Rina Sawayama

Promotional image of Sawayama for Hold the Girl. (Photo by Thurstan Redding)

**Rina Sawayama** (リナ サワヤマ, born 16 August 1990) is a Japanese-British singer-songwriter, model and actress based in London. Born in Niigata, she was raised from a young age in London, where she currently resides. Her debut extended play *Rina* was released in 2017 to critical acclaim.

The singer gained further recognition following the release of her debut studio album *Sawayama* released on 17 April 2020, which also received critical acclaim. The album spawned five singles–including "STFU!", "XS", "Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)" and "Bad Friend". In late 2020, the singer released a new single, "Lucid", produced by BloodPop, which was featured on the deluxe edition of *Sawayama*, including a bonus disc with eleven new tracks.

Sawayama was included in the *Vogue Japan*'s "Women of the Year 2019" winners. She was also awarded the Breakthrough Award by the *Attitude Awards* in 2020. In late July 2020, Sawayama expressed her discontent after being informed that she could not be eligible to be nominated for major British music awards, such as the Brit Awards and Mercury Prize, due to the fact that she does not hold British citizenship. Her movement gained major support from Elton John online. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) later changed the rules to allow anyone who had remained in the UK, including her, to be eligible.

## Early life

Rina Sawayama was born 16 August 1990 in Niigata, Japan. She lived there until the age of five when, for her father's job at Japan Airlines, her family decided to emigrate to London, England, on 19 June 1995, where she was raised and currently lives. She attended a Japanese school until she was ten. She recalled, "When we decided to stay, I was ten and my English was quite bad. I remember feeling like I couldn't say what I wanted." Her parents divorced while she was in her teens, and she was raised primarily by her mother. Growing up near Camden, she'd go to gigs and at the age of fifteen discovered her love of music and its community. She first went to therapy at the age of 15, having an eating disorder and being self-harming.

While studying politics, psychology and sociology at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, she decided to pursue music and modelling, while she worked various part-time jobs. 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. Financially struggling and feeling like an outsider among her peers for her identity, she did temporary jobs and struggled with depression. Her relationship with her mother was strained at this point, eventually causing Sawayama to move out and realize she needed to pick herself back up.

## Career

### 2013-2017: Musical career beginnings

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 [and] your overheating phone substitutes human warmth. Weirdest of all—you're together, but also very alone."

### 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. In 2018, she released the single "Valentine (What's It Gonna Be)" 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.

### 2020-2021: *Sawayama*

In 2020, after signing to Dirty Hit records, she announced her debut album, *Sawayama*. The album was preceded by the singles "STFU!", a nu metal, heavy metal, pop and avant-pop song, and "Comme Des Garçons (Like The Boys)", an "homage to early 2000s dance tracks." The third single, the rock and 2000s R&B inspired "XS" was released on 2 March 2020. The following month, Sawayama released another single from the album titled "Chosen Family." Her debut album *Sawayama* was released on 17 April 2020 to widespread critical acclaim. On 29 June 2020, she released a cover of the Grammy-nominated Lady Gaga song, "Dance in the Dark" (2009) as part of Spotify's *Singles* series, recorded in Sawayama's home studio with production handled by Clarence Clarity.

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 in the UK shortly after. Sawayama's movement gained major support from Elton John online, who wrote that he was "happy to hear that the [BPI] are reviewing the rules that led to Rina Sawayama's well-deserved album being snubbed from this year's [Mercury Prize] list of nominees."
The BPI later changed the rules to allow anyone who had remained in the UK, including her, to be eligible.

On 26 October 2020, Sawayama made her television debut performing the song "XS" on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon*. The following month, she released a song titled "Lucid", produced by BloodPop.

On 4 December 2020, a deluxe version of *Sawayama* was released. In April 2021, Sawayama released an updated version of her song "Chosen Family", as a duet with Elton John. The following month, Sawayama was cast in an undisclosed role in the fourth installment in the *John Wick* film series. In August 2021, Sawayama was included on *Newsweek Japan* "100 Japanese people respected by the world" list. Sawayama contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Enter Sandman" to the charity tribute album *The Metallica Blacklist*, released in September 2021 and produced by Clarence Clarity.

### 2021–present: *Hold the Girl*

Sawayama also started working on her second studio album in 2021. In November 2021, she embarked to the first leg of her Dynasty Tour, in support of her debut album where she performed songs from *Sawayama* and her 2017 EP *Rina*. During her show in Glasgow on 13 November, and her show in London at the Roundhouse on 17 November, she performed a new song titled "Catch Me in the Air", from her upcoming album.

