No More Melatonin: Tinashe's 'Popstar' Is An Industry Wake-Up Call
In the wake of her eighth studio album, Tinashe is finally receiving her flowers. Through this effervescent LP, she explores the drastic mood swings of navigating the limelight. But why does this success feel like vindication? Popstar answers this question, track by track.
Tinashe signing copies of the Popstar vinyl in 2026. Image property of Tinashe.
Tinashe has long been one of R&B and pop's most underrated talents. Her 2014 debut LP Aquarius made a compelling case from the jump, delivering infectious hits like "2 On" and "All Hands on Deck". But while critics praised its cohesive, otherworldly blend of genres, only one of its tracks reached the US Billboard Hot 100.
That critical acclaim didn't translate into a smooth path forward at her then-label, RCA. Her sophomore LP, Joyride, spent years in limbo, whilst its planned follow-up, Nashe, was shelved and later leaked online.
The dwindling support from RCA snowballed into clashing creative differences, album mismanagement and unwanted, label-contracted collaborations, leading to Tinashe finally going her own way in 2019. Her first independent album, Songs For You, left a significant mark on the R&B landscape but was overall commercially under-appreciated.
Fast forward to the 2020s. Tinashe made her way back into mainstream dance-pop and R&B spaces with viral hit single "Nasty" and the huge "No Broke Boys" remix with Disco Lines, catching the ears of many during the summers of 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Yet, with Popstar, instead of feeding into the viral moments that propelled her, Tinashe crafts a 39-minute project that prioritises artistic integrity with continued experimentation of insatiable sonics and unabashedly honest lyrics.
Opening track "Sunglasses" is instantly enticing with its ethereal, hypnotic beat as Tinashe recites the mantra: "Eyes straight forward, I see tunnel vision, speaker so loud, music my religion." This lyric emphasises her longstanding grind within the music industry.
A bold switch to the pop, electronic sounds of "Too Easy" then plunges us into the first track released from the album, before a seamless transition into hit release, "Melatonin", which reinforces Tinashe's hunger for success. With dark, clubby synths, Tinashe continues to taunt those who are "sleeping on" her talent.
Both "Melatonin" and "Too Easy" nod to Nashe, the alter ego behind Tinashe's shelved project of the same name—a bold, badass, unapologetically cocky persona whose presence looms large on her first independent album, Songs for You.
Tinashe's ability to channel a sexual energy akin to Britney and Janet isn't lost on Popstar, with "Flashbacks" and "Pillow Fight" acting as velvety and sensual alt-R&B tracks that may be recognisable to fans of her 2023 album BB/ANG3L and 2024 project Quantum Baby.
Tinashe dials it back in "Empty Stadium"—a haunting, drum and bass track that delves into her existential dread of "not being enough" and acknowledges the fear of stagnancy, as an artist who has been "singing so long" but feels forgotten.
She delves into a by-product of that fear with "Twentyfive Eight": her grind mentality. The star ponders over having "one life" whilst a skittery beat dashes across the soundscape, like she wishes to get up and keep going by burying herself in her work because "pressure makes a diamond".
"I'd Rather Be Alone" is subtly reminiscent of Rihanna's "Kiss It Better"—this vulnerable, electric-guitar-led ballad explores a devastatingly underwhelming relationship before leading abruptly into the fierce, trap beat of her titular "Crash Out", which feels like an unabashed middle finger to the industry and her haters.
The purposeful placement of these tracks feels like a comment on how, even after the right choice, peace doesn't immediately follow. Title track, "Popstar", reflects on this emotional rollercoaster as Tinashe poses the question: "Is it all you ever thought it was gonna be?".
The final two songs on the album are another significant pairing—Tinashe celebrates her own success in the cathartic, booming ballad of "Cloud 9", followed by "Heavy Weight", an intimate song that strips back the complex, electronic beats to leave only an acoustic guitar and Tinashe's vocals, exposing a more sensitive side of herself, both lyrically and sonically.
“This album deserves all the glory for its ability to profoundly encapsulate the emotional whiplash of stardom, illustrated by an artist who has long been deserving of her flowers.”
All in all, Tinashe's tenacity is truly laudable and she continues to uphold her own vision with Popstar. This album deserves all the glory for its ability to profoundly encapsulate the emotional whiplash of stardom, illustrated by an artist who has long been deserving of her flowers. In her most vulnerable and bold album yet, Tinashe is telling her story on her own terms, and the world has finally caught up.
9.2/10
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