The Dynasty Tour

## **The Dynasty Tour**Tour by Rina Sawayama

**The Dynasty Tour** was the second concert tour by Rina Sawayama, in support of her debut studio album *Sawayama* (2020). The tour was originally set to begin on April 24, 2020 in Los Angeles and to conclude on May 21, 2021; however, due to fears from COVID-19, all of the original planned dates were canceled or postponed for 2021, commencing on 8 November in Dublin, Ireland and concluding on 13 May 2022 in New York City, U.S.

For the tour, Sawayama has partnered with PLUS1 so "that $1 from every ticket sold went to environmental organizations working to protect the health of our planet and all of its inhabitants."

The Dynasty Tour received universal acclaim from critics, with Alim Kheraj from *i* writing that "it felt like a superstar was born." Due to high demand and all the dates sold out, some venues were upgraded and new dates were added. The last show for the first leg on 17 November at the Roundhouse was filmed for a exclusive livestream titled "The Dynasty Tour Experience", which was livestreamed on 19 December on Moment House.

## Background and development

   On January 17, 2020, the singer announced through social media that she will tour North America and Europe that year. Due to fears from COVID-19, the tour dates were rescheduled to 2021.

On September 30, 2020, Rina posted the new 2021 dates for North American leg. On October 12, it was announced that, due to incredible demand, Rina would be headlining a show in November 17, 2021, at Roundhouse, this being her biggest show to date.

On 28 October 2021, Sawayama posted a video of rehearsals for the tour. The following day, she posted the official tour trailer, on her social media.

In December, Sawayama announced that all four March 2021 dates would be canceled due to the resurgence of COVID-19 in Europe. On 14 February 2021, due to "phenomenal demand," some shows for the North American leg were upgraded and two more shows were added.

## Critical reception

The Dynasty Tour received widespread critical acclaim from music critics, many of whom praised Sawayama's stage presence and engagement to her audience, as well as her outfits and set.

### Europe

Reviewing the first show in Dublin, Kate Brayden from Hot Press wrote "Sawayama gave her fans a night to remember at the Academy: she'll never be in venues this small again, Rina is making the best case for her to become the new decade's reigning dance-floor diva".

The show in Manchester on 10 November 2021 received critical acclaim. Hannah Mylrea of *NME* gave it five stars out of five, and described it as "a dazzling and moving experience." Writing for the *i*, Alim Kheraj also gave the show five stars out of five, and commented that the first show in Sawayama's long-delayed tour was worth it. He also wrote that she treated the show as if she was headlining an arena. "Not since Gaga has an artist showed such respect, reverence and command over pop. In a former Wesleyan chapel in Manchester city centre, it felt like a superstar was born." *The Guardian*'s Fergal Kinney, who also gave the show five stars out of five, wrote that the tour "walks the line between exuberant victory lap and striking political statement."

### North America

Writing for the student newspaper *Daily Bruin*, Ashley Kim praised the 9 April show at the Fonda Theatre. She felt that even late at night, "Sawayama kept a tight grip on the audience’s attention with her alluring presence and vibrant performance." Kim also praised the simple but effective set, lights, dancers and Sawayama's engagement to her audience. She concluded her review by writing: "Sawayama is living up to her name as she establishes a new dynasty on tour."

## The Dynasty Tour Experience

Sawayama teamed up with Moment House for a global livestream of the Dynasty Tour to 19 December 2021. The show was filmed at her show in London on 17 November 2021.

Tickets were available worldwide at 3:00 p.m. GMT on November 19. A Behind-The-Scenes documentary ticket of the tour was also available for purchase, and an exclusive T-shirt.

## Set list

See also: The Dynasty Tour/Setlists
The following set list is representative of the 17 November 2021 show in London. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.