Sawayama was featured on the single "Beg for You" by Charli XCX, released on 27 January 2022 and later on "Follow Me" by Brazilian drag queen Pabllo Vittar, released on 31 March of the same year. On 16 May, Sawayama announced that her second studio abum *Hold the Girl* would be released on 2 September 2022. Its lead single "This Hell" was released on 18 May.

## 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 artist John Yuyi on a visual series critiquing Asian, and Japanese, beauty standards. Subsequently, she was profiled in Vogue Magazine. 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

Sawayama's main influences came from 90s and 00s acts such as Hikaru Utada, Avril Lavigne, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, JoJo, Gwen Stefani, Evanescence and Limp Bizkit among others.

## 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 has previously identified as bisexual, and came out as pansexual with her 2018 single, "Cherry".

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.

## Discography

Main article: Discography
* *Rina* (2017)
* *Sawayama* (2020)
* *Hold the Girl* (2022)

## Tours

**Headlining**

* Ordinary Superstar Tour (2018)
* The Dynasty Tour (2020)
* Hold the Girl Tour (2022)

**Supporting**

* Charli XCX – Charli Live Tour (2019)

## Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations

## References

1. ↑ "Vogue Japan Names Its "VOGUE JAPAN WOMEN OF THE YEAR 2019".
2. ↑ "Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift and Paloma Faith among winners at 2020 Attitude Awards"
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Introducing: Rina Sawayama
4. ↑ RINA on Twitter
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Blum, Dani (12 March 2020). "Rina Sawayama on her Wildly Eclectic and Disarmingly Personal Debut Album". *Pitchfork*. Retrieved on June 20, 2021.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Meet the Tangerine-Haired Model and Singer Who's Taking On Asian Beauty Standards
7. ↑ Jagota, Vrinda (February 28, 2020). "Family Portrait: Rina Sawayama".
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "How Rina became SAWAYAMA"
9. ↑ Bulut, Text (April 21, 2020). "Six things that inspired Rina Sawayama’s debut album".
10. ↑ Pixelated People: Rina Sawayama Interviewed
11. ↑ Rina Sawayama - Tunnel Vision (Official Video)
12. ↑ Where U Are - Single by Rina Sawayama on Apple Music
13. ↑ Rina Sawayama streams smooth new track "Where U Are" - C-Heads Magazine
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Rina Sawayama’s Glitchy R&B Captures The Realities Of Living & Loving Online
15. ↑ Afterlife - Single by Rina Sawayama on Apple Music
16. ↑ Tunnel Vision (feat. Shamir) - Single by Rina Sawayama on Apple Music
17. ↑ "I felt the pressure to lie about my age in this industry but that would disrespect my journey !! read PPS at Cambridge age 19-22, then dealt with crippling mental health issues for years into my mid 20s, worked 2-3 jobs at a time for years until I could save up for the RINA EP" (Tweet) – via Twitter
18. ↑ Valentine (What's It Gonna Be) (What's It Gonna Be) - Single by Rina Sawayama on Apple Music
19. ↑ Rina Sawayama - Ordinary Superstar (Official Video)
20. ↑ Singer Rina Sawayama Is Ready to Rep Her Pansexuality
21. ↑ Watch Rina Sawayama's new video for "Ordinary Superstar"
22. ↑ Charli XCX Teaming Up With Tove Lo, Rina Sawayama and More For Second Week of Livestreams
23. ↑ Rina Sawayama Announces Tour and Debut Album, Shares New Song: Listen
24. ↑ Rina Sawayama "mocks capitalism" on new track 'XS'
25. ↑ Rina Sawayama Shares New Song "Chosen Family": Listen
26. ↑ "New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On April 17". *NPR* (17 April 2020). Retrieved on May 29, 2020.
27. ↑ Maitland, Hayley (30 April 2020). "Tramp Stamps, "Sapiens" & Tinned Mackerel: Inside The Mind Of Rina Sawayama". *British Vogue*. Retrieved on May 29, 2020.
28. ↑ "Rina Sawayama, Orville Peck and Joesef unveil three new covers for Spotify Singles x Pride". *DIY*. Retrieved on August 4, 2020.
29. ↑ Tsjeng, Zing (29 July 2020). "'It's Othering' – British-Japanese Artist Rina Sawayama Can't Enter British Awards". Vice. Retrieved on July 29, 2020.
