Tink Talks Growth, New Projects, Dream Collaborations And More

Tink has made a name for herself from as early as 15 years old in the early 2010s when she had her breakout hit Treat me like Somebody. She quickly became the queen of Chicago R&B with her transparent lyrics & maintained her reputation as she grew, dropping 8 mixtapes & and signed a contract with Timbaland’s label. Since then, Tink has gone independent and it’s been a pleasure to experience Tink in her rawest form, without having to adapt herself for a label. Wrapping up her Thanks 4 nothing tour and her last show in London, we sit down with Tink in her sexy, sparkly red ensemble as we talk growth, her new sound, becoming independent & more…

You’ve just had a lit performance in London! Did you feel like you got a good reception? I mean, I was there and everybody was vibing but do you feel the same?

It was a great reception! They sang literally every record and that’s such a big deal to me, especially when I get into them throwback records. My present album, of course, that’s the new shit but you can tell they’ve been supporting for a minute, so it was a great vibe. Like neck & neck with the states.

I grew up on songs like Treat me like somebody, Bonnie & Clyde etc. Thanks 4 nothing has a completely new sound, what do you think it is that made you evolve into that?

Just my surroundings. You’ve got to think about the age difference too, when I was writing a lot of those records from the past that was my younger self talking. I’m a woman now so Thanks 4 nothing is the mature version of Tink so that’s the biggest difference. I have different production now too, Hitmaka and a lot of different producers so the sound just keeps evolving every year but I appreciate the fans for just following & supporting the sound regardless.

You mentioned Hitmaka. You guys are known for being a dynamic duo, how did that relationship come about? When you was in the studio was it a straight away hit kind of vibe?

We really just met through empire. That’s my partnership, I’m independent but the process was really quick & easy. It was really simple, the first song we ever made together in the studio was really dope so we’ve just kept it going ever since.

You’ve dropped 8 mixtapes since 2012. What do you think’s made you keep that drive and stay motivated?

The fans, the support. I almost feel like I have a responsibility, when I look into the crowds and see those young girls I can tell I’m singing their stories so for me that’s the battery I need to keep going. You know, music evolves so much now. People need albums quickly, every couple months people are looking for more & more so I just try to keep my girls satisfied.

Yeah, you’re the type of artist when we’re going through stuff your music helps. You, Jhene & Summer, you guys are my go to.

Thank you, that’s the goal too. To be relatable and be the artist that people can come to when they need to vent or when they’re feeling a way, I want them to listen to Tink.

We know that you’ve had a hard time in the past with record labels. Now that you’re independent, how does it feel?

It’s the best feeling. I feel like I’m really just able to speak my truth now, it’s no pressure now. When you’re signed, you’re listening to people in offices and your vision can kind of be put to the side but now I’m able to execute my ideas and really just work to please my fans. Fuck what the executives think right now. It’s really about the people that listen to my music. No barriers, no control, my process is a lot easier now. I’m free!

Thanks 4 nothing had a lot of good collaborations. Ty Dolla $ign, Yung Bleu & more, how did those collaborations come about?

I’ve been on Yung Bleu for a long time now, we’ve been back and forth on a few different records but he’s just one of those guys that’s always willing & ready to work whenever you call him. Ty Dolla $ign, I’ve actually always wanted him on Heat of the moment and it didn’t happen for that album so now that we finally had a chance to work on the next album, it was a big deal. It was just alignment. I had to keep working and keep growing so when I sent him the record from Thanks 4 nothing he saw my vision and respected me a lot more because I had really been hustling. That was a testament to working hard and keep going, sometimes you don’t get what you want when you ask but keep going and don’t give up.

Do you have anymore dream collaborations?

I would love to do a record with Brent Faiyaz. He’s one of those soulful artists, kind of on an independent wave, he has his own lane. I think a record with us would really turn some shit up.

Your voices would really compliment each-other, I can deffo hear that!

Shoutout to Brent! He’s one of those artists I can really listen to and other artists have a really cool sound but it’s hard to really jump into an album and listen to it the whole way through but I can play Brent, all the way through.

What was the butterfly tour like with Queen Naija?

That was one of the first tours I’ve ever done. I learned so much, like how to work a crowd because sometimes you hit a city and they don’t know every record but it built character in me. Shout out to Queen Naija, as a female artist in R&B it’s so refreshing to find women that want to work together. That tour was a really big stepping stone for me to get here, my team and I really hustled to get that joint. We had a nice moment too where we was all on stage and she gave me flowers but as a headliner, it’s rare to do that so I’ve always appreciated her & that tour.

You was 15 when you made Treat me like somebody, did you know that was gonna be a hit straight away?

I loved the record, but you never really know how everyone else will perceive it. To be honest, that’s the biggest record I’ve performed to this day so I just stay humble when I make these songs and I never try to think, will this be a hit or not? I just make what sounds good to me.

I grew up on Winter’s diary, it’s so crazy to think that the last Winter’s diary was 7 years ago. Will we ever get to see Winter’s Diary 5?

I’m glad you asked that, I’ve been building a lot of records but I haven’t put a date on it just because I want to perfect it. But it’s in the works and I’m working hard to make sure it’s right because I know it’s such a special album to the day 1’s. I can’t say when, but it’s on the way!

You came up so young, how did you hone in your talent from such a young age?

A lot of people don’t know that my father was the one recording me and my mum sings gospel so I’ve been around music all my life. When you start so young it just gets better and better. I was 12 writing with my dad, by the time I was 15, I wrote Treat me like somebody so I knew how to captivate an audience and it humbled me too. I started in my basement and on YouTube, just dropping videos for whoever would watch so that built character. I’m not nowhere near an industry plant, I’ve been working my ass off to get here but I appreciate those days because it’s made me realise I can make it work regardless. Label or no label, budget or no budget.

I grew up on Winter’s diary, it’s so crazy to think that the last Winter’s diary was 7 years ago. Will we ever get to see Winter’s Diary 5?

I’m glad you asked that, I’ve been building a lot of records but I haven’t put a date on it just because I want to perfect it. But it’s in the works and I’m working hard to make sure it’s right because I know it’s such a special album to the day 1’s. I can’t say when, but it’s on the way!

Listen to Thanks 4 Nothing here!