Rina Sawayama

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."[6] In 2016, she released the single "Where U Are," with an accompanying music video co-directed by Alessandra Kurr.[7] 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."[8] The song has been described as "nostalgic greatness... ultra-sweet and shimmering pop",[9] and "90s R&B pop perfection".[10]

In March 2017, her single "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" premiered on The Fader.[11] 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."[11] In 2017, the singles "Alterlife" and "Tunnel Vision," a duet with Shamir, were released, followed by her debut mini-album Rina.[12][13] 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. The Guardian deemed the album "bracing and modern" and Sawayama as having proven she can shepherd pop into the future, too."[14] Pitchfork ranked the album in its list of best pop and R&B albums of the year.[15]In 2018, she released the single "Valentine" on Valentine's Day.[16] The music video for album track "Ordinary Superstar" was released in June 2018.[17] In August 2018, Sawayama released the track "Cherry", in which she explores her sexual identity.[18] Sawayama embarked on her Ordinary Superstar tour across the UK and America in late 2018.[19] In 2019, she was the support act for Charli XCX's tour across the UK.[20]

In 2020, after signing to Dirty Hit records, she released 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", both from her then-upcoming debut album.[21] A third single, the rock and 2000s R&B inspired "XS" was released on 2 March.[22] The following month, Sawayama released another single from the album titled "Chosen Family."[23] Her debut album Sawayama was released on 17 April to widespread critical acclaim.[24][25]

Sawayama has been signed to Anti Agency and Elite Model Management. In 2017, she was chosen for Versus x Versace's fall winter campaign.[26] She has also starred in campaigns for Jourdan Dunn's Missguided,[27] and wrote and performed an original track for Nicola Formichetti’s MAC x Nicopanda.

In 2016, Sawayama collaborated with Taiwanese visual artist John Yuyi on a visual series critiquing Asian, and Japanese, beauty standards. Subsequently, she was profiled in Vogue. 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."[4] 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.[28]