Over the last ten years or so, there have been a few artists who have teetered on the borderline of superstardom but have not been able to break through as mainstream R&B artists. Along with artists like Jhène Aiko and Ty Dolla $ign, Tinashe has contributed to some major hits over the previous decade, but for some reason, she has not been able to truly get over the hump as a massively popular soloist. Though she has never actually taken that extra step to be considered a pivotal R&B star, Tinashe has made an impact on the industry with her releases over the past several years. In recent history, especially, Tinashe has become one of the top innovators in R&B music, taking risks and pushing boundaries with her sound that other artists had not previously been doing. Tinashe has decided to completely think outside the box, and she has been looked to by other up-and-coming R&B artists for ways to continue to progress R&B music and keep it ahead of the curve. Her last two projects, 2019’s Songs For You and 2021’s 333 were not only considered top R&B projects from their respective years but are also considered to be top projects by critics from those years in general; with those two releases, Tinashe cemented herself as someone willing to open up lyrically and sonically in a way that most her peers are not willing to do, making her one of the most exciting acts in R&B today. Tinashe just returned with a new album called BB/ANG3L; if her past two releases are any indication of what is on this one, it is safe to assume BB/ANG3L is another project that shows Tinashe’s maturity and vulnerability as an artist. With that being said, here is how I feel about Tinashe’s BB/ANG3L. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from this record, also comment on how you feel about it as a whole.
‘Treason’ is a fresh and bold way to start this project. Right from the jump, the melody has an intensity and brightness to it that feels thrilling yet anxious. This melody consists of what sounds like a Chinese mandolin and a piano riff that are added to by chime noises and xylophone noise that comes in and out. These chime and xylophone noises give the melody a bright element that makes me think of a sunrise. This melody is put on an off-kilter beat that sounds like it is being provided by clapping. The beat for this track gives it a sound that makes it seem like it is 50 years ahead of its time and 50 years past its time at the same damn time. Tinashe’s vocals on this track are low and dark, contrasting the bright sound of the melody and adding to the anxious element that the instrumental has. I like how Tinashe’s vocals do not match the melody much, as they give the song texture diversity. In ‘Treason,’ Tinashe is singing about fighting intrusive thoughts and going to see someone that she knows she should not see. Even though every interaction with this person ultimately makes her life worse, she can not get enough of them. ‘Talk To Me Nice’ was the first single released in anticipation of this EP. Compared to the first track, this song is pretty basic and typical. That does not mean it is bad by any means, it just does not pop as much as that one does. ‘Talk To Me Nice’ is a low and dark R&B Trap with a simple yet addicting sound. The melody for this track is driven by distorted and buzzing synths that change tones multiple times as the track progresses. There are points in the track where the melody feels positive, and there are other points where it feels downtrodden. This melody is put on top of a faded Trap beat that fits the soft and dim energy of the melody well. Tinashe’s vocal performance on this track does not really stand out to me(especially when compared to what I know she can do). She takes on a sort of Rap delivery on ‘Talk To Me Nice,’ and her mostly monotone delivery does sound nice on the instrumental, but it does not make the song stand out at all. On ‘Talk To Me Nice,’ Tinashe is singing about a quick hook-up with a sneaky link before she has to go out of town for work. ‘Needs’ was the other single that was released before this project came out. Out of the two singles, I have to say I enjoy this one a lot more; in fact, it is on my list for one of the best songs of the second half of 2023, as I have continuously been coming back to this track since it came out a month ago. Even though there is nothing about ‘Needs’ that makes it stick out from an experimental or innovative standpoint (which is usually what I am attracted to when it comes to Tinashe’s music), there is something about this track that just has me hooked. ‘Needs’ is so catchy and fun, and it is the perfect song to play to get any dance floor jumping. This song is driven by a smooth and funky Synth-Driven melody that is put on top of an upbeat Pop-Trap beat. The instrumental for this song is so light and easy-going, and it puts me in a good mood whenever I hear it. Tinashe’s vocal performance on this song is not exceptional, but it is definitely solid and it drives the song along nicely. On ‘Needs,’ Tinashe sings about how she knows that she is extremely desirable and that every guy she meets is lusting over her. ‘Uh Huh’ ventures away from the more mainstream sound that the last two songs had and goes in a more Alternative R&B Trap route. This song is driven by a highly-saturated and lively melody with a warm and lovely tone. The melody is provided by a variety of very different-sounding synths, some being low-pitched and distorted and some being high-pitched and crisp. This full and luscious melody is put on a slow yet hard-hitting Trap beat that punches in a way that gives the synths that drive the melody even more power than they already have. Tinashe has her best vocal performance of the project so far on ‘Uh Huh.’ She shows off her range on this track, and the high-end notes that she hits add a level of freshness and uniqueness to the track that gives it so much emphasis. On ‘Uh Huh,’ Tinashe is singing about being infatuated with someone that she knows is not right for her. Even though she figures it will ultimately not work out, she can not get enough of this person.
