Early life[edit]

Sawayama was born on 16 August 1990[13] in Niigata, Japan.[2] She lived there until the age of five,
when her family decided to move to London, where she was raised and currently resides. [14] She
holds an indefinite leave to remain (ILR) visa in the UK.[1]
While studying politics, psychology and sociology at Magdalene College, Cambridge,[15] Sawayama
decided to pursue music and modelling. During her time at university, she performed in a hip-
hop group called Lazy Lion with Theo Ellis from the indie rock band Wolf Alice.[2] She graduated from
the university with a degree in political science. In May 2020, Sawayama said that she was doing an
online course at the University of Oxford.[16]

Career[edit]
2013–2017: Early career[edit]
Sawayama began her solo career in February 2013, with the single "Sleeping in Waking", produced
by Justin "Hoost" Tailor. A 7-inch vinyl of the single, featuring a new song titled "Who?" as the B-
side, was released in April 2013 through UK label Make Mine. [17][18] Later that year, she released the
single "Terror" on Halloween under the stage