We like Tinashe. Mainly because she’s real, partially because she’s attractive, naturally because the talented sing-songstress stomps on stages, parties in pumps and beheads teddy bears with swords. And, keep it real, did we mention she was attractive?

The uber-exhilarating 19-year-old took a convo cruise with DOPE MAG editor Tone Swep after inking a new deal with Sony/RCA. The two talked temper tantrums, national anthems, and why even though a boy may keep calling. She is still a girl who will just stop answering.

Here is an Excerpt from the Full Length Interview

(Tone Swep: TS) Okay, first of all. What’s up with you and the Teddy Bear? My little niece was like “Oh, My God! She cut his head off”! Now see, Tinashe what’s up with that?

(Tinashe: TINASHE) (Laughs!) Noooo, I mean. I’m sorry (Laughs some more). The Teddy Bear kind of represented a juxtapositioning of innocence and evil. The song is about this girl who was with this guy who was a bit controlling. He was the boss of her. So now she’s on her own. So the teddy bear represented that girl showing him he was no longer the boss of her by destroying the gift he gave her.

(TS) How would you describe your fashion sense and style? Many of your stills show you in high glam with an almost Egyptian-like nod to perhaps Nefertiti, or a Greco-Roman salute to Isis. Then in videos like “Chainless”, there exists this Hip Hop marinated indie-pop sensibility with a punk feel.

(TINASHE) I think it’s a mix between my being really sophisticated and girlie and sexy; form fitting gowns and such with high heels and the hair. But then I like kicks, Jays, sweats, snapbacks. I’m a Hip Hop dancer, so that is the feel, to me, of that genre. I love things with an urban sensibility mixed with some glam.

(TS) Is there a particular shopping district or boutique row you frequent? The style you described seems anti-brand. More about what it is than who made it.

(TINASHE) Yes! I do a lot of shopping around the Fairfax area in LA. That’s really where I like to pull from. I don’t like to stick to one name brand. Vintage and boutique shops are favorites for me. I also like to mix-and-match different flavors and styles from various shops and places.

(TS) You recently sang the national anthem at Dodger Stadium. How was that experience?

(TINASHE) That was so fun. It was actually the second time in my career that I’ve gotten to do it. This time it was the biggest audience I ever sang a solo in front of. There were 54 thousand people, plus all the people watching at home on television. Baseball fans in sports bars, etcetera. And meeting Magic Johnson was something unexpected. Now that’s my next national anthem performance goal; singing at a Lakers game.

(TS) Give me one thing a guy can do that will cause you to stop taking his calls?

(TINASHE) hmmmm, why would I stop talking to him… Probably, if I knew that he liked to drink and drive. That would let me know he’s not someone I need to be talking to. Or like if he’s a huge flirt with other girls. I feel like I have to be respected. Even if it’s just in the early stage of the relationship, he shouldn’t be all flirting with other girls and I’m there.

(TS) How in tune are you with your Zimbabwean roots? You appear to draw from your cultural aesthetics and art forms?

(TINASHE) It’s a big inspiration for me. Unfortunately, I haven’t actually been to Zimbabwe. But I plan to travel there. My name is Shona (Her name means “We are with God”). Musically, I have used some little inspirations, little melodies and moments. And also fashion-wise I love African culture and art.

Read Tinashe‘s full length feature in the upcoming #FIRE Issue of DOPE Magazine.

Follow Tinashe on Twitter

Visit Tinashe‘s Official Site

Watch “BOSS“

Watch “CHAINLESS“

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