Tink: Mood Music

Let’s hop right into this lead single / video, “Cater,” featuring 2 Chainz — Tell me about this particular track; how did it actually come to fruition?

“Cater” came into fruition last December. It was one of the first records I wrote coming off of tour. Hitmaka asked me to make a list of songs that were special to me, or songs I grew up listening to. “Cater 2 U,” by Destiny’s Child, was the first record on the list. He flipped the beat the very next day, and I instantly caught a vibe in the studio.

Of course “Cater” comes courtesy of your upcoming Pillow Talk LP — Conceptually, what does this title represent both to and for you?

The concept behind “Cater” represents real love. It’s all about going out of your way to please someone. I wasn’t afraid to be soft and submissive on this record, and for me that’s pretty different. It shows another side of Tink most people don’t get to see.

How then does Pillow Talk either differ and / or compare to previous Tink efforts?

Pillow Talk is a very sultry album. In the past, my albums have always been emotional. I feel like this album is a sexier approach to that same feeling. I’m being open and honest, while giving you space to vibe and feel good.

Pillow Talk is a Winter’s Diary / EMPIRE project — What are your future plans and / or goals for the label? And who all else, besides yourself of course, currently makes up its artist roster?

Winter’s Diary is the company I started when I went independent in 2018. I handle all of my business affairs through Winter’s Diary, which is pretty cool because it shines a light on my earlier mixtapes. As of now, I’m the only artist technically signed. But in the future when it’s time, I want to expand and put more female artists on. I’d love to employ more female executives and producers, too! I feel like the game could use way more women in position, especially behind the scenes.

As a songwriter, when you sit down to pen your lyrics where do you draw your inspiration from?

As an artist, I draw a lot of my inspiration from real issues or things I’m dealing with in life. When I write, I like to tell a story and really dig deep into how it makes me feel. I get inspired when I think someone is going to relate, or when I make a verse that I know is going to connect.

Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music — When did you become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Trinity Laure’Ale Home?

I first became interested in music when I was 7 or 8. I grew up in a religious household, and everyone had a role at church. Mine was of course singing! My mother is a singer, and my dad is a music engineer and guitarist. He built a studio in our basement, so growing up I would watch people come through the lab and record music everyday. By high school, I was penning my own songs, recording with my father the same way. And that’s how my career began.

Now you’re a native of Calumet City, Illinois, correct? So growing up in ‘The Prairie State,’ who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

Growing up in Calumet City, which is 10-15 minutes south of Chicago, my influences were crazy! My brother was a huge Kanye West fan, my friends and I were huge fans of Chief Keef, Lil Durk and King Louie. I was into Twista. R. Kelly was played a lot in Chicago. There was also Juke music, which is a Chicago form of House music. It’s where footwork started, and a lot of other dances. So my musical taste is really out there!

In having said that, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?

My style of music ranges from soulful to Drill. I like to really bring my Chicago edge to R’n’B. It’s very unique.

Where does your moniker originally derive from?

My moniker was given to me by friends when I was 13. I was always around with high energy, having fun, dancing, rapping, singing; just into everything. So Tink was what everyone called me.

Switching gears here…

Longevity, what do you attribute yours to?

My longevity in this game is 100 percent due to my fans from day one. In my early days, I dropped a lot of mixtapes. Winter’s Diary 1-4 is my most popular work to this day, and that started in 2012. So many people got attached to my music when they were in middle school. And, they just stuck with me through the years. I have a very solid fan-base, and that’s the reason I’m still able to tour and release music now. They really hold it down.

What do you want people to get from your music?

I want people to find relief when they play my music. I want them to take my lyrics and learn from my stories. I want to give people confidence and help them remember who they are. We all go through similar shit. We share the same pain, so my music is like a diary for us all.

On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of R&B?

I love the current state of R’n’B. I hear a lot of people complain that R’n’B isn’t what it used to be, but I just think people aren’t looking in the right places. There’s so many great artists that give me that classic R’n’B feeling; we just have to support them so that it shines through. Jazmine Sullivan, Inayah (Lamis),Kiana Ledé, Lucky Daye, Vedo, Brent Faiyaz. All amazing acts that really embody R’n’B!

Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?

Outside of music, I aspire to tap into the film / acting world. I love to act and bring drama to my music videos. I get into character pretty well. It’d be dope to touch a movie screen one day.

To date, what has been your greatest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?

My greatest career moment is coming home, headlining a sold out show at The Chicago Theatre! As a female artist, many people didn’t believe I could do it. But last year in October, we filled out the entire theatre. 3500 plus seats! Not to mention the opening acts were all females from Chicago. That meant a lot to me.

What’s an average day like for you?

An average day for me is pretty long. I start my days at the gym or meditating at home. Usually I’ll have an interview or Zoom meeting after that. I always take the early afternoon to handle business. By 4pm, I’m in a zone at the studio or writing from my kitchen. That lasts until about 10pm. If I’m not too tired, I like to go out and kick it with my friends. We find cool spots to drink and vibe. My days are a balance between work and social life.

Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…

My interactions with my fans are usually private. I like to talk to them through the DM because those are usually where the real fans are. Sometimes looking through comments can be stressful. There’s always going to be hate on the Internet. But the positive fans that give me motivation, those are the people I communicate with. On Insta and Twitter, you’ll always see me acknowledging the love.

What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?

My favorite part about this line of work is meeting the people that listen to my music. Hearing them talk about how my songs have saved them or helped them through a heartbreak is the most satisfying part. My least favorite part of this game is the judgement. Sometimes it’s hard to express things because I know everyone is watching and ready to criticize every decision I make.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

My advice for anyone looking to be an artist is to not be afraid to fail. We limit ourselves so much based on the idea of something not working. And a lot of times the work that isn’t perfect, is the song or album people love the most. So always go for it and keep going. It may not pay off the same day, but every bit of effort counts. Don’t hold back!

Lastly, what’s next for you, Tink?

My future is always going to consist of music. Pillow Talk is coming August 19th. I plan on going on tour shortly after. You can expect some new videos and more content. I’m also working on a book for my fans. It’ll be based on my quotes and lyrics. So get ready for some cool new releases, along with the album.