NEW MUSIC VIDEO - TINK FT 2 CHAINZ 'CATER'
TINK FT 2 CHAINZ - ‘CATER’
TINK IS BACK AGAIN WITH ANOTHER HIT!
Los Angeles, CA, April 29th, 2022: R&B singer/songwriter TINK releases her newest single and video for CATER with icon 2 CHAINZ today, via EMPIRE, available on all streaming platforms. Tink’s sultry lyrics and smooth harmonies perfectly complement the sensual video that accompanies the single, paving the way for Tink’s new phase in the evolution of her artistry.
Tink sat with us to chat about Cater, what to expect for the new album and the joys of being independent. We are in love with this song and the video. This single, paying homage to Destiny’s Child hit “Cater 2 U” is the first to be released from her upcoming project which sees Tink dive even deeper into her cultivated R&B finesse and shows a new side of her being in love. The video follows Tink as she sings about "catering" to her man's needs, in which she dresses up as a waitress to literally cater an event at which the "man of her dreams" watches her from a cocktail table (featuring her producer and real life boyfriend Hitmaka). The video itself represents a new direction for Tink, as she retains all the essential classic elements of R&B while infusing them with modern narratives and motifs.
“Making this record was real organic. I sent Hitmaka a list of songs that I wanted to reference on my next album. ‘Cater 2 U’ by Destiny’s Child has always been a favorite of mine. We went to the studio , and I recorded my verse over just the keys. Then an hour later Hitmaka came in and added the drums and beat around it. So we really built it up in one night. We sent it to 2 Chainz and he vibed with it a lot ... & that was exciting for Me!!! Hearing it all come together. Piece by piece.”
How does it feel to be an independent artist?
The feeling is really, really great. Being independent, I have my partners at Empire too. I was signed back in 2015, and I had a different time signing under a label; I had issues trying to get my albums off. So the past several years, I have been able to reach my fans and just take back that creative control, and with every album, I'm getting to express myself, so I love it.
It's pretty amazing to connect with your fans, and it shows via INSTAGRAM when listeners are saying how well connected they feel with you on your music and its storytelling. So how is that feeling seeing how much they relate to you?
That always feels good, but it really just shows how meaningful music is to women and girls worldwide. I think that's the biggest thing for me. Me telling my stories and really being open and vulnerable in the music pays off and matters to the listeners.
When you're writing or getting ready to release songs, does that put any pressure on you?
It takes the pressure off; it's almost like, "man, I can pour my heart out, I can really say something that most people think is embarrassing." I'm able to say it in my music because the fans will understand me and feel it the same way I felt it. So that's the best thing about it; it takes the pressure off. A lot of my songs are not about perfect situations, so that's everything, them being able to relate to it.
So let's talk about CATER. I love the video and the song. Name that feeling you get when you listen to it?
I get a nostalgic feeling; it feels like young love, almost like when you're in high school before you really know what love is, where you do anything. So that's the nostalgic feeling.
What do you expect your fans to feel when they listen to it?
I think Cater will resonate with people who are in love or people who are looking for love. And that's different for me since a lot of my music is darker, but that's why I love Cater because there is another side that they haven't heard me come like this. It's been a while since I have had a love song, and of course, this song samples Destiny's Child, and Cater 2 U was the song. So if you grew up loving R&B, you would fall in love with Cater.
Let's dabble into your love interest, knowing that you're in a relationship with your producer. How are you able to manage between business and love?
I'm always here for it. But I want to note that we are great friends; sometimes, that word relationship can be so heavy. I've known him since last May, and for a while, we've honestly just really been getting to know each other, and of course, we spend a lot of time in the studio, and we're very close. And that's the thing I don't see anything wrong with anyone coming together when you're happy, dating who you see fit for you. My business is always a priority, so it's always good to make sure you have boundaries.
Tell our readers a bit about being able to collaborate with 2 Chainz on this record?
That was everything for me, I grew up listening to 2 Chainz; he is a legend, and I respect him for collaborating with me on this record. But the true beauty of it is, we had met maybe a month before I finished Cater, and when I met him in the studio, I was so shaken up I didn't get to play him anything. So I told him, "I want to get a record in really bad." So we left the studio and didn't get anything done, I was really searching for something for him, and when I made Cater, I was like, man, "I would love to hear a males perspective," and 2 Chainz always comes with the crazy verse, just so smooth or pops his shit. So it just felt right when he sent it back; it was very organic.
When it comes to collaborating with artists, what are some things you look at?
I am very open; I think it's more about the sound when it comes to music. Sometimes people would base it on who can bring you the most attention when looking for a feature. But for me, I just like to make great music, I work with artists from my city that are up and coming. I love working with new faces; if the record sounds better with someone else involved, I am here for it.
Do you feel like you face any challenges when working with emerging artists?
I think I face more challenges with people in the industry; well, I'm not going to say challenges. Still, there is always the element of people being busy, thinking about their schedules and everyday things about artists. Working with new faces is always accessible and solid.
Now that you're independent and have more freedom to be creative, what can your fans expect for your upcoming album?
They can expect to hear a different side of me, a lot of my albums are solely based on heartbreak, hardships, and love. I think this album is a lot more of a softer side of me. And you can always expect my stories to be true-to-life, and I think that's the most significant connection for me and my fans, I really speak from the heart, and every song on the album is a genuine feeling and story.
What advice or quotes have you heard that have inspired your journey as an artist?
I would say to really rely on your gut, and what I mean by that, your first mind is it, don't second guess yourself or allow other people to come in and make you second guess yourself, your dreams, or ideas. Just trust yourself and what you're feeling in your soul. Because it's the most natural and right thing for you. I spent a lot of time listening to outsiders who didn't really understand me or understood where I was from and my calling in music. And now, I can just blank out the outsiders and do what's best for me. And that's what's really going to make you stand apart because many people are following and listening to other people, but as an artist, you have to believe in what you want to do.