After they disbanded, Tinashe released her first musical project, the alternative R&B-styled mixtape In Case We Die (2012) to positive critical reception, and signed with RCA Records shortly after.

The song peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and served as lead single for her debut studio album Aquarius (2014), which was met with moderate critical and commercial reception.

In 2015, she guest appeared alongside Chance the Rapper on Snakehips' single "All My Friends"—which peaked within the top ten of Australian, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom music charts—and appeared on Britney Spears' single "Slumber Party"—which topped Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.

Her 2024 single, "Nasty", became her first Billboard Hot 100 entry as a lead artist in a decade, as well as her first solo song to enter the chart; it preceded her seventh album, Quantum Baby (2024).

Her father is a professor who teaches acting at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a first-generation Zimbabwean immigrant of Shona descent, while her mother, who is of Danish, Norwegian, and Irish descent, teaches physical therapy at California State University, Northridge.

[8] She attended Crescenta Valley High School for a year before finishing early to pursue a career in music full-time.

[13] Although she was uncredited in the poorly received Masked and Anonymous, Roger Ebert observed at the film's 2003 Sundance Film Festival premiere "the one performer in the movie whose performance actually was applauded; that was a young black girl named Tinashe Kachingwe, who sings 'The Times They Are A-Changin'' with such sweetness and conviction that she is like a master class."

He concluded his review of the movie: "If I had been asked to serve as consultant on this picture, my advice would have amounted to three words: more Tinashe Kachingwe.

"[14] In 2007, Tinashe joined girl group the Stunners, founded by Vitamin C. Her bandmates were friends Marisol Esparza, Allie Gonino, Hayley Kiyoko, and Kelsey Sanders.

[21] The music video premiered on June 2, 2010, just before the group was announced as an opening act on Justin Bieber's My World Tour.

[22] After the Bieber tour the Stunners returned to the recording studio, but disbanded in 2011, and Tinashe began pursuing a solo career.

[23] After the Stunners disbanded, Tinashe "bought a bunch of equipment, a camera, and microphones", and began to teach herself how to record and mix music.

The single "Vulnerable", which features rapper Travis Scott, was declared a "Must-Hear Pop Song of the Week" by MTV's Buzzworthy on November 26, 2013.

[54] Tinashe worked with several producers, including Clams Casino, Ryan Hemsworth,[55] Stuart Matthewman, DJ Mustard, T-Minus, Mike Will Made It, Boi-1da, Fisticuffs, Best Kept Secret, Ritz Reynolds and London on da Track.

Although the single failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 charts, the music video created much buzz online by peers and fans for its choreography and visuals.

[66] In late January 2015, Tinashe was reported working with writers and producers from Prescription Songs (Cirkut, Ammo, Rock City, Jakob Kasher, Chloe Angelides), Max Martin[67] and Taylor Parks on her second studio album.

The project was recorded in Tinashe's bedroom during her Christmas vacation, and features production from Ryan Hemsworth, Iamsu!, DJ Dahi, Smash David, Ritz Reynolds, Nez & Rio and Mae N.

"[72] On September 9, Tinashe leaked the buzz single called "Party Favors" featuring rapper Young Thug as a way to get the ball rolling from her label.

[79] In February 2016, MAC Cosmetics announced a limited-edition collaboration with Tinashe for its #MACFutureForward campaign, along with Halsey, Lion Babe, and Dej Loaf.

The music video directed by Hannah Lux Davis made its debut on August 12, 2016, on MTV's Snapchat and gained rave reviews.

Tinashe appeared on the cover of Nylon's October 2016 issue,[86] just as designer brand Alexander Wang was collaborating with her in a video for its Fall 2016 campaign.

[90] The same month, Pepsi, in association with iHeartMedia, Shazam, and Viacom, announced that Tinashe would join its music platform, The Sound Drop.

On July 11, 2017, Tinashe stated that she is working on her second album, Joyride, with producers Mike WiLL Made It, TM88, Metro Boomin, Diplo, Boi-1da, Charlie Handsome and others.

[100] In August, rumors of Nashe being cancelled circulated the internet, with further speculation being followed after Tinashe posted a screenshot of a page error from RCA's website on Instagram.

Promotional videos and series of pictures were released featuring Tinashe and other cast members in rehearsal and costumes during the lead up to the airing.

[112] In February 2019, Tinashe's manager announced she had parted ways with RCA, stating that the "positive split" was "giving her back creative control.

[116] The album has been described by Idolator and The Cut as "excellent",[117][118] with The Wall Street Journal's Ben Dandridge-Lemco suggesting that it is "tough to find a negative review about the project anywhere.

[124][125] Tinashe was the first artist to be announced to be featured on the rebooted MTV Cribs, where she showed her Los Angeles house in the Hollywood Hills including her home studio.

[128] In January 2023, Tinashe made a guest appearance in the film adaptation of House Party, alongside Jacob Latimore, Mya, Kid Cudi, & LeBron James.

[143] On August 16, Tinashe released her seventh studio album, Quantum Baby,[144] part two of a three-album trilogy starting with BB/Ang3l.