1. "Dynasty"
2. "STFU!"
3. "Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)"
4. "Akasaka Sad"
5. "Snakeskin"
6. "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome"
7. "Paradisin'"
8. "Love Me 4 Me"
9. "Bad Friend"
10. "Fuck This World"
11. "Who's Gonna Save U Now?"
12. "Tokyo Love Hotel"
13. "Chosen Family"
14. "Catch Me in the Air"
15. "Cherry"
(contains elements of "Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi)
16. "XS"
17. "Lucid" / "Free Woman"

## Media

Main article: The Dynasty Tour/Photography

## Personnel

* Simone Odaranile – drummer
* Vic Jamieson – guitarist (first leg)
* Emily Rosenfield – guitarist (second leg)
* Shola B Riley – backup dancer
* Nakai Warikandwa – backup dancer
* Hana – opening act
* AMA Jones – opening act

* Claire Elizah – tour manager
* Max Cooke – musical director
* Clarence Clarity – additional arrangement
* Chris Yeomans – lights
* Calum Mordue – production manager, FOH engineer
* Jack Childs – sound
* Bob Munro – sound
* Jordan Kelsey – fashion stylist
* Jake Gallagher – hair stylist (first leg)
* Gregg Lennon Jr – hair stylist (second leg)
* Joshua Base Pilmore – choreographer
* Alice Backham – tour photographer

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The concerts on 16 April and 23 April 2022, at the Empire Polo Club in Indio are part of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

## References

1. ↑ "Rina Sawayama - The Dynasty Tour". Fillmore Philly. Retrieved on February 17, 2022.
2. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "THE DYNASTY TOUR Trophy COMING TO A CITY NEAR U WITH A BRAND NEW SHOW"
3. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "USA + CANADA PIXELS"
4. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "NEW US/CANADA 2021 TOUR DATES @ http://rina.online xxxxxxx"
5. ↑ Rina Sawayama – Roundhouse
6. ↑ Rina Sawayama (@rinasawayama) (28 October 2021). "RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved on November 2, 2021. “been busy rehearsing !!!!! UK + IRELAND DYNASTY TOUR IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS !!!!!!! ALL SHOWS SOLD OUT R U EXCITED !!!!! 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤”
7. ↑ Rina Sawayama (@rinasawayama) (29 October 2021). "RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved on November 2, 2021. “UK + IRELAND DYNASTY TOUR ALL NOVEMBER DATES SOLD OUT EXCLUSIVE LIVESTREAM EVENT VIA @momenthouse 19 DEC 2021 @HANAtruly and @Amasthetic supporting !!!”
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mylrea, Hannah (10 November 2021). "Rina Sawayama live in Manchester: a jubilant, fun-filled spectacle". *NME*. Retrieved on November 10, 2021.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kheraj, Alim (10 November 2021). "Rina Sawayama, Albert Hall, Manchester, review: No artist since Lady Gaga has shown such command over pop". *i*. Retrieved on November 10, 2021.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kinney, Fergal (10 November 2021). "Rina Sawayama review – superstar status cemented by pop’s politician". *The Guardian*. Retrieved on November 10, 2021.
11. ↑ Verrico, Lisa (10 November 2021). "Rina Sawayama review — picking up where Lady Gaga left off". *The Times*. Retrieved on November 18, 2021.
12. ↑ Davison, Bethany (16 November 2021). "Rina Sawayama review: SWG3, Glasgow, 13 Nov". *The Skinny*. Retrieved on November 18, 2021.
13. ↑ Hall, James (17 November 2021). "Rina Sawayama, review: a Lady Gaga in waiting". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved on November 18, 2021.
14. ↑ Brayden, Kate (9 November 2021). "Live Report: Rina Sawayama kickstarts 'Dynasty' tour in explosive fashion at Dublin's Academy". *Hot Press*. Retrieved on November 18, 2021.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Kim, Ashley (10 April 2022). "Concert review: Rina Sawayama brings big energy, dynamic performance on Dynasty tour". *Daily Bruin*. Retrieved on April 18, 2022.
16. ↑ Rina Sawayama (@rinasawayama) (1 November 2021). "RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved on November 18, 2021. “sign up for exclusive livestream event @momenthouse”
17. ↑ Rina Sawayama (@rinasawayama) (18 November 2021). "RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter". Retrieved on November 18, 2021. “@momenthouse GLOBAL LIVESTREAM 19 DECEMBER TICKETS ON SALE 10AM ET / 3PM GMT TOMORROW”
18. ↑ Skinner, Tom (7 January 2022). "Rina Sawayama cancels her 2022 European tour due to COVID concerns". *NME*. Retrieved on February 12, 2022.