Fans of recurring R&B standout Tinashe flooded the Fillmore in downtown Minneapolis Thursday night, ready and willing to match her freak.
The 31-year-old owned the stage even before she walked out, with fans rushing to the floor when the lights went low and the glitchy, sensual cyberpunk opening visual asked the unofficial question of 2024 — “Is somebody gonna match my freak?”
The crowd erupted without so much as a word when Tinashe sauntered out in a haute couture getup, thigh- high stilettos, blond dreads and wrap-around sunglasses.
Her set brought the energy of an arena show to the relatively small venue in the form of a highly produced dance party that blended her greatest hits, fan favorites and songs from her latest album “Quantum Baby.”
Tinashe has maintained a dedicated fan base despite intermittent success across her decade-long career. Fans watching from the mezzanine were practically hanging over the railing to cheer her on.
She had yet another song break into the mainstream this year with “Nasty,” which went viral on TikTok, was named the app’s number two song of the summer in the U.S. and reached number one on the U.S. rhythmic radio chart.
“Nasty” came 10 years after her first breakout “2 On,” featuring Schoolboy Q, which conjures vivid memories of hearing it on the radio on drives home from school in 2014.
Tinashe began with the sensual, bouncy dance track “Getting No Sleep,” dancing suggestively in front of thermal footage of her slinking through a contemporary poolside patio and tenderly kissing a girl.
Vivid visuals helped keep the energy up throughout the show. At times she used a handheld live camera to magnify her stage presence, the live feed multiplied infinitely on the screen behind her.
Tinashe played it safe with some visuals and experimented with others, which created dissonance at times.
For the song “Thirsty,” the crystal clear sound of pouring water coincided with a backdrop of sloshing water. For “Red Flags,” her backup dancers left the stage, which was doused in red light, and a camera in the back of the venue focused solely on her face and eyes, which appeared hazy as she moved.
These visuals were immersive, almost hypnotizing, without being on-the-nose.
Then the song “Party Favors,” took an entirely different direction. The slow, bass-heavy track was paired with a bizarre clip of someone with sharp, black nails pulling dead skin off their hand, which cut to more straightforward footage of Tinashe dancing.
It was an odd moment of creepiness that didn’t fit with the song or the hazy, cyberpunk glam set.
Later, a looping video of Tinashe with turquoise hair, naked, covered in similarly-colored slime accompanied the speedy breakcore track “SHY GUY.”
Though less disturbing and certainly interesting, the clip still felt out of place in Tinashe’s aesthetic.
The energy was at its highest during the bratty rap song “Throw a Fit” and the classics “All Hands on Deck” and “2 On.”
It slowed during deep cut “Gravity,” only to be revived by the final three songs, the upbeat yet cynical “All My Friends,” single girl anthem, “No Broke Boys” and, of course, “Nasty.”
Saving the best for last, Tinashe told the crowd, “You know what time it is,” to raucous cheers as the coy lyrics rang out.
“I’ve been a nasty girl,” everyone sang in unison, swinging their hips just as Tinashe did.
The energy was at its highest during the bratty rap song “Throw a Fit” and the classics “All Hands on Deck” and “2 On.”
It slowed during deep cut “Gravity,” only to be revived by the final three songs, the upbeat yet cynical “All My Friends,” single girl anthem, “No Broke Boys” and, of course, “Nasty.”
Saving the best for last, Tinashe told the crowd, “You know what time it is,” to raucous cheers as the coy lyrics rang out.
“I’ve been a nasty girl,” everyone sang in unison, swinging their hips just as Tinashe did.
The singer performed an impressive 24 songs in just a little over an hour, meaning the “Tinashe Train” stopped for no one, even if it meant disappearing off stage and letting her backup dancers or premade visuals take the lead for a song.
There were brief moments when Tinashe checked in to reinvigorate the crowd, but she did little to balance the fast pace of the show and foster a feeling of genuine connection with the audience.
The end of the show felt abrupt when “Nasty” ended and Tinashe warmly thanked everyone for coming and wished them a safe trip home.
Still, her stunning visuals, hypnotizing dance moves and sexy swagger show that Tinashe has carved her niche in pop music where she has thrived for years.
Tinashe is aware of this. On the remix of “B2b” (on the “BRAT” remix album magnum opus of fellow reborn 2010s pop star Charli xcx), Tinashe sings, “Look at me now, better than before / They wanna be like me, can’t even blame them for it / Didn’t come out of nowhere, they been sleeping on me, I’m bored / Look so good on your mood board.”
Perhaps her forays into the mainstream are mere glimpses of talent Tinashe has always possessed but has, indeed, been slept on.
