Singer, dancer, producer, auteur, Tinashe is the mistress-in-command of her own universe. Actively performing since she was three, she’s the rare entertainer equally at home on the stage AND in the studio. She also maintains fierce creative control over her entire project, from writing, producing, art direction and styling to her videos mind-blowing choreography. Known for her gravity-defying stunts, she’s danced 100 feet in the air without a harness for the sake of her art. Respect! Here, she tells us what gets her creative blood pumping.

Music is her first language.
“Music was always around my house from a really young age. It was just something we all were experiencing and listening to and enjoying together. It is important to me because my entire life and livelihood and passion revolve around it. I love the way that it transcends language barriers, nations. It even transcends time.  For me, it’s the truest form of expression. It’s following your instincts, saying the first thing that comes to mind and trusting that it will relate to someone, somewhere.”

She’s making 20th century megastar-level pop choreography have a serious comeback.“Dance is just another incredibly important part of expression for me. Everyone can dance, even if they think they can’t. That’s the beauty of it: It’s all about movement and how you feel — just feeling the vibe and letting it take over your body.”

She shares a psychic connection with fans.
“I’m always thinking about how my fans will feel listening to the song I’m making, whether it’s one they want to listen to when they’re in their feelings, and alone in their room, or driving around in their car with friends and they want to get pumped up. Most of the time I listen to the music I am creating in my own car, and I try to envision that I’m my listener and how the song makes them feel.  My car is also my own happy place. No one can really talk to me or bother me, and I can turn up my music as loud as I want!”

Her new album Joyride is also her credo to life.
“A joyride is accepting what life is. You take it as it comes, whether that be a rough turn or an interesting path. It’s about always being down for an adventure and never knowing what’s going to happen next. That’s how I feel people should live their lives:

It’s important to take risks in life, because life IS exceptionally short, and we do only get the experiences that we set out to achieve on our own. Living should be a multitude of experiences, not just sticking to a solid plan. See what happens!”

She doesn’t believe in backup plans.“My confidence comes from a place of fearlessness. I always knew that this is what I am meant to do. There’s no other option for me, no Plan B. I’m going to do whatever it takes to succeed.”

Don't mess with her dreams! But dare to follow your own.
“Sometimes I can get really stubborn or get really hung up on not listening to what people tell me to do. And that’s just — well, I don’t like being told what to do! [laughs] But one of the coolest things about me is that I’m also able to reach a point of vulnerability in my art, and to express myself and be relatable to others. I feel like I’m just a regular girl with the ambition to be able to follow my dreams.”