Black Water (Tinashe album)
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Black Water is the third mixtape by American recording artist Tinashe, first released on November 26, 2013 via her official website. The mixtape was released after the release of her second mixtape Reverie and also being signed to RCA prior to releasing the mixtape.
As executive producer, Tinashe enlisted a variety of musical producers to work with her on the mixtape, including Boi-1da, Best Kept Secret, Dev Hynes, Frank Dukes, Gabriel Lambrith, !llmind, Inc, J. Oliver, K-BeatZ, Karon Graham, Misfitz Sounds, Osinachi, Ryan Hemsworth, Vinylz, besides being executive producer of the mixtape Tinashe also wrote all of the mixtapes songs.[1] Musically, Black Water doesn't stray far from the same PBR&B and alternative hip hop sound that In Case We Die included, the mixtape also touches on several new genres such as electronica and neo soul.
The mixtape was preceded by the release of the lead single "Vulnerable" which was released on November 20, 2013.
Black Water received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented the mixtapes and she "has the most promising voices of the new generation of alt-R&B starlets,"[2] with some critics calling it "highly anticipated" and "must listen" and praised Tinashe's vocal growth. Other critics compared the mixtape to that of Mya, TLC and Aaliyah. Much like Reverie, the tape reached the top spot on DatPiff. The mixtape has been certified Bronzer with 48,000 downloads & has over 150,000 views.
Background
After a four-year stint in the pop-dance girl group the Stunners, Tinashe left the group to pursue a solo career. On December 20, 2011, Tinashe announced that she would be releasing a mixtape entitled In Case We Die in 2012.[3] After four singles and reaching over one million digital downloads, Tinashe was signed to RCA Records with her official debut album to be released sometime in 2013.[4] On August 5, 2012 Tinashe announced that she was ready to release her second project, titled Reverie.[5] After uploading a trailer of the mixtape on her YouTube channel, it was confirmed that the name of the mixtape is Reverie.[6] The official cover was revealed via Instagram on August 13, 2012. On September 1, 2012 she wrote to her followers on Twitter that Reverie will be released on September 6, 2012.[7]
Development
For the recording of the mixtape Black Water was self-composed and recorded and engineered entirely in Tinashe's bedroom, much like her previous work.[4] For Reverie, Tinashe was the executive producer, however she did also work with various producers from her first project, In Case We Die such as K-BeatZ, Wes Tarte and B. Hendrixx as well as working with new producers BMarz, Nez & Rio, Best Kept Secret, Troobadore, Roc & Mayne, JRB The Producer as well as virally famous producer xxyyxx.
Tinashe took to her official blog to explain the meaning behind the mixtape and its French title Black Water (which means "to daydream"):
My second project, "Reverie", took a turn for the political. I notice that as the presidential election in the United States draws ever nearer, people become tremendously caught up in the Hollywood drama of it all—- and automatically take on, without much consideration, all of the views and the opinions of "the right or the left". Thus, resulting in a disconnect from our REAL political duties as citizens of this Earth, and a neglect for the true issues human beings around the globe face every single day. We are so caught up in our media, in our jobs, in our gossip, and in our consuming that we genuinely feel like we don’t have the time or ENERGY to bother ourselves with the tribulations of nations near and far. This… is a synthetic world many of us live in today— a dream, if you will.[emphasis in original][8]
Critical reception
Reviews for Black Water were generally mixed to positive reviews, with the comments on popular mixtape site DatPiff being positive,[9] as well as receiving promotional space on the main page of DatPiff, and peaking at number five on the most downloaded chart on its first day of release[10] and drawing comparisons to Aaliyah and Mya via fans on social networking site Twitter.[11]
MuuMuse.com commented on her growth in this mixtape since her past mixtapes saying "like her past two free offerings 2012′s In Case We Die and Reverie — Black Water plays host to plenty of sensual vocals, downtempo beats and murky, The Weeknd-leaning mood music for your listening enjoyment past the midnight hour."[2]
Fact Magazine criticized her vocals falling flat at times saying "The biggest knock on Tinashe has been a voice that often falters at higher registers and tends to get too breathy: that problem is particularly noticeable on the Inc.-produced ‘Middle of Nowhere’, and she’s practically whispering on closer ‘Ain’t Ready’. Yet, when she balances the breathiness with something more concrete, it pays off. She explores her full range on ‘Black Water’, knowing when to give a light touch to a melody reminiscent of 90s R&B."[12]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Black Water" | Tinashe | !llmind, Karon Graham, Gabriel Lambirth | 2:56 |
| 2. | "Before The Storm" | Tinashe | Tinashe | 0:23 |
| 3. | "Vulnerable" (featuring Travi$ Scott) | Tinashe, Jacques Webster | Boi-1da, Vinylz | 3:26 |
| 4. | "Secret Weapon" | Tinashe | Osinachi | 3:10 |
| 5. | "Video Tapes" | Tinashe | Tinashe | 0:39 |
| 6. | "Midnight Sun" | Tinashe | Best Kept Secret, K-BeatZ | 4:32 |
| 7. | "1 For Me" | Tinashe | Ryan Hemsworth | 3:28 |
| 8. | "Daybreak" | Tinashe | Tinashe | 0:34 |
| 9. | "Fugitive" | Tinashe | Dev Hynes | 2:14 |
| 10. | "Stunt" | Tinashe | !llmind, Frank Dukes | 3:35 |
| 11. | "Just A Taste" | Tinashe | J. Oliver, Mizfitz Soundz | 3:17 |
| 12. | "Middle Of Nowhere" | Tinashe | Inc | 3:12 |
| 13. | "Ain't Ready..." | Tinashe | Tinashe | 1:32 |
| Total length: | 33:04 | |||
- Sampling credits
- "Vulnerable" samples "On Sight" and "I'm In It" performed by Kanye West
- "Just A Taste" samples "Anniversary" performed by Tony! Toni! Toné!.
- "Stunt" samples "Cop Blood" by Frank Dukes
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | November 21, 2013 | Online/Digital Download | Independent |
References
- ^ "Tinashe - Black Water". DJBooth.net. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Required Listening: Tinashe, 'Black Water' (Mixtape)". MuuMuse. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ "LozzaMusic.com - Tinashe Interview". LozzaMusic. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
- ^ a b "Tinashe – 19-Year Old Singing Sensation – to Release her Sophomore Mixtape, 'Reverie', September 6, 2012". 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ "New mixtape coming... on Facebook". 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
- ^ "Fear Not: Tinashe Reveals "Reverie" Mixtape Trailer". 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ ""My new mixtape cover #Reverie (Coming soon)" on Facebook". 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
- ^ "The Inspiration Behind my forthcoming mix tape, "Reverie"". 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ "Tinashe - Reverie / / Free Mixtape @ DatPiff.com". 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ "DatPiff :: The Authority in Free Mixtapes". 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ "Twitter / MuuMuse: @_DenverSean Yeah for sure..." 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ "The Week's Best Mixtapes and Free Mixes, November 29 2013". Factmag.com. Retrieved 19 September 2014.