‘Gravity’ sees Tinashe go in a direction that has emerged as a trend in experimental R&B music over the last year or so. This track sees Tinashe lean into the UK Garage sound that has been prevalent in underground R&B lately. This track is driven by a cozy, atmospheric synth-driven melody that has an airy feeling to it. When I hear this melody, it makes me feel like I am levitating, creeping closer and closer to the sun as the song plugs along. This melody is put on top of a fast Dance beat that feels like a fusion of 90s R&B and House music. This is the kind of instrumental that will get anyone moving when they hear it because it is so bouncy and cool. Tinashe’s vocals on this song are soft and understated; the breathy tone that she sings with fits the out-of-this-world feeling that the instrumental has. In ‘Gravity,’ Tinashe is singing about falling for someone fast; she is so infatuated that it is like gravity is pulling her down to this person. ‘None Of My Business’ is another song with a typical modern Trap sound to it. To be honest, this is probably the most underwhelming song on the record to me. This does not make it a bad track at all, but it does not have anything about it that stands out very much to me, especially when compared to some of the other music on the project. The instrumental for this one consists of a moody synth-driven melody that is put on top of a basic Trap beat. It feels like every other instrumental on this project has something about it that makes it pop, but ‘None Of My Business’ does not have any of those qualities. Even ‘Talk To Me Nice’ has a more exciting instrumental than this track does. Tinashe’s vocal performance on this track is solid, but it does not make up for the lackluster feeling of the instrumental. ‘None Of My Business’ just does not have anything about it that grabs me like the songs before it though. On ‘None Of My Business,’ Tinashe is singing for she keeps wanting to be with someone that she knows is lying to her. Even though this person is toxic, there is something about them that Tinashe just needs to have. Tinashe closes out BB/ANG3L on a quirky inventive note with the song ‘Tightrope.’ This song goes back to the UK Garage-inspired sound that we got on ‘Gravity,’ this song is more intricate and anxious sounding than that track though. Whereas ‘Gravity’ creates this all-encompassing feeling that has a soothing trait to it, ‘Tightrope’ creates an exciting aura that has a bit of a distressed feeling. The melody for this track is spatial and otherworldly, as it is driven by fat, distorted synths that sound like they are hitting the listener from all different directions. This melody is put on top of a sophisticated Garage beat that is driven by precise hi-hats and snares that give the song such a weird and interesting energy. I really enjoyed the vocal performance from Tinashe on this track. She sings with a rapid-fire flow that fits the speed and fervor of the beat, and she hits some high notes that give the song an added texture that it benefits from greatly. On ‘Tightrope,’ Tinashe is debating whether or not she should go back to this person that she knows is bad for her. Even though the negatives outweigh the positives with this person, it is very difficult for her to let them go. ‘Tightrope’ is a great way to end this record, as it sends BB/ANG3L off on an exciting note that shows Tinashe is still willing and able to think outside the box at any point.
As I stated in the introduction, Tinashe has become someone who is constantly pushing the boundaries of R&B and pursuing sounds and styles of music that are not usually ventured into within the genre. She could always churn out a mainstream-sounding hit, but she can go beyond the expectations most people would have for her which makes her shine. On her new EP BB/ANG3L, Tinashe demonstrates all of the qualities that make her great. Everything about this project pops. The lyricism is deep and introspective, the vocals are diverse and full of range, and the instrumentals are inventive and varied. BB/ANG3L is a great R&B project by one of the most exciting artists in the genre right now. BB/ANG3L is a project that I know I will be returning to frequently considering I truly do enjoy every song on the project; it makes me very excited to see what she is able to do in the future.
EAST SIDE VIBES 