Songs for You

After Tinashe's previous album, Joyride (2018), she started to tease her follow-up mixtape.^[1] The mixtape was based on Tinashe's alter-ego, Nashe.^[2] Tinashe promoted Nashe through snippets of songs from the tracklist with Hitmaka, an executive producer on the mixtape.^[3] Further promotion continued with its singles, "Like I Used To" and "Throw a Fit", both of which used the mixtape's artwork.^[4][5][2] However, promotion for Nashe was ceased for unknown reasons.^[6] Speculation arose after Tinashe posted a screenshot on Instagram of a page error from RCA's website with a broken heart as the caption to the post.^[7] According to Hitmaka, the mixtape was shelved.^[6] Nashe was ultimately scrapped, and it was described as a "failed course-correction" by Paper, becoming a turning point in her decision to depart from RCA, among other reasons.^[8] Tinashe later cited "creative differences" as a significant factor in her dissatisfaction with the label, stating that these tensions began to affect her overall experience and the material she was able to release.^[9] In February 2019, Tinashe's then-manager Mike Nazzaro announced her departure from RCA, citing: "We initiated for her to be released. It was a positive split for her. It's giving her back creative control."^[10][11] Tinashe would eventually sign a management deal with Roc Nation on November 7, 2019.^[12]

Between October and November 2019, she held listening parties for her project in London. In an interview with Hip Hop Mike, she stated that Songs for You is her "most vulnerable project to date" and her direction for the album is "a real experience that they could really sink their teeth into. There are a few moments that are in your feels. I had to really open myself up. It's the most vulnerable project I've ever put out."^[13] MadeinTYO was originally featured on the tracklist after it was teased throughout the listening parties, but the collaboration was scrapped after the producer gave the beat to another artist.^[14]

Songs for You was recorded in Tinashe's home studio in Los Angeles. She described the choice of location as a way of "bringing people into my experience, my world", as she noted that it set the tone for a project that felt "real" and "raw", driven primarily by her emotions.^[13] During the sessions, Tinashe frequently collaborated with musicians in an informal, improvisational environment; she recalled moments such as her drummer creating a percussive rhythm by drumming on a table, which was recorded on an iPhone and incorporated directly into the track. She characterized the overall process as experimental and playful and emphasized the creative freedom that defined the album's development.^[15]

"Link Up"

A 23-second sample "Link Up" that features "swanky" and "bouncing trap-hop" elements.

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Songs for You incorporates an R&B, G-funk influences, 1980s pop elements, acoustic arrangements, drum-and-bass rhythms, and trap-oriented productions. The album moves between these styles—at times within a single track—while maintaining Tinashe's characteristic light, soprano vocal delivery.^[16] It also features three songs, "Link Up", "Feelings", and "Cash Race", originally intended for Tinashe's 2018 summer project Nashe, produced by Hitmaka.^[17]

The album opens with "Feelings", a track in which Tinashe delivers rap-sung vocals over hard-hitting production.^[8] "Life's Too Short" is a song built on a spacious Kingdom-produced beat, highlighted for aligning with the singer's strengths on more experimental productions.^[16] "Hopscotch" features Tinashe rapping over her own vocals.^[16] "Stormy Weather", a song driven by psychedelic-leaning synths, is notable for its conversational delivery.^[18] "Save Room for Us" is a pop-leaning funk track with four-on-the-floor production.^[16] "Story of Us", a crisp-funk^[19] and Quiet storm–styled song, compared in the review to work from Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope era.^[16] While "Die a Little Bit" is a UK garage-inflected track that adopts a more riskier approach compared to the singles from Joyride,^[20] "Perfect Crime" is a smooth, synth-laden pop track.^[8] A buoyant, radio-leaning track "Cash Race", was described as a summery anthem in which she references making "back-to-back hits".^[18] "Link Up" is a "swanky"^[21] and "bouncing trap-hop" song.^[19] "Touch & Go", a duet with 6lack, was noted for melancholic tone within the tracklist.^[21] A pop R&B song, "Know Better" is described as an after-party groove^[19] and a subdued, late-night disco track.^[16][22] "So Much Better" is a R&B track featuring G-Eazy, beginning as an uptempo, hook-oriented collaboration before shifting into a stripped-down section with guitar and vocals.^[22] The closing track, "Remember When" is an acoustic ballad.^[22]

In October 2019, Tinashe announced Songs for You along with a trailer on YouTube.^[23] "Die a Little Bit", featuring Ms Banks, was released as the lead single from the album on October 24,^[24][20] with an accompanying music video directed by C Prinz.^[25] On November 14, she announced the album's cover artwork and its release date.^[26] The second single, "Touch & Go" featuring 6lack, was released on November 7.^[27] The album was released on Thursday, November 21, instead of the music industry's customary releases of Friday; Tinashe stated in an interview with Billboard that she wanted to emphasize her stance in the music industry as "not part of the system".^[14] The music video for "So Much Better" (featuring G-Eazy), directed by Mynxii White, premiered on November 22.^[28][29][30] "Stormy Weather"'s music video was premiered on December 27.^[31]

"Save Room for Us" followed on February 14, 2020, serving as the third single. It was released along with the release of an accompanying video,^[32] and an additional remix by Makj himself.^[33] An acoustic video for the album's track, "Remember When", was released on April 21.^[34] From June 26 to July 10, a remix of a song from the album would be released each Friday; "Hopscotch" with American R&B duo They,^[35] "Die a Little Bit" featuring Ms Banks with producer Zhu^[36] and "Touch & Go" featuring 6lack with producer Tarro.^[37] All remixes came with their own accompanied short visual.^[38]

In February 2020, Tinashe announced the tour, titled Tour for You.^[39][40][41] The tour was set to begin on April 20 at Detroit at Saint Andrews Hall,^[42] and it included performances in major North American cities such as Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Toronto, and concluded in Seattle.^[43] Even though multiple shows across the United States and Canada sold out within the first few hours of ticket release,^[44] the tour was ultimately cancelled in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement posted to social media, Tinashe confirmed the cancellation and assured fans that refunds would be issued at the point of purchase.^[45]

Credits were adapted from AllMusic.^[63]

• Ike Schultz – engineer, mixing, vocal producer
• Tinashe – executive producer, producer