We truly love Rina Sawayama at THP! First gaining recognition through her 2017 EP Rina, she has proven herself to be a versatile singer-songwriter. With a steady rise to fame, Rina has become an important player in the pop landscape, releasing two acclaimed studio albums. With so many reasons to stan her, we’ve narrowed it down to five!
Her Activism
Rina has never been one to shy away from politics. A pansexual member of the LGBTQ+ community, she openly called for a ban on LGBTQ+ conversion therapy in 2020, signing an open letter to the UK Equalities Minister. Moreover, she has criticized the music industry’s tendency to pit female musicians against each other, calling it “silly” and advocating for a more inclusive industry. Her music is equally bold, catchy tracks like ‘XS’ (2020) satirically mock the rampant greed that flourishes under capitalism. Of course, we all love a pop star who isn’t afraid to get political!
Her Varied Career
Evidently, Rina is a fantastic pop artist, but she has also ventured into both acting and modeling! Making her screen debut in John Wick: Chapter 4, she wowed fans as the skilled assassin Akira Shimazu. To prepare, Rina went through five weeks of intense stunt training, demonstrating her professionalism and dedication. Furthermore, Her modeling career is just as impressive, with campaigns for Versace and Missguided, as well as a Balmain runway appearance. We love a multi-talented queen!
Her Rise To Fame
Rina didn’t make it to pop stardom without a lot of hard work! Moving to London from her native Japan at just five years old wasn’t easy, she struggled to communicate with her peers in English. As a teen, she began posting music covers on MySpace, eventually forming a hip-hop band called Lazy Lion. Unfortunately, her school years weren’t without hardship, as Rina has bravely opened up about being sexually groomed by a teacher at 17. Despite these challenges, she made it to Cambridge University, graduating with a degree in political science. She then worked multiple jobs for years in order to fund her debut EP Rina, which launched her rise to pop stardom.
Her Songwriting
Writing her own tracks, Rina has established herself as a sardonic and honest songwriter who explores identity through pop music. A particular highlight is ‘STFU!’ from her 2020 album Sawayama, a metal-inspired expression of anger aimed at those who fetishize Asian women. Another standout is ‘This Hell,’ from her latest album, Hold The Girl. In summary, it’s a celebration of community, the track critiques anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes and media misogyny.
Her Unique Sound
Rina’s sound is an eclectic mix of her musical influences. She cites Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada as the reason she became a singer, while also naming Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Evanescence as inspirations. Unsurprisingly, this wide mix of sounds is evident in her discography, tracks like ‘Cyber Stockholm Syndrome’ reflect her love for J-pop and R&B, while ‘STFU!’ pays homage to the 2000s nu-metal era. Clearly, Rina isn’t afraid to experiment and cross genres, proving she is truly a risk-taking artist!
✨ What are your thoughts on Rina Sawayama? Do you have a favorite album? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram!
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