Rina Sawayama

Rina Sawayama (リナ・サワヤマ, born August 16, 1990) is a Japanese-British singer, songwriter and model based in London. In 2017, she self-released her debut extended play, Rina. After signing to Dirty Hit in 2020, she released her debut studio album, Sawayama to widespread critical acclaim.

Early life
Rina Sawayama was born on August 16, 1990, in Niigata, Japan. Sawayama and her parents emigrated to London, United Kingdom, when she was five and attended a Japanese school until she was ten. She recalled, "When we decided to stay, I was ten and my English was quite bad. I remember feeling like I couldn't say what I wanted." Her parents divorced while she was in her teens, and she was raised primarily by her mother. Growing up near Camden, she'd go to gigs and at the age of fifteen discovered her love of music and its community. She first went to therapy at the age of 15, having an eating disorder. She later attended Cambridge University and studied psychology, sociology, and politics. Financially struggling and feeling like an outsider among her peers for her identity, she did temporary jobs and struggled with depression. Her relationship with her mother was strained at this point, eventually causing Sawayama to move out and realize she needed to pick herself back up.

Career
During university, she decided to pursue music, and afterwards, do modeling. Sawayama was first in a hip hop group called Lazy Lion with Theo Ellis of Wolf Alice during her time at university. Starting in 2013, she began working with London-based producer Hoost, including on her debut single "Sleeping in Waking" and had the stage name RIINA.

In 2015, her single "Tunnel Vision" was released, followed by "Where U Are". In 2017 her single "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" was released followed by her debut EP Rina in October.

On February 14, 2018, the single "Valentine (What's It Gonna Be)" was released via 88rising. Being an unsigned, indepedent artist and managing her career, she commented, "I don't know how I did it [...] During touring I would pick up different jobs. I did stuff that I didn't publicise, basically, so I could keep going as an independent artist." Sawayama began to publish her music under the London-based record label Different Recordings, though remained unsigned, aiming to sign a major label during 2019. In November, she released her third stand-alone single, "Flicker".

On April 17, 2020, her debut studio album, Sawayama, was released through Dirty Hit.

Personal life
Sawayama has previously identified as bisexual, and came out as pansexual with her 2018 single, "Cherry". She commented, "I've always written songs about girls. I don't think I've ever mentioned a guy in my songs, and that's why I wanted to talk about it." Her song "Chosen Family" is written as tribute to her community of queer friends.

Headlining

 * Ordinary Superstar Tour (2018)
 * The Dynasty Tour (2021)

Supporting

 * Charli XCX – Charli Live Tour (2019)

Trivia

 * Her fandom name is the Pixels.