How a Japanese-born singer used pop music to bridge two cultures
In short: After moving from Niigata to London at age five, Rina Sawayama struggled to communicate with her new peers. She eventually found a connection through pop music, using the genre to preserve her Japanese heritage while navigating life in the UK as an immigrant.
Sawayama's musical journey began with a fascination for artists like Hikaru Utada and Madonna. After teaching herself guitar at age twelve, she transitioned from posting covers on Myspace to forming the hip hop group Lazy Lion during her sixth form years. Her career gained significant momentum in 2017 when she released her debut EP, Rina, after working for two to three years to save the necessary funds.
Her versatility is marked by a blend of genres, ranging from nu-metal and heavy metal to 2000s R&B. This was evident in her 2020 debut studio album, Sawayama, which received widespread critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Hold the Girl, released on 16 September 2022, explored deeply personal themes, including her experiences with sexual grooming by a teacher when she was 17.
Beyond music, Sawayama has become a prominent figure in fashion and film. She has modeled for major campaigns, including Versus x Versace, and made her film acting debut in the 2023 action film John Wick: Chapter 4. Her influence extends to social advocacy; she has been a vocal critic of industry misogyny and signed an open letter in July 2020 calling for a ban on LGBT+ conversion therapy.
Sawayama's impact also reached the regulatory level. In 2020, she campaigned for eligibility for British music awards like the Mercury Prize, as her status as a non-British citizen initially disqualified her. Her activism led the British Phonographic Industry to change the rules to include anyone residing in the UK.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Rina Sawayama
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-rina-sawayama.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
