Tinashe - Popstar
Pop – Released September 25, 2026 – 16 songs, 39 mins
ROZ
After a short hiatus in the writing department, the TSR crew is back on the grind. What better way to return than by reviewing an artist who absolutely personifies the word ‘grind’, and who highlights that hard word and perseverance certainly do pay off. American singer Tinashe has been in the spotlight for quite some time considering her age, whether it’s gracing the festival stage, starring in television and film, or becoming a viral sensation on TikTok. Her newest release Popstar is her eighth studio album to date, and it is here where she finally gets her flowers. With a sonic makeup that falls deep into my own personal wheelhouse, let’s explore what exactly it is that makes this album so great.
Popstar is by no means the first album in the past few years to join together pop structures with electronic music attributes. Hell, here at Too Sweet Reviews we’ve gone into detail on many of them. Whether it’s FKA Twigs, Charli XCX, Caroline Polacheck, or (unfortunately for us) Tame Impala, the digital age has reached new heights and its influence across the medium is more than apparent. Tinashe herself has been ingrained in the EDM lexicon for quite some time, with a feature list including the likes of Calvin Harris and Flume. Her upward trajectory has only increased in the past year with the global viral remix of her 2024 track No Broke Boys done by electronic house producer Disco Lines, which has amassed almost a billion streams on Spotify to date and reached number 1 on the Billboard Charts. This momentum was kept through festival performances which ultimately culminated into Tinashe debuting one of her new songs at a DoLab set she performed this past April at Coachella. If one thing’s for sure, this woman is ingrained in the culture and it shows in not only her work but also her actions - which pays dividends in an art where authenticity is key.
As much talent as this artist has, I would be remiss if I didn’t personally thank the elite production team behind her, which really is the critical element of Popstar - hell, I could probably write an essay on the production alone. Alas, this is not Roz Talks Production Reviews so I will attempt to contain myself as much as physically possible. In essence, Popstar has the innate ability to synthesize all aspects of electronic music in both the modern age while also showing the ability to imprint these sonics through an R&B lens. In the traditional sense, Tinashe is able to resurrect the nostalgic sounds of early 2000s Beyonce and Kelly Rowland (really just the Destiny’s Child aesthetic in general) in tracks Rather Be Alone and Cloud 9. In all honesty, Tinashe and her team could have completely pulled the nostalgia card by releasing a 2000s-coded R&B throwback and based on performance and production skill alone her fans would have lapped it up. Luckily for those unfamiliar, they took their efforts a step further.
Much like Charli’s brat or FKA’s EUSEXUA, the power that Popstar holds is in its meshing of digital styles - even the tracks themselves seem to mix together as if a DJ were pulling the faders on every transition. You’d be hard pressed to find many subgenres that this album doesn’t cover. On top of bass-boosted hip hop drum programming you’ll also find house-style synth bass driven tracks (Too Easy), high tempo jungle music arrangements (Empty Stadium), and mid tempo IDM (Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore) that reminds me of powerhouses such as Nine Inch Nails (filter resonance and white noise on the offbeat being dead giveaways). There are even elements from the very niche liquid drum & bass genre (Twentyfive Eight), which to me is a deep cut for a mainstream pop music effort. The most impressive of the bunch lands on the shoulders of the high octane Melatonin, which much like the album itself shows many layers throughout. The initial low tom groove gives shades of Skrillex and fred again..’s 2023 smash hit Rumble, just before the track morphs into a hyperpop infused pop ballad and then finally a straight up techno warehouse heater. 909 drum machines, Roland TB-303 (or an emulator of the device), airy synth chords, and a Benassi-esque synth line. Easily the most danceable of all the tracks on this album, and far and away my favourite of the lot.
