Aquarius (2014)

Aquarius is the debut studio album by American singer Tinashe. It was released on October 3, 2014, through RCA Records. In 2011, after the disbandment of the girl group the Stunners, Tinashe announced that she would begin pursuing a solo career. The following year, she released her debut mixtape, titled In Case We Die (2012). After raising her profile with the mixtape, Tinashe met with RCA, where she subsequently signed a recording contract. Following her signing a record deal, Tinashe immediately began working on the album. During the recording process, she released two other mixtapes, Reverie (2012) and Black Water (2013).

Aquarius, titled after Tinashe's zodiac sign, incorporates several genres including R&B, alternative R&B, and pop. The album's production was characterized as being synthetic, with atmospherics and minimalist beats and electronics, and its composition drew comparisons to a variety of artists, including the Weeknd and Aaliyah. Most of the songs were written by Tinashe herself, also serving as the album's executive producer alongside Mike Nazzaro.

Upon its release, Aquarius received generally positive reviews from music critics, who commended its production, lyrics, and themes, with reviewers comparing it to the work of Janet Jackson. The album debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200, selling 18,821 copies in its first week. It also charted in Australia, France, and the United Kingdom. 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 and recording

In 2011, following the disbandment of 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 (2012). Tinashe signed a deal with RCA Records in July 2012. She subsequently released her second mixtape, Reverie, on September 6, 2012, through her official website.

After the release of Aquarius, she stated the album represents "a new season of music and art".

In 2012, Tinashe began to work on her debut studio album. Recording sessions took place in Los Angeles, London, Atlanta, New York, and Toronto. In an interview, she revealed that she had been recording and producing the album for two years, compared to her mixtapes, which she created in a month. Tinashe compared the process with her album as being different due to working with other producers, during her mixtapes she made all the "decisions", but when recording the album, she was working with other "creative people", and had to become "comfortable".

During recording, Tinashe recorded and produced the album at her home studio in her bedroom, where she produced some of the interludes included on the album. She described the process as being "tighter" than her previous production. Tinashe also avoided listening to music during recording, not to be heavily influenced by the work of other artists, stating that she wanted the music to come from a "genuine place of inspiration." The guest verses provided by Schoolboy Q and ASAP Rocky were recorded separately and sent to Tinashe via email; however, her collaboration with Future was recorded in the studio together in Atlanta. Speaking about working with Future, Tinashe said, "I went to Atlanta and worked together on the song, and we wrote at the same time."

In December 2013, Tinashe revealed that she had almost completed the recording of the album, with nearly 100 songs being recorded at that point. She also revealed that she was at the final stages of the album's production, in which she was picking and choosing the album's final track listing as well as choosing "key songs" to fill the gaps.

Composition

Aquarius blends a variety of genres including R&B, alternative R&B, and pop. According to Dean Van Nguyen of NME, the album's music is a mix of the Weeknd's "decadent alt-R&B" and Aaliyah's "seductive cyber-pop". As August Brown of the Los Angeles Times calls the album's music "weird, wonderful world of experimental beat" which he compared to other PBR&B singers, including FKA Twigs and Kelela, continuing to say the album has rhythm and swing "yet cut through with melancholy". Andy Kellman of AllMusic described the album's musical style as being mostly "low-lit, slinking in tempo, and stitched together with several interludes", which Kellman described as being influenced by The Velvet Rope by Janet Jackson.

About the album's production, Nguyen noted it for being "synthetic" and containing "urid, crawling atmospherics led by beats and keys" along with "minimalism, thumping beats and electronics". Kellman described the production as being "laced with small details, subtle twists, and gradual intensification". Sally-Anne Hurley from The Music said the album "falls somewhere between mainstream, radio-friendly R&B and the electro, new-age alternative that's transformed the urban genre in a big way recently".