Rina Sawayama

Rina Sawayama: biography

Rina Sawayama is a Japanese-British singer, songwriter, and model. Rina gained prominence for her music, which combines elements of pop, R&B, and rock, with influences from the '90s and 2000s. Her unique style and genre-blending approach have garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.

Childhood and youth

Rina Sawayama was born on August 16, 1990, in Niigata, Japan.Rina Sawayama lived in Niigata, Japan, until the age of five, when her family made the decision to relocate to London, where she was raised and currently resides. Her family had initially intended to return to Japan when she turned ten, but they ultimately decided to remain in London. During her early years in London, Rina faced difficulties in understanding her teachers and peers due to her limited English language skills. However, her passion for pop music helped her connect with others.

At the age of sixteen, Rina started sharing music covers on the social networking platform Myspace. During her time in sixth form, she formed a hip hop group called Lazy Lion. These experiences helped shape her musical journey and laid the foundation for her future career.

Rina went on to attend Magdalene College, Cambridge, where she pursued studies in politics, psychology, and sociology. She dedicated herself to her education and successfully graduated from the university with a degree in political science.

Music career

Rina Sawayama's music career has been marked by her distinct sound, genre-blending approach, and thought-provoking lyrics. After gaining traction with her early releases, she rose to prominence with the release of her self-titled debut studio album, "Sawayama," in 2020.

Rina Sawayama embarked on her solo career in February 2013, debuting with the single "Sleeping in Waking." Produced by Justin "Hoost" Tailor, the track was released through UK label Make Mine. In April 2013, a 7-inch vinyl edition of the single was made available, featuring the B-side track titled "Who?"

Later that same year, under the stage name "Riina," Sawayama released the single "Terror" on Halloween, showcasing her versatility and artistic range. In a 2021 Billboard interview, she disclosed that she had chosen to use only her first name because her last name was perceived as "an inconvenience."

In June 2015, Sawayama unveiled the music video for her song "Tunnel Vision," directed by Arvida Byström. This visual presentation further enhanced her artistic expression. In 2016, she continued to captivate audiences with the single "Where U Are" and an accompanying music video co-directed by Alessandra Kurr.

In March 2017, Rina Sawayama premiered her single "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" on The Fader, exploring themes of the digital world providing support and escape. She released the "Rina" EP independently in 2017. In 2020, she signed with Dirty Hit records and released singles like "STFU!" and "Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)" from her debut album, "Sawayama," which received critical acclaim. Sawayama's activism led to changes in eligibility rules for British music awards. She made her TV debut on The Tonight Show and released the song "Lucid" in 2020.

In April 2021, Rina Sawayama collaborated with Elton John on an updated version of her song "Chosen Family". She was recognized on Newsweek Japan's "100 Japanese people respected by the world" list in August 2021. Sawayama contributed a cover of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" to The Metallica Blacklist charity album in September 2021. She also appeared on Lady Gaga's remix album Dawn of Chromatica with a remix of "Free Woman" in September 2021.

Sawayama began working on her second studio album in 2021 and embarked on The Dynasty Tour in November of the same year. She featured on singles by Charli XCX and Pabllo Vittar in early 2022. In May 2022, Sawayama announced her second album, Hold the Girl, and released singles like "This Hell," "Catch Me in the Air," "Hold the Girl," and "Phantom." The final single, "Hurricanes," came out in September.

In addition to her musical endeavors, Sawayama made her acting debut in the John Wick film series, which was released in March 2023. She also released the song "An Eye for An Eye," featured in the film.

Personal life

During an interview with Broadly in August 2018, Rina Sawayama publicly came out as bisexual and pansexual, stating that she had always written songs about girls and had never mentioned a guy in her music. This was an important moment for her to address her sexuality and express her identity.

In May 2020, Rina shared that she was pursuing an online course at the University of Oxford, showcasing her dedication to continuing her education while pursuing her music career.

In July 2020, she joined other notable figures in signing an open letter addressed to UK Equalities minister Liz Truss, urging for a complete ban on all forms of LGBT+ conversion therapy. Rina's involvement in this initiative demonstrated her commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community.

During a September 2022 interview with Them, Rina mentioned that she lives with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), shedding light on her personal health challenges.

Filmography

Television:

• "Turn Up Charlie" as Layla Valentine (2 episodes) (2019)

Film:

• "John Wick: Chapter 4" (upcoming) (2023)

Discography

• Sawayama (2020)
• Hold the Girl (2022)

Championships and accomplishments

NME Awards:

• 2022: Best Solo Act in the World (Nominated)
• Best Solo Act from the UK (Nominated)
• Best Live Act (Won)
• Best Collaboration for "Chosen Family" (with Elton John) (Nominated)

Popjustice £20 Music Prize:

• Best British Pop Single for "This Hell" (Nominated)

Rober Awards Music Prize:

• 2020: Best New Artist (Won)
• Best Pop Artist (Nominated)
• Song of the Year for "XS" (Nominated)
• Best Music Video for "Bad Friend" (Nominated)

The Daily Californian Art Awards:

• Best International Album for "Sawayama" (Won)

Vogue Japan:

• 2019: (No specific category mentioned)