Sleeping in Waking

## Music Video

   "**Sleeping in Waking**" is the debut single by Rina Sawayama officially released on 15 April 2013, with UK label Make Mine. However, the track was digitally available for free for a week on 27 February 2013. Sawayama recorded the song in-between her bedroom and studio.

A B-side song, titled "Who?" was released on 15 April 2013.

## Background and composition

Originally a folk arrangement, Sawayama started working on "Sleeping in Waking" since she was 18 years old in 2008 or 2009. It was until 2013 when the song was rearranged with London-based producer Hoost. The song was recorded in-between Sawayama's bedroom and studio.

"Sleeping in Waking" is described as a "glossy" 90s R&B-influenced track that feels like "a very modern and layered tune." Written in the key of B Minor, the track has a tempo of 115 beats per minute. Sawayama's vocals were described as "sultry" and "alluring".

## Release

The song was uploaded on Souncloud on 27 February 2013. On 4 April 2013, Sawayama joined Make Mine to release a 7" vinyl single of "Sleeping in Waking", featuring a new track, "Who?", as a B-side.

A first remix for the song by Brolin was released on 5 June 2013. A second remix by Goldlines was released on August 2, 2013 on SoundCloud.

## Critical reception

Clyde Barretto from *Prefix Magazine* commented that Sawayama's voice in the song is "so alluring and so sensual" that it could "quite literally make your waking days feel like a dream you wake up from and thirst to fall back into."

## Music video

The accompanying music video of the song was shot on 5 March 2013. Directed by Jack Greeley-Ward, it was released in 21 March 2013 on Vimeo, but it was eventually deleted.

## Lyrics

Ever since the day that we met

I have had to overcome my death

Everybody says I'm not really there

That I'm stuck between here and my bed

Sleeping in waking

See, I'm awake

Sleeping in waking, oh, oh

When your body loses your mind

And your waking's not synchronised

Leave those thoughts for tonight

They'll be waiting for you at the end of the line

Sleeping in waking

See, I'm awake

Sleeping in waking, oh, oh

And all I really wanna say is breathe easy

This is the time to let it go

You'll only hear this from me once more

Don't think about me tonight

It's all right

I won't forget

So goodnight

So goodnight

Sleeping in waking

See, I'm awake

Sleeping in waking, oh, oh (It's all right)

Sleeping in waking (I won't forget)

See, I'm awake (So goodnight)

Sleeping in waking, oh, oh (So goodnight)

## Credits and personnel

* Song
* Music video

* Rina Sawayama – lead vocals, songwriting
* Justin Tailor – production, recording
* Ben Roulston – mixing (at Dean St Studios)
* Conor Chignoli – artwork
* Jack Davison – photography
* Sorcha Lyons – photography (vinyl)

 **Production Assistant** | Andrew Ford

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter". Twitter (27 February 2016). Retrieved on April 25, 2021. “can't believe that it was 3 years ago today Sleeping in Waking was released”
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 PREMIERE - stream: Rina Sawayama - Sleeping In Waking
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Rina Sawayama - 'Sleeping In Waking' – Listen
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sleeping in Waking - Make Mine
5. ↑ Rina Sawayama (@rinasonline) (19 August 2010). "Sleeping in Waking - Demo". Tumblr. Retrieved on June 7, 2021.
6. ↑ Who? by Rina Sawayama on SoundCloud
7. ↑ Barretto, Clyde (16 April 2013). "Rising Japanese London-based Artist Rina Sawayma Discusses Her Song Writing Influences". prefixmag.com. Retrieved on April 25, 2021.
8. ↑ "Key & BPM for Sleeping in Waking by Rina Sawayama". Tunebat. Retrieved on April 25, 2021.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Barretto, Clyde (3 March 2013). "Listen To Rina Sawayama’s “Sleeping In Waking” (Stream)". Prefixmag.com. Retrieved on April 25, 2021.
10. ↑ "Sleeping In Waking de Rina Sawayama". SoundCloud (27 February 2013). Retrieved on April 25, 2021.
11. ↑ "Make Mine - Posts". Facebook (4 April 2021). Retrieved on April 25, 2021. “Rina Sawayama joins us for her debut 7"”
12. ↑ Listen: Rina Sawayama – Sleeping In Waking (Brolin Remix)
13. ↑ New recruit @Goldlines140 drops his remix of @RinaSwym's 'Sleeping In Waking' FREE DL late night roller business
14. ↑ Rina Sawayama - Sleeping In Waking (Goldlines Remix)
15. ↑ Shooting the sleeping in waking video!!
16. ↑ Watch: Rina Sawayama – Sleeping In Waking (Best Fit Premiere)