Receiving Their Flowers: The Women of Flash Fest 2025

Tinashe was announced as the headliner for Kent State’s annual FlashFest on March 7, 2025—less than a month before she was set to grace the Ballroom stage in the Student Center.

By | Sydney Stevenson

Tinashe, born Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe, is a multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter, producer, and dancer who has had an undeniable—yet often underappreciated—impact on the music industry for over a decade.

It was clear from the moment she stepped on stage that we weren’t just there to watch a show—we were there to have an experience. The lights dimmed, the screen lit up with striking visuals, her four dancers prowled onstage, and Tinashe herself—clad in what can only be described as the pop girl uniform: high-heeled boots, a mini-skirt, a distressed top, and sunglasses—appeared, opening with her 2024 track “Getting No Sleep.” The setlist, which is presumably the same for her upcoming tour, announced on screen before she came out, showcased the diversity of Tinashe’s music catalog. From emotional ballads like “Red Flags” and “Uh Huh,” to the house-inspired “The Worst in Me,” to her pop hit “2 On,” no song felt the same, and every choice felt intentional.

Before Tinashe took the stage, Baby Tate opened the show. Announced shortly after Tinashe, the up-and-coming rapper and singer-songwriter wore yellow bloomer shorts and pink lemonade braids. She was accompanied by mullet-sporting DJ Monae. Tate was unapologetically Black, femme, and queer, with many of her songs wittily embracing those aspects of her identity. Like Tinashe, Tate had an undeniable stage presence—an aura that radiated with every note and move, often making the crowd laugh and sing along, even if they didn’t know the words.

To watch two Black women not only headline FlashFest but also be embraced by such a diverse crowd of students was incredibly moving. In a world that so often undermines and ignores Black female artists, witnessing Tinashe and Baby Tate receive their flowers felt long overdue. Hopefully, this show not only introduced the complex and multifaceted discographies of these women but also inspired students to explore other artists and music genres they may have never heard before.

---

Sources

Photography by Milan McMichael (@mjp_sports)