Aquarius (album)

## Aquarius

### Producer(s)

BloodPop, Boi-1da, Cashmere Cat, Detail, DJ Dahi, Dom Dolo, Evian Christ, Jasper Cameron, Marley Waters, Michel, Mike WiLL Made-It, Mustard, Nic Nac, The Order, Osinachi, Redwine, Ritz Reynolds, StarGate, Tinashe & Vinylz

***Aquarius*** is the debut studio album and fourth overall project by American singer Tinashe, released on October 3, 2014, by RCA Records. The album was promoted with the release of three singles "2 On", "Pretend", and "All Hands on Deck" with the first reaching number 24 on the *Billboard* Hot 100.

## Background

The disbandment of the girl group The Stunners, Tinashe began pursuing her music career as a solo artist. In February 2012, it saw the release of her debut mixtape, *In Case We Die*. The mixtape was supported by singles, the first being as a promotional song "Chainless" which was released to iTunes on December 19, 2011. The mixtape also included the song "Boss", which was released as a free download on August 20, 2012, immediately after it was featured in an episode of the VH1 series *Single Ladies*. In July 2012, Tinashe signed a deal with RCA Records. She subsequently released her second mixtape, *Reverie*, on September 6, 2012 through her official website. Tinashe sought to reintroduce herself creatively and artistically. She claimed that the album was an attempt to show fans who she is as an artist and additionally stated the album represents "a new season of music and art".

## Recording

In 2013, Tinashe began work on her debut studio album. Recording sessions took place in Los Angeles, London, Atlanta, New York, and Toronto. Tinashe worked with several producers including Clams Casino, Ryan Hemsworth, Stuart Matthewman, Mike Will Made It, DJ Mustard, T-Minus, Boi-1da, Fisticuffs, Best Kept Secret, Ritz Reynolds and many more. During an interview, Tinashe revealed that she had been recording and producing the album for two years, compared her mixtapes which she had created in a month, Tinashe compared the process with her album as being different due to working with other producers, during her mixtapes. Tinashe made all the "decisions", but when recording the album she was working with other "creative people" and had to become "comfortable". During the album recording Tinashe, recorded and produced at her

## Release and promotion

Promoting the album, Tinashe began performing the lead single "2 On". She first performed the song at SXSW Festival 2014. She also performed it at the Power 106 LA concert, Capital Xtra, Rinse FM, V100.7/Milwaukee's Family Affair, The Vipor Room and Hot 97's Who's Next. Drake also invited her onstage to perform the remix to the song in Houston. Tinashe performed the song on *The Wendy Williams Show* on July 21, 2014. In October she performed it on Jimmy Kimmel Live. She also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and performed the single "All Hands on Deck" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in April 2015.

In March 2015, Tinashe was announced as one of the opening acts for the North American leg of Nicki Minaj's The Pinkprint Tour, along with Meek Mill, Rae Sremmurd, and Dej Loaf. In September and October 2015, Tinashe toured South America with Katy Perry on The Prismatic World Tour. Tinashe's debut concert tour, the Aquarius Tour, visited North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia.

### **Singles**

"2 On", which features American rapper Schoolboy Q, was released on January 21, 2014 as the lead single from *Aquarius*. It impacted US rhythmic contemporary and urban contemporary radio on March 18, 2014. The song peaked at number 24 on the *Billboard* Hot 100, number 53 on the UK Singles Chart and spent four weeks atop the *Billboard* Rhythmic chart. On November 24, 2014, "2 On" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of one million units.

The album's second single, "Pretend" featuring ASAP Rocky, was released on August 22, 2014. "All Hands on Deck" was sent to US urban contemporary radio on February 24, 2015, as the third and final single from the album.

## *Cut Songs*

*Main artitcle: Unreleased Songs*

1. **Applause**
2. **Can't Help Myself**
3. **Checks In (Other Bitches)**
4. **Destiny**
5. **Down With Ur Luv**
6. **I'm Coming 4 U**
7. **In The Meantime**
8. **Just a Taste**
9. **Little Things**
10. **Murphy's Law**
11. **No Fucks**
12. **On a Wave (feat. Drake)**
13. **Pretend (Solo Version)**
14. **Secret**
15. **Solo**
16. **They're On (Take It)**
17. **Up We Go**
18. **We Could Be More (Demo for Dawn Richard)**
19. **You Playin' (Fuckin' Wit Me)**
20. **Purple Fever**

## *Trivia*

* Aquarius was named after Tinashe's zodiac sign
	+ However, her reasoning for naming her debut album after this song, was for metaphorical reasons, rather than literal astrology.
* In 2011, after the disbandment of the girl group The Stunners, Tinashe announced that she would begin pursuing a solo career.
* Remix packages were also released to promote the album including “All Hands On Deck” [Iggy Azalea + Dej Loaf versions], “Pretend” [Jeezy version] / [Dave Aude Remix] and “2 On” [Schoolboy Q + Drake + Tyga versions]
* Tinashe ecorded a cover of Drake’s “Days In The West” in honour of the popularity of the leaked/unfinished *Aquarius* track “On A Wave” [produced by Drake and 40 Shebib] which was posted to Drake’s official YouTube page.