tour. Upon arrival at the Salt Shed, concertgoers are greeted by an uncharacteristic line that wraps clean around the venue. On my block-long, rainy walk to the back of the line, I expected to hear shivery groans about the wait, the weather, and the like. Instead, the general soundscape was one of pride: “Can you believe how long this line is? I’ve been a fan since the beginning and I’ve never seen a line this long,” “I’ve loved her since ‘Throw a Fit,’” “I’ve been here since Aquarius” (referring to her debut album in 2014). This sentiment echoed throughout the venue from the line to merch to GA. A whole venue bursting with pride for the people’s popstar and her most recent success.
Popstar has garnered praise far beyond the fandom. Critical acclaim includes a Pitchfork rating of 9.0/10, calling it “the best pop album of the year,” and a debut at #6 on the Billboard Top 200, marking the highest debut ranking of her career. But Tinashe didn’t just jump and land on the moon. These accolades come after years of defending her sound and artistic vision, both publicly and behind closed doors. In 2019, Tinashe split with her record label and began producing independently under Tinashe Inc. Popstar is her fifth independent album, exemplifying an authentic sound that she’s worked hard to cultivate and protect throughout her career.
Aptly named, Popstar’s songs pull back the curtain on Tinashe’s experiences in the music industry. Songs like “Twentyfive Eight” and “Popstar” meditate on the cost of the music grind, posing the age-old question: is it worth it? “Sunglasses” invokes the dance beats of anonymity in a dark club, shades on. It plays on the popstar-diva association of intangibility while peeling back the layers into her own psyche: this life is overwhelming, and blocking out the world helps ground her. The popstar doesn’t just hide from the world; she hides from herself. A sentiment that exemplifies the album as a whole. By defining the limitations of pop stardom, she reveals herself even further.
It wouldn’t be a Tinashe show without full-out, high octane choreography. Accompanied by four intrepid dancers, the group illustrated each song with new layers of vibrancy and emotion. Every moment of the concert was choreographed, and concert-goers around me marveled audibly at their endurance and sustained energy. The dancers were styled in dance-neutrals (nude leotards and nude tights), fitting in with the theme of the set as a whole, which was paired down, simple, and bare. The whole scene communicates a focus on the music and the artists, without the extra bells and whistles. Something only an artist at Tinashe (and her dancers) calibre can pull off. Live vocals piercing through to perfection, choreography that punctuates every note. A triumph of this celebratory era in Tinashe’s career.
The setlist featured Popstar in near-entirety, with some additional hits sprinkled throughout. Fans scream in excited surprise to hear songs like “Throw a Fit” and “2 On” (feat. ScHoolboy Q). While these songs are undeniable classics in the Tinashe discography, they are distinctly of a different era. Unexpected delights to hear on a limited tour so singularly focused on the present work. Choices like this were emblematic of a bigger picture: as Tinashe continues on her path of independence in the industry, the most authentic choice is to honor every stop on the journey. Every piece of the puzzle is accounted for, giving fans a real opportunity to sing, cheer, and applaud Tinashe’s work throughout her career.
The heavily anticipated live debut of “Empty Stadium” opened with the lyric “Last night I saw a dream so vivid that I woke up sick / In an empty stadium, looking at the walls, seeing no exits.” The song details the nightmare of expectation in the industry, with the chorus building on “When I realize I’m alone, I’ve been singing so long, and nobody hears it / And I’m standing on the stage just waiting for applause that’ll never exist.” A line met with raucous applause from the crowd. A true moment to honor Tinashe’s journey, hard work, and popstar power.
During an interlude, Tinashe addresses the crowd directly, “There have been highs and lows, but I really appreciate everyone who’s stuck with me through it all. And all the new fans, too. Thank you so much, I’m so happy that you’re here. Welcome!” And then, playfully, “Better late than never!” Whether you’re a bandwagoner or a lifer, you’re invited to the link-up. The show closed out with personal favorite “Melatonin,” in which Tinashe invited fans up on stage, turning the song into a full-out dance party. Surrounded by her talented dancers and adoring fans, Tinashe closed out night one of the tour in the first unchoreographed moment of the night. The sold-out venue basked in the moment shared just between us, together with a popstar.
The “Three Nights with a Popstar” limited tour has two nights to go: October 24th at the Brooklyn Paramount in New York and November 7th at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. From there, “The Show Must Go On” tour begins in April, stopping in cities across the country. Tickets are on sale now.
Connect with Tinashe
Instagram // Spotify // Apple Music