Popstar is as much a personal marvel as it is a technical one. Across the tracklist Tinashe unravels what it really means to be a star within the industry, as well as the mental fortitude that one requires in order to not let it break them. Fan expectations versus self expression, industry standards versus personal desires - it is an introspection exercise seen many times before (Kanye’s 808’s & Heartbreak and Lady Gaga’s The Fame springing to mind) however she is able to give it its own life through her own personal anecdotes - after all, everyone’s story is different in one way or another. The main driver here is that it truly does feel genuine, and her catalogue and history are the receipts to match what she’s saying. Let’s just face it, the world is on a nose-dive trajectory into oblivion and while TSR does not shy away from reviewing albums about heartbreak, loss, grief, sad girls, angry boys, woe-is-me’s, and everything in between, it really is refreshing to sit back and bask in the confidence and self-determination of a crafty vet who is truly deserving of their flowers.
All in all, Tinashe’s Popstar is a testament to the hard work of a talented artist who is not afraid to push the boundaries of what her signature sound really is and where it can possibly go.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Favourite Song: Melatonin
REID
Pop music is on an absolute heater in 2026! The collective momentum from household names and emerging stars is unmistakable as they fill up festival lists and radio runtime. A major reason for this is the overwhelming success of genre blending. It has had a reverberating impact on all facets of the music industry. Olivia Rodrigo does piano ballads, rock and bubblegum pop. Charli xcx followed up the most successful dance album this decade with a rock-influenced record. Olivia Dean is swooning her audience with love songs. Slayyyter is trashy-electropop. Underscores and Ninajirachi both lean electronic but are undeniably pop-influenced. Beyonce is doing dance and country; who the hell knows what she’ll do next? Artists have done their part to ensure pop music is in a healthy position and that there’s a place for all its derivatives.
Which brings us to this week’s artist. At 33-years young and on her eighth studio release, Tinashe is a young veteran. She has grinded before and since her 2014 debut but hasn’t quite hit the mainstream as a solo artist outside of her 2025 smash hit, No Broke Boys. It’s safe to say she has followed that up with her breakthrough record. Popstaris making waves for its conglomeration of pop and electronic soundscapes. Here’s a quote from her in an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe.
“I have realized that I am the through line between all of my different interests and inspirations. I don’t worry about them feeling cohesive, because I know that what I’m going to bring to the table is always going to bring that thread of connectivity—whether it just be a concept, an idea, my melodies, or background vocal choices.”
Tinashe’s musical influences and personal style is vast and she plays into it. Along with executive producer, Ricky Reed, she collaborated with a broad roster of producers for the final product. One listen through and it’s obvious she had no interest in staying in a single lane. She cast a wide net instead. Melatonin is one of the best dance tracks of the year for my money; just a mesmerizing banger with clever juxtaposition on the title. The contrast from the Mariah Carey-angelic verse to the gritty chorus on Pillow Fight makes it a close second on my favourite track list. The millennial in me hears Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek from The OC fame on the titular track’s chorus. The strings in Empty Stadium, piano in Flashbacks and brass in Overdramatic make for a lovely distinction on tracks four, five and six. The sample on Cloud 9 is nasty and truthfully, the rap fan in me thinks of my favourites throwing down over that beat. She concludes the record with an acoustic ballad, further diversifying an already rich tracklist and showing off a vocal that can get overshadowed by the beats.
Once you dissect things past the dancefloor vibes, you uncover quality lyricism. She boasts the popstar swag and party lifestyle on Too Easy, Sunglasses, Melantonin andNobody Wanna Dance Anymore. She leans into her sexuality on Pillow Fight and Flashbacks and addresses the haters on Crash Out. Contrarily she shows her vulnerability on Empty Stadium (living up to expectations), I’d Rather Be Alone (a failing relationship) and Heavy Weight (family struggles). Twentyfive Eight is a shrewd way to illustrate how hard she has worked to be where she is today. The delivery of the lyrics play a huge part in their effectiveness and that rings true on the below excerpt from Dance Anymore. The read through is standard, nothing spectacular. But the way she sings them, with confidence. Almost arrogance. She lives up to her Popstar mantra.
You got a lot of friends but they don’t wanna dance.
Too cool with their sunnies and baggy pants.
But I’m dripping sweat, Don’t need the clout,
Got their hands in their pockets or their phone out.
