Grab the keys to your Brinks truck and “Link Up” with your squad on the Hitmaka-produced track, which is filled to the brim with clever one-liners that would undoubtedly make for a sick music video.
“For my next act, watch-watch me cut these bitches off!”
In true Tinashe form, the track transforms into yet another song, which is an interpolation of the previously unreleased track “Naked” (which was intended earlier release on a shelved project). Next up is another high point in the record for me, with the velvety “Touch & Go” featuring Atlanta singer and rapper 6lack. The songs touches on the exhausting cycle of “touch & go” relationship – eyeballing it along the way and both parties just aren’t giving it their all. Their voices work so well together, and among the muted, reverberating bassline they plead: “meet me in the middle”. An unexpected and hauntingly beautiful violin takes the song right into the next track:
“Sitting here with my thoughts in a bottle
Every time I take a sip, I’m reminded of you
Like, how you been? Wait a minute, what am I doing?
It feels different when you’re not around.”
“Know Better” feels like one of those nights when you’re thinking about the “what ifs” and the “why didn’t this work out” thoughts in your mind, and whether or not you want (or should) emotionally go back to that place again. (“Wanna kiss you, but I know better…”) Hold fast before you skip to the next track, because we’re only at 2:57 out of 6:56 on the track. A dreamy, nostalgic ballad begins and is somewhat of an afterthought to the same feelings at the beginning of the song (“Honestly, what’s another break up to a girl like me?”)
“You” is literally just:
“All these songs for you baby (you know who you are).”
-Tinashe
This is such a good moment in the album to me, because it proves that each track is so important to the entire story. Here we are, 14 tracks in (not to mention the switch-ups) and the material is still bringing it. “So Much Better” is basically a musical masterpiece, with operatic vocals displayed amongst a soul-shattering bassline with tantalizing lyrics.
The song has so many different elements all blended into a very sonically intricate piece. I’d be lying, though if I didn’t say that I think the song would be better without the feature. Not that his part would not be an asset, but I think his flirtation is a bit aggressive in comparison to the coy, subtle approach brought by Tinashe. I wish his intentions were a bit more indirect which would actually add to the track, in my opinion. However, we do get ANOTHER bonus outro on this one (which I’ll leave as a surprise!)
With that said, here we are at the end of this incredibly well-rounded album, with yet another curveball that is “Remember When” – an acoustic, guitar-backed ballad that’s about moving on when you know something wasn’t meant to be, but acknowledging the best of times and reiterating that everything was real.
Pickin’ up the pieces of a mess
But I feel like myself again
The stripped-down approach really showcases how strong her vocals are, and that despite all of the production value we got on this record – her voice and her words are her strongest weapons.
This album is so clean and concise, and seriously came through in the clutch and saved 2019. I’m so glad that everyone is finally getting to hear her potential and is respecting her as a strong force in the game. But, she’ll always be winning because she’s in her own lane and unapologetically true to herself. Thank you Tinashe for Songs For You!
Thanks so much for reading, and don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with what’s next for me this year!