Maps of Music

Aquarius (2014)

Where the lyrics of Aquarius take you, and where it was really made.

Nearly 100 songs were recorded for this album before its final track list was chosen, and Tinashe wrote most of the songs herself.

Key places

Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles (2014)

Recording site Westlake Recording Studios — Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles is listed as a recording location for track 2 of the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Downtown, New York City (2014)

Recording site Downtown (New York City) — Downtown in New York City is listed as a recording location for tracks 9 and 13 of the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Eardrumma, Atlanta (2014)

Recording site DARP Studios (Atlanta) — Eardrumma in Atlanta is listed as a recording location for track 14 of the album, shown only at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Aquarius: debut studio album by American singer Tinashe
• Released October 3, 2014, through RCA Records
• Title taken from Tinashe's zodiac sign
• Genres: R&B, alternative R&B, and pop
• Production described as synthetic, with atmospherics, minimalist beats, and electronics
• Composition drew comparisons to the Weeknd and Aaliyah
• Most songs written by Tinashe herself, who also served as executive producer alongside Mike Nazzaro

Background

• After the Stunners disbanded, Tinashe announced a solo career in 2011
• Debut mixtape In Case We Die released in 2012
• Signed a deal with RCA Records in July 2012
• Mixtapes Reverie (2012) and Black Water (2013) were released during the album's recording
• Tinashe said the album represents a new season of music and art

Recording

• Sessions took place in Los Angeles, London, Atlanta, New York, and Toronto
• Tinashe revealed she had been recording and producing the album for two years
• Some interludes were produced at her home studio in her bedroom
• Guest verses by Schoolboy Q and ASAP Rocky were recorded separately and sent to Tinashe via email
• Collaboration with Future was recorded together in the studio in Atlanta
• In December 2013, nearly 100 songs had been recorded and the final track listing was being chosen

Cover

• Photography: Michael Schwartz
• Creative direction: Erwin Gorostiza
• Art direction and design: Maria Paula Marulanda

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe on February 6, 1993, in Lexington, Kentucky; raised in Los Angeles area.
• Began career as a child actor, appearing in film and TV from 2000 onward.
• From 2007 to 2011 was a member of girl group the Stunners, founded by Vitamin C.

Career

• Released independent mixtapes In Case We Die (2012), Reverie (2012), and Black Water (2013).
• Signed with RCA Records; debut studio album Aquarius (2014), whose single "2 On" featuring Schoolboy Q was her first Billboard Hot 100 entry.
• Later albums Nightride (2016) and Joyride (2018) followed; left RCA in 2019 and released later albums independently.
• Released Songs for You (2019), 333 (2021), BB/Ang3l (2023), and Quantum Baby (2024).
• "Nasty" (2024) reached number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the US Rhythmic chart; "No Broke Boys" remix reached number 36 in 2025.
• Eighth album Popstar (2026) debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200, her first US top 10 album.
• Known for R&B-tinged pop and alternative R&B, often self-writing and self-producing her work.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Generally positive reviews from music critics
• Metacritic average of 80 from 14 reviews
• Los Angeles Times (August Brown): heralded an essential new voice and linked contemporary ideas about women, sex, sadness, and musical restlessness
• Billboard (John Kennedy): described it as a lustful listen focused on emotional union and separation
• Pitchfork (Meaghan Garvey): noted Y2K-era influences as Tinashe moved away from 2010s R&B, comparing her to Janet Jackson and Aaliyah
• AllMusic (Andy Kellman): said her vocals are often quiet and soft, but her abilities remain considerable, pointing to her role as co-writer on nearly all tracks
• Rolling Stone (Julianne Escobedo Shepherd): praised the album as savvy and self-assured
• Exclaim! (Jabbari Weekes): called it solid and an entertaining effort from the sultry singer
• Q (Steve Yates): found some generic aspects but described her voice as highly adaptable
• NME (Dean Van Nguyen): called the 18-track album overstuffed yet an impressive statement
• Fact (Aimee Cliff): described it as complicated and accomplished
• Slant Magazine (Sal Cinquemani): gave a mixed review, finding the album remarkably consistent given its many producers but criticizing some generic tracks

Records

• Billboard 200 debut at number 17, selling 18,821 copies in the opening week
• Second week: dropped to number 64 with 4,950 copies sold
• Reached number two on the Top R&B Albums chart and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
• Also charted in Australia, France, and the United Kingdom
• Sold 70,000 copies in the United States as of December 2015
• Lead single 2 On peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent four weeks atop the Billboard Rhythmic chart
• 2 On was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 24, 2014, for one million units

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The song "2 On" samples Sean Paul's 2005 single "We Be Burnin'".
• "How Many Times" samples Janet Jackson's "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)".
• "Vulnerable" was originally included on the 2013 mixtape Black Water.
• Floyd Bentley is listed as a songwriter of "Pretend" by BMI, though not credited in the liner notes.
• Drake invited Tinashe onstage in Houston to perform the remix of "2 On".
• Tinashe was announced as an opening act for the North American leg of Nicki Minaj's Pinkprint Tour in March 2015.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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