Tinashe continues a TSR trend of artists being rewarded for taking risks. Popstar is an electronic pop record meant for the club but with a surprising level of emotional depth to go along with it. Her and her production team leave no stone unturned in their sonic blending to push the limits of her sound and contribute to a thriving genre.
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Favourite Song: Melatonin
LUNDI
There’s a certain mood required to get the most out of a great dance record. The lights should be low, the speakers need to be loud, and the outside world needs to disappear for a little while. This week we dust off the writing book for Tinashe’s Popstar which is built for exactly that kind of escape. Her eighth studio album is a thrilling collision of electronic music, R&B, and modern pop that rarely settles for the obvious. Unfortunately, being able to recognize the greatness of a record and actually wanting to listen to it are two very different things. Shall we shake the rust off and break it down?
The first thing that stands out about Popstar is how effortlessly Tinashe moves between its many influences. There’s an incredible amount of detail packed into the production, with hypnotic rhythms, pulsing synths, and an assortment of sonic elements that keep the senses engaged throughout. This is elevated pop and elevated EDM, a combination that understands the value of both genres and finds the sweet spot somewhere in between. Tinashe isn’t simply throwing electronic beats behind a collection of pop songs and calling it a day. The production is the main event, with her vocals and R&B sensibilities providing the perfect counterweight to the relentless energy surrounding them. It’s a fantastic showcase of what modern pop can sound like when an artist is willing to take a few risks.
What makes this all the more impressive is the track flow. Popstar moves with a remarkable sense of purpose. Each track is connected to the next, creating an experience that works far better as a complete body of work than a playlist of individual singles. The transitions are fantastic, and there’s a genuine sense of momentum that pulls you through the album. This is music designed to be experienced in a dark room under a sea of strobe lights, where the distinction between individual songs becomes less important than the feeling they create together. Tinashe has clearly put considerable thought into the sequencing, and the result is an album that knows exactly where it wants to take its listener.
There’s also a more substantial concept running beneath the flashing lights. Much of Popstar is driven by themes of female empowerment, confidence, and the mentality required to become the person you want to be. Tinashe approaches these ideas from the perspective of a celebrity, but the underlying message feels more universal than that. Pop stardom becomes a mindset rather than an exclusive club, with the confidence and self-belief associated with fame presented as something anyone can theoretically achieve. I’ll admit I feel pretty ill-equipped to comment on the significance of that perspective with any real authority, but its importance certainly isn’t lost on me. What I can appreciate is how naturally these themes fit within the music itself. The larger-than-life production and unapologetic attitude reinforce the concept, making the album feel like a deliberate artistic statement rather than a collection of dance tracks loosely tied together by a title. Still, somehow, all of this feels long, bloated, and repetitive despite clocking in at just 36 minutes. That’s quite the achievement, though perhaps not the one Tinashe was looking for.
Ultimately, no matter how great all the individual parts of Popstar are, they still don’t amount to an album I particularly enjoy. This is absolutely a record that requires me to be in the right mood, and even then, I struggle to see myself reaching for it. The production is excellent, the sequencing is among its greatest strengths, and Tinashe’s artistic vision deserves plenty of credit. Yet there’s a ceiling that technical ability and immaculate execution can’t break through on their own. An album can be expertly crafted, conceptually interesting, and sonically adventurous without becoming something you genuinely want to hear again. That’s the disconnect here. I can appreciate almost everything Tinashe is doing while remaining largely indifferent to the experience itself. No matter how objective we strive to be, personal preference is still a box that needs ticking to take the leap in score.
Popstar is a terrific example of modern pop and electronic music working in tandem, with Tinashe delivering a polished, ambitious, and thoughtfully sequenced record that rewards listeners willing to surrender to its dancefloor mentality. The repetition and bloated feel prevent it from reaching the heights its best moments suggest, while my own lack of connection keeps it at arm’s length. There’s plenty to admire here, even if there isn’t quite enough to love. Sometimes the party is excellent, but you’re still ready to head home.
Overall Rating: 7.9/10
Favourite Song: Brainrot