In today’s social media age where an artist’s every move is immediately labelled “iconic,” talking about how a new act is the future of pop music could seem disingenuous. In the case of Rina Sawayama, however it’s actually the truth. Not only has she been labeled that by publications like Interview, Dazed, Noisey and ELLE, her 2017 debut ‘RINA’ saw her land on a heap of “Best Of…” lists, including those by The Guardian, The Needle Drop and Pitchfork.
The first time you lay eyes on Rina, you are instantly drawn to her strong and confident fashion sense, her beauty and talent. All of these combined have led to Rina gracing covers of Clash, Sunday Times Style, PETRIe, and Japanese fashion publication, Free Magazine.
Listen to Rina Sawayama’s music and you’ll feel as though you’re in the throwback music video of your dreams, only edgier and probably more original. That isn’t a slight to the capabilities of your own imagination, it’s just that Rina Sawayama is one of the most exciting artists in the music industry right now, whose innovative brand of nostalgic pop still manages to feel modern despite the clear influences of industry icons like Britney Spears and her bubblegum pop cohort.
Take 2018’s single “Cherry,” for instance. It sounds like a blend of Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey at the peak of their careers. Lyrically, it subverts the norm of pop artists predominantly singing about love and lust through a heterosexual lens. And that’s why Rina has quickly become an important figure in the LGBTQ community, unapologetically embracing her queer identity with empowering ferocity.
Her second single “Flicker” is an empowering song that allows her fans to celebrate themselves for who they are. As Rina explains. “Whether it’s a name that no one can say, or the frustration of being misgendered, or quite simply being misunderstood for who you truly are—this is a song for you.”
Born in Japan, Rina emigrated from there with her family to the UK when she was five years old. Her love of singing, dance and drama while at secondary school is where she discovered her voice, even taking the lead tenor in a gospel choir. Although her first love was singing, Rina also wanted to continue her education and went on to study at Cambridge University. Rina explains what her time was like there. “First of all, they (Cambridge) make you feel like there are all sorts of people that look like you. I went to an open visit day for like ethnic people and thought it was great but then you turn up and it is only white people.” There was also the problem of the other students too. “I didn’t realize how cliquey it would be.”
Despite the odds, Rina completed her degree but the bullying and the ostracizing she experienced left her severely depressed. She spent years “finding herself” and while that experience was difficult, it was also the catalyst that helped create the artist that Rina has now become. She is proud to describe herself as pansexual and says “I just think the reason why I wasn’t so comfortable with my sexuality was because there was no one on TV or anywhere that I could point out and go look…this is the person I was talking about.”
The outpouring of love and support she received when she came out as pansexual via her single “Cherry,” left Rina no option but to reciprocate that same love and support back to her fans. Rina took her show on the road and in the past year has gone from playing 150 seat venues to selling out London’s iconic “Heaven.” She performed with Charli XCX at her POP2 show in London and was the supporting act for Years & Years at the O2 Arena. She has only toured the U.S. twice.
“It’s crazy, I feel so lucky I can’t put it into words really. It gives me purpose because it’s clearly working and for the longest time it felt like no one cared.” Rina says, blushes of embarrassment peeking through on her cheeks. The amalgamation of these experiences makes up the foundations for Rina’s unique sound that has set her apart from her peers since day one.
A model and musician whose catchy pop anthems examine millennial relationships with social media and technology, Rina uses her Instagram page to speak out about the lack of Asian representation in fashion and music, and to open up a dialogue about the pressures of social media with her followers.
“Social media creates a really skewed measure of aspiration that you feel like you have to reach every time you log on to Instagram,” she said. “I want to make people feel less alone.”
Rina Sawayama will perform at Pride Rocks PGH on Saturday, June 8 2019. Tickets are available here!