30. ↑ Lewis, Isobel (29 July 2020). "Rina Sawayama 'heartbroken' at being ineligible for Mercury Prize and Brit Awards". *The Independent*. Retrieved on July 29, 2020.
31. ↑ Moore, Sam (29 July 2020). "Rina Sawayama criticises eligibility rules of Mercury Prize and the BRITs: "I fundamentally don't agree with this definition of Britishness"". *NME*. Retrieved on July 29, 2020.
32. ↑ Murray, Robin (29 July 2020). "Rina Sawayama Deemed 'Not British Enough' For Mercury Prize, BRIT Awards". *Clash*. Retrieved on July 29, 2020.
33. ↑ Matozzo, Marissa (29 July 2020). "How Is Rina Sawayama Not 'British Enough' for the British Awards?". *Paper*. Retrieved on August 4, 2020.
34. ↑ John, Elton (1 August 2020). "@eltonjohn on Instagram: " I'm happy to hear that the @bpi are reviewing the rules that led to Rina Sawayama's well-deserved..."". Instagram. Retrieved on August 4, 2020.
35. ↑ "Brit Awards change rules thanks to pop star Rina Sawayama". *BBC News* (24 February 2021).
36. ↑ Renshaw, David (27 October 2020). "Watch Rina Sawayama make her debut TV performance on Fallon". *The Fader*. Retrieved on October 27, 2020.
37. ↑ Kenneally, Cerys (23 November 2020). "Rina Sawayama announces BloodPop-produced new single "Lucid"". *The Line of Best Fit*. Retrieved on November 24, 2020.
38. ↑ Curto, Justin (4 December 2020). "Rina Sawayama Already Loves Her New Music More Than Her Groundbreaking Debut". Vulture. Retrieved on February 21, 2021.
39. ↑ "Rina Sawayama Picks Elton John as Her 'Chosen Family,' Talks Song's Crucial Timing". www.msn.com. Retrieved on April 18, 2021.
40. ↑ "Singer Rina Sawayama Tapped To Star Alongside Keanu Reeves In 'John Wick: Chapter 4'". Deadline (27 May 2021). Retrieved on May 27, 2021.
41. ↑ "特集：世界が尊敬する日本人100" (in Japanese). *Newsweek Japan* (3 August 2021). Retrieved on August 5, 2021.
42. ↑ He, Richard S. (10 September 2021). "Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best". loudersound. Retrieved on October 22, 2021.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Richards, Will (14 November 2021). "Watch Rina Sawayama debut soaring new song 'Catch Me In The Air' live". *NME*. Retrieved on December 9, 2021.
44. ↑ Mylrea, Hannah (10 November 2021). "Rina Sawayama live in Manchester: a jubilant, fun-filled spectacle". *NME*. Retrieved on November 24, 2021.
45. ↑ Legaspi, Althea (27 January 2022). "Charli XCX and Rina Sawayama Plead for Love to Stay in 'Beg for You'". Retrieved on January 31, 2022.
46. ↑ Rose, Anna (1 April 2022). "Pabllo Vittar teams up with Rina Sawayama on sultry new single 'Follow Me'". NME. Retrieved on May 19, 2022.
47. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (18 May 2022). "Rina Sawayama Announces New Album *Hold the Girl*, Shares New Song "This Hell": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved on May 19, 2022.
48. ↑ Blistein, Jon (18 May 2022). "Rina Sawayama Pulls Up to the Future Pop Rodeo on New Song 'This Hell'". Retrieved on May 19, 2022.
49. ↑ Pop singer Rina Sawayama says 'STFU!' to stereotypes|last=Bateman|first=Hilary Whiteman, CNN | Kristen
50. ↑ Jourdan Dunn on her empowering new collection - and what a supermodel really wears on the school run
51. ↑ nicola formichetti on Twitter
52. ↑ read rina sawayama and nicola formichetti's texts to each other
53. ↑ "thank u Hikaru for coming to see my set at Brixton. as many of u know Utada Hikaru is one of my biggest musical inspirations. what is lifeeeee ???!!!!!"
54. ↑ Rising Japanese London-based Artist Rina Sawayma Discusses Her Song Writing Influences
55. ↑ Karaoke With Pop's Next Big Star: Rina Sawayama
56. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA FINDS HER CHOSEN FAMILY
57. ↑ Rising Star Rina Sawayama’s Music & Style Make Major Waves
58. ↑ Singer Rina Sawayama Is Ready to Rep Her Pansexuality
59. ↑ "Rina Sawayama Talks Internalized Biphobia, Coming Out as Pansexual & New 'Cherry' Music Video"
60. ↑ "Ban Conversion Therapy on Instagram". Instagram (10 July 2020). Retrieved on May 29, 2021.

## External links

* Official website
* Rina Sawayama on Instagram
* Rina Sawayama on Twitter
* Rina Sawayama on Spotify