Rationale (musician)

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Rationale
Birth nameTinashe Fazakerley
Born (1984-04-04) 4 April 1984 (age 40)
Highfield, Harare, Zimbabwe
GenresIndie pop, synthpop, R&B, acoustic
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
LabelsBest Laid Plans, Warner Music UK, Universal Island
Websiteiamrationale.com

Tinashe Fazakerley (born 4 April 1984),[1] now professionally known as Rationale, is a Zimbabwe-born British singer and songwriter, formerly known as Tinashé.[2] He is known for his soulful R&B and indie pop style with electric influences.[3] His alias Tinashé was known for his synthpop sound[2] and his African influences.[4]

Early life[edit]

Fazakerley was born in the Harare township of Highfield. At the age of 9, he and his three siblings moved to the United Kingdom in the Camberwell district of London, where his single mother was working as a nurse. Later, at the age of 11, he moved to the London borough of Hackney and music began to play a more significant role in his life as he learned to play the guitar. His influences were varying, ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Pat Metheny, Donnie Hathaway and Al Green, to Tupac Shakur, A Tribe Called Quest and the Notorious B.I.G.[1]

Career[edit]

Tinashé and singing hiatus (2009–2014)[edit]

In 2010, after releasing two EPs and three singles, Fazakerley released the album Saved under the stage name Tinashé, but it had limited success.

He took a break from singing and went on to become a songwriter and producer, working with producer Mark Crew, while writing songs for blues artist Rag'n'Bone Man, among others. He also wrote songs for the Swiss version of The Voice talent show.[5]

Rationale (2015–present)[edit]

In 2015, he relaunched his career as Rationale, releasing songs such as "Fast Lane" and "Something for Nothing" on SoundCloud and Spotify. It was on these streaming platforms that he gained notable recognition, with a mention by Pharrell Williams on his Apple Music Beats1 radio show, OTHERtone, calling him someone who had "found the beauty in their voice".[6] This elevated Fast Lane to No. 2 within its first week on the Spotify Global Viral Chart, reached No. 1 on Hype Machine, and amassed more than 1.3 million views on SoundCloud. Rationale also received praise from Justin Timberlake and Elton John.[7] He became one of the first artists to be signed to Dan Smith of Bastille's new record label, Best Laid Plans.[5]

His debut self-titled album was released on 6 October 2017,[8] under exclusive license to Warner Music UK.[9] Fazakerley is credited as a songwriter and producer on Katy Perry's 2017 album, Witness on the song, "Act My Age".[10] His single "Tethered" is often covered by Ellie Goulding at her concerts.[11]

In 2019, he was featured on Big Wild′s album "Superdream" on the song "6's to 9's".

In 2021, he was featured on Model Man's self-titled album on the song "Esc (Holding Back)".

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

As Tinashé[edit]

  • Saved (September 2010)

As Rationale[edit]

EPs[edit]

As Tinashé[edit]

  • Mayday
  • Zambezi
  • Saved

As Rationale[edit]

  • Fuel to the Fire (September 2015)
  • Vessels (February 2017)
  • High Hopes (December 2018)

Singles[edit]

As Tinashé[edit]

  • "Mayday" (March 2010)
  • "Zambezi" (June 2010)
  • "Saved" (September 2010)

As Rationale[edit]

  • "Fast Lane" (April 2015)
  • "Re.Up" (May 2015)
  • "Fuel to the Fire" (July 2015)
  • "Something for Nothing" (January 2016)
  • "Palms" (June 2016)
  • "Prodigal Son" (November 2016)
  • "Vessels" (December 2016)
  • "Reciprocate" (January 2017)
  • "Tethered" (February 2017)
  • "Deliverance" (March 2017)
  • "Loving Life" (July 2017)
  • "Into the Blue" (September 2017)
  • "Losing Sleep" (October 2017)
  • "Somewhere to Belong" (October 2017)
  • "Oil & Water" (October 2017)
  • "Phenomenal" (October 2017)
  • "Tumbling Down" (January 2018)
  • "One by One" (September 2018)
  • "Kindred" (December 2018)
  • "High Hopes" (December 2018)
  • "73" (December 2018)
  • "Say What's On Your Mind" (July 2019)
  • "Hurts the Most" (September 2019)
  • "Whiskey Regrets" (March 2020)
  • "Wash Over Me" (February 2022)
  • "Freedom" (March 2022)
  • "Every Mountain" (March 2023)

Songwriting and production credits[edit]

Title Year Artist(s) Album Credits Written with Produced with
"Guilty" 2014 Rag'n'Bone Man Wolves EP Co-writer Rory Graham, Mark Crew, Daniel Priddy -
"Wolves" Rory Graham, Mark Crew, Daniel Priddy -
"Life in Her Yet" Rory Graham, Mark Crew, Daniel Priddy -
"Disfigured" 2015 Disfigured EP Rory Graham, Andrew Jackson -
"Love Is a Drug" Mark Feehily Fire Mark Feehily, Steve Anderson -
"Only You" Mark Feehily, Steve Anderson -
"Wash the Pain Away" Mark Feehily, Steve Anderson -
"Cut You Out" Mark Feehily, Anu Pillai -
"Dynamite"
(featuring Pretty Sister)
2016 Nause Non-album single Jacob Criborn, Leonard Scheja, Sacha Skarbek -
"Act My Age" 2017 Katy Perry Witness Co-writer/Producer Katheryn Hudson, Mark Crew, Sarah Hudson Ilya, Mark Crew
"Paralyzed" 2018 Kwaye Love & Affliction EP Kwayedza Kureya Henry Guy
"6's to 9's"

(featuring Rationale)

2019 Big Wild Superdream Co-writer/Featured Vocals Jackson Stell -
"Release Me"

(featuring Rationale)

2020 Billon - Co-writer/Producer/Featured Vocals Ed Butler Billon
"Dream Killer" HYYTS - Co-writer Adam Hunter, Josh Grant, Sam Hunter -
"What The Hell"

(featuring Rationale)

Ayelle NOMAD (Mixtape) Co-writer/Producer/Featured Vocals Amanda Lundstedt -
"Choice"

(featuring Rationale)

-
"Lonely People" HYYTS - Co-writer Adam Hunter, Fin Dow-Smith, Sam Hunter -
"Amen" Tom Grennan Evering Road Co-writer Josh Record, Wayne Hector, Lucian Nagy, Tom Grennan -
"Why Can't We Get Along" 2021 Zak Abel - Co-writer Zak Abel, George Moore -
"Esc (Holding Back)"

(featuring Rationale)

Model Man Model Man Co-writer/Featured Vocals
"You're Worth it" 2022 MORGAN - Co-writer Conor Mellis, George Conway, Morgan Connie Smith, Ofer Shaul Ishai, Precious Danielle -
"Worry" Ewan Mainwood Broken EP Co-writer Christopher Smith, Ewan Mainwood -
"Unsaid"
"Girl Of Your Dreams" Dylan The Greatest Thing I'll Never Learn Co-writer Jake Gosling, Dylan -
"Treat You Bad" Edward Carlile, Dylan
"Home Is Where The Heart Is" Jake Gosling, Dylan
"Unconditional"

(featuring Rationale)

2023 Quantic Dancing While Falling Co-writer/Featured Vocals William Holland -
"Guiding Light" John Newman - Co-writer Phil Cook, John Newman -

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Smyth, David (7 June 2016). "Rationale, interview: 'I'm a very pessimistic character, which helps to write the songs I want to write'". London Evening Standard.
  2. ^ a b Lester, Paul (21 January 2010). "New band of the day: Tinashé (No 709)". The Guardian.
  3. ^ Mack, Jonno (20 January 2017). "Live Review: Rationale // King Tut's, Glasgow – 20.01.17". Riot Mag.
  4. ^ Richman, Simmy (22 August 2010). "Album: Tinashé, Saved (Island)". The Independent.
  5. ^ a b Studarus, Laura (7 June 2016). "Dinner and a Show: Get to know Bastille's first signee, The Rationale". Live Nation TV.
  6. ^ Pell, Mike (8 June 2016). "Pharrell Williams Loves Him. We Love Him. Get To Know Rationale..." MTV.
  7. ^ Earls, John (8 June 2016). "Meet Rationale: The new Brit soulman loved by Pharrell, Timberlake and Elton". Loaded Magazine.
  8. ^ Issom, Eric (24 November 2016). "Rationale Continues To Shine With New Single 'Prodigal Son'". Pigeons and Planes.
  9. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (7 June 2016). "Rationale announces debut album and shares "Palms"". Pigeons and Planes.
  10. ^ Feeney, Nolan (14 July 2016). "Breaking Big: Rationale wants to be the next Pharrell Williams — and Katy Perry is already a fan". Entertainment Weekly.
  11. ^ Kelley, Caitlin (5 October 2017). "Rationale Brings the Drama in Gospel-Infused Track 'Oil & Water': Exclusive". Billboard.