Tinashe – Popstar (Album Review)

Tinashe is back with “Popstar,” and if anybody was still sleeping on her, this album feels like a very loud alarm clock.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. Melatonin

“Melatonin” is Tinashe’s response to every hater who expected her career to burn out years ago. While they were sleeping on her, she kept working. Now, she is making it clear that her drive remains strong, her energy is still there, and she has absolutely no plans to disappear.

The track is addictively bouncy, confidently delivered, and packed with the perfect amount of shade. Honestly? I get it.

4. Pillow Fight

“Pillow Fight” is about the more adult version of a sleepover, if you catch my drift. We’re packing the spend-the-night bag, texting the sneaky link, and seeing where things go once we arrive at their crib. Tinashe sings about play fighting before suggesting that something much rougher and messier might happen between the sheets.

The entire track is sultry yet playful, silly yet flirty, and it passes the vibe check with ease. Its unserious approach only makes everything more enjoyable. Tinashe knows exactly what she’s doing, and she sounds like she’s having a damn good time doing it.

3. Crash Out

“Crash Out” is the ultimate anthem for anyone hanging onto their sanity by a thread. We’ve tried staying calm, keeping the peace, and acting like everything is cool, but that era is officially over. Every second of the song carries stress, frustration, rage, and the uncomfortable honesty of someone approaching their breaking point. Playing nice is no longer an option. It’s time to release everything.

The track is incredibly relatable, dangerously addictive, and already earning plenty of love. Sometimes, pretending you have everything under control only makes things worse. “Crash Out” gives you permission to finally have your moment.

2. Heavy Weight

“Heavy Weight” captures what it feels like when the pressure of life becomes completely exhausting. You keep cleaning up everyone else’s messes and taking responsibility for things nobody asked you to do because you know they will otherwise remain unfinished. After repeating that cycle enough times, you begin questioning your own mind and wondering why you cannot stop placing everyone else’s needs before your well-being.

The song connected with me on an incredibly honest level. Following all the album’s fun, flirting, shade, and beautifully unhinged energy, “Heavy Weight” strips everything back and reveals something deeply vulnerable. It closes the project with such softness and sincerity that, by the end, I genuinely wanted more.

1. I’d Rather Be Alone

“I’d Rather Be Alone” delivers a soulful combination of R&B, pop, and electronic sounds that immediately feels good. Beneath that inviting production, however, Tinashe explores an uneven relationship. She has taken the time to learn everything about this person, yet they do not seem interested in understanding her or showing up when she needs them. Although her needs remain unfulfilled, love has convinced her to keep trying.

Throughout the track, Tinashe slowly accepts that nothing will change unless she chooses a different path. Remaining in the relationship would mean sacrificing her happiness indefinitely, so she finally chooses herself. It is a bittersweet but empowering realization: Love can be genuine and still not be enough to make two people work.

SONG BY SONG RATING

Sunglasses (3.5/5)

Too Easy (4/5)

Melatonin (4/5)

Empty Stadium (4/5)

Flashbacks (4/5)

Overdramatic (N/A)

I’d Rather Be Alone (4.5/5)

Crash Out (4/5)

Pillow Fight (4/5)

Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore (4/5)

Twentyfive Eight (4/5)

The Show Must Go On (N/A)

Popstar (4/5)

Brainrot (4/5)

Cloud 9 (3.5/5)

Heavy Weight (4/5)

RGM RATING

With Popstar, Tinashe continues proving that nobody occupies quite the same musical space as her. The album combines R&B, electronic, pop, and hip-hop sounds without allowing any single genre to define it. Every transition feels natural, and each production style complements her one-of-a-kind voice. She never sounds like she is chasing a trend or forcing herself into someone else’s lane.

The album’s lyrics reveal what life behind the pop-star image actually looks like. Tinashe addresses the doubters waiting for her downfall, the mental weight of her career, difficult relationships, and those rewarding moments that make the struggle worthwhile. She digs into her mindset and personal influences while maintaining a sense of fun, even when the subject matter becomes heavy.

One moment is dreamy and weightless; the next is flirtatious, ridiculous, or emotional enough to make you take tequila shots and cry in the bathtub. Despite those shifts, Popstar remains surprisingly cohesive.

Tinashe deserves far more recognition. She is creating her own movement, expressing herself without hesitation, and showing us precisely who she is. Popstar celebrates her current success without ignoring what it cost to reach it. Whether you need music for a girls’ day or a late-night breakdown, this album somehow provides both.

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