Tinashe tops off the summer of freak with the low-key Quantum Baby

It’s found itself in TikToks or Instagram Reels, getting wistfully mashed up with Beach House’s “Space Song” to ask if someone wants to get on the same level – one’s ‘freak’ could mean anything from going to bed at 8 p.m., a specific autistic hyper fixation, or doing something slightly off-kilter to appear quirky. In any case, the phrase on her summer smash “Nasty” and its resulting chorus, “I been a nasty girl,” is a hit long-waited for Tinashe, the cult R&B superstar, who, since going independent, has been steadily working her way towards newfound success with chic and sexy albums showcasing her vocal prowess and finger-on-the-pulse ideas.

“Nasty” was an organic hit in a summer of underappreciated artists finally getting their due (it was actually released the same day as Sabrina Carpenter’s similarly career-defining “Espresso”). It became her first solo hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 and her first since 2014 — a fist-pumping, “Let’s fucking go” moment for those entranced in her independent career. It’s not hard to see why it was a viral climber — “Nasty” is a flirty, fun, free, minimalist trap song that gets carried from her charisma and ability to turn a phrase alone (assisted by an endlessly replicable TikTok-minted dance). It’s silly while also being confident in its claims; you can interpret “I’ve been a nasty girl” however you’d like, but there’s no debating when she taunts, “If you keep up with me, I’ll keep on coming back.”

Tinashe’s resulting album, Quantum Baby, is part two of a drop kicked off with last year’s BB/ANG3L, a daring and hypnotic set of songs that pushed her creatively. With the exception of its last two songs, “Nasty” and “No Broke Boys,” Quantum Baby is a moodier effort, calmer and less likely to impress with anthems ready for the club than to focus on nights with someone or self-reflection. Its opener, “No Simulation,” is a pseudo-ballad, calling to mind the lucid soundscapes of her 2016 Nightride, where she searches for truth. “Red Flags” is similarly bare as she examines a past lover’s mistakes (“Actions tell the truth every time / And I believed the lies”). “No Broke Boys” is another call-out to uneven relationships, this time, wickedly fun — this summer’s mantra du jour could have been amended had this preceded “Nasty,” with its chants of “No broke boys! No new friends! I’m that pressure, give me my tens.” Even though it’s reminiscent of the DIY energy of her debut Aquarius, the backing track never really meets the energy of her on the song, letting the celebration falter a bit. Imagine if Lizzo’s “Good As Hell” wasn’t all that triumphant to listen to.

Other tracks excite. “Cross That Line” begins with a growl for romance and a call for a family. “I don’t wanna miss it if it’s right here,” she says, “I could be the love of your life / I’m ready to cross that line.” Usually, Tinashe is confident, demanding attention, but for her to be nervous, and worried about the clock’s ticking, is a new side to her. While she remains chaste there – one of her desires is a baby – “Thirsty” is a soft-spoken trap song that leaves nothing unsaid. “Nasty” was flirtatious, but this is smutty: “‘Bout to waste my time, heart’s not in it, but the dick’s all mine,” she says of a one-night stand that only happened because of a flight delay. “I know my mouth too dirty / But I never lie, don’t worry,” she assures. Likewise, “When I Get You Alone” doubles down: “You can only call me Nashe if you nasty as me,” she says. Seriously, is anyone gonna match her freak? She’s been asking for a while.

Quantum Baby, is not, technically, Tinashe at her best – splitting an album in two and the lopsided hype of “Nasty” makes the record more of a cap-off than a full-fledged era. One can gather the albums represent two sides of her persona – BB/ANG3L experimental, genre-hopping; Quantum Baby slotting mindfully with the rest of her discography. Arguably, the highlight might be “Getting No Sleep,” the album’s only atypical track, a skittering, breakbeat ode to overworking and, of course, sex. She asks the person she spends a night with, “‘How does it feel to be fuckin' with me? And how does it feel to be the one that I’m fuckin' with?’” It can be applied to her fans, too – that we’re lucky enough to hear an artist in her prime and she promises to keep growing for us.

In any case, it would be stupid not to bet on Tinashe. Quantum Baby is relaxed and a little uncomplicated but continues her dependable streak as an athlete, sex icon, visionary, and artist rolled into one. The best part is she’s never satisfied staying still.