Rina Sawayama


Rina Sawayama is a Japanese singer, songwriter and model. Born in Niigata, she was raised from a young age in London, where she currently resides. While studying politics, psychology and sociology at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Sawayama was a member of a hip hop group called Lazy Lion, which also had Theo Ellis from the indie rock band Wolf Alice. She began her solo career in 2013, with the single "Sleeping in Waking." Her debut extended play, Rina, was released in 2017, before her debut studio album, Sawayama, was released on 17 April 2020. Sawayama was widely acclaimed by music critics.

Early life

Rina Sawayama was born 16 August 1990 in Niigata, Japan. She lived there until the age of five when her family decided to move to London, England, where she was raised and lives. She holds an indefinite leave to remain visa in the UK. While studying politics, psychology and sociology at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, she decided to pursue music and modelling. During her time at university, she was in a hip hop group called Lazy Lion with Theo Ellis from the indie rock band Wolf Alice. She graduated from the university with a degree in political science.

Career

2013–2017: Early career

Sawayama began her solo career in 2013, with the single "Sleeping in Waking." In June 2015, she released a music video, directed by Arvida Byström, to her track "Tunnel Vision." In 2016, she released the single "Where U Are," with an accompanying music video co-directed by Alessandra Kurr. The single explored human interaction with digital media, with Sawayama explaining: "Online you can present your best edited self your overheating phone substitutes human warmth. Weirdest of all—you're together, but also very alone." The song has been described as "nostalgic greatness... ultra-sweet and shimmering pop", and "90s R&B pop perfection".

2017–2019: ''Rina'' and touring

In March 2017, her single "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" premiered on The Fader. Sawayama described the genesis of the themes of the track as: "the digital world can offer vital support networks, voices of solidarity, refuge, escape. That's what 'Cyber Stockholm Syndrome' is about: pessimism, optimism, anxiety, and freedom." In 2017, the singles "Alterlife" and "Tunnel Vision", a duet with Shamir, were released, followed by her debut mini-album Rina. Sawayama was then an unsigned artist, and Rina was released independently; she confirmed on Twitter that she worked for two to three years in order to save money to release the EP. The Guardian deemed the album "bracing and modern" and Sawayama as having proven she can shepherd pop into the future, too." Pitchfork ranked the album in its list of best pop and R&B albums of the year. In 2018, she released the single "Valentine" on Valentine's Day. The music video for album track "Ordinary Superstar" was released in June 2018. In August 2018, Sawayama released the track "Cherry", in which she explores her sexual identity. Sawayama embarked on her Ordinary Superstar tour across the UK and America in late 2018. In 2019, she was the support act for Charli XCX's tour across the UK.

2020: ''Sawayama'' and the Dynasty Tour

In 2020, after signing to Dirty Hit records, she released the singles "STFU!", a nu metal, heavy metal, pop and avant-pop song, and "Comme des Garçons ", an "homage to early 2000s dance tracks", both from her then-upcoming debut album. A third single, the rock and 2000s R&B inspired "XS" was released on 2 March. The following month, Sawayama released another single from the album titled "Chosen Family." Her debut album Sawayama was released on 17 April to widespread critical acclaim. In late July 2020, Sawayama made a public tweet about her ineligibility to be nominated for major British music awards, such as the Mercury Prize and Brit Awards, due to the fact that she does not hold British citizenship. The hashtag #SawayamaIsBritish became trending on Twitter on the UK shortly after.

Other ventures

Modelling career

Sawayama has been signed to Anti Agency and Elite Model Management. In 2017, she was chosen for Versus x Versace's fall winter campaign. She has also starred in campaigns for Jourdan Dunn's Missguided, and wrote and performed an original track for Nicola Formichetti’s MAC x Nicopanda.

Collaborations

In 2016, Sawayama collaborated with Taiwanese visual artist John Yuyi on a visual series critiquing Asian, and Japanese, beauty standards. Subsequently, she was profiled in Vogue. In the interview, Sawayama described the genesis of the idea and collaboration: "For a lot of women in Japan, these are the expectations people put on them, from anime culture, kawaii culture... that can really put women at a disadvantage, objectifying and infantilizing them." Sawayama has worked with Nicola Formichetti for MAC x Nicopanda. Formichetti also directed the music video for Sawayama's track "Ordinary Superstar". The genesis of the partnership was outlined in i-D.

Artistry and public image

Her main influences came from '90s and '00s acts such as Avril Lavigne, Lady Gaga, Hikaru Utada, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, JoJo, Gwen Stefani, Evanescence and Limp Bizkit among others. In 2017, Sawayama was ranked in The Guardians 18 for '18 list as well as Dazeds 100 list. She has used Lady Gaga's vocal training method, bel canto, an Italian operatic exercise, to gain more treble and make her voice breathy.

Personal life

In August 2018, Sawayama came out during an interview with Broadly, declaring: "I've always written songs about girls. I don't think I've ever mentioned a guy in my songs, and that's why I wanted to talk about it." She identified as both bisexual and pansexual.
In July 2020, she signed an open letter to the UK Equalities minister Liz Truss calling for a ban on all forms of LGBT+ conversion therapy.

Filmography

Television

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Tours

Headlining
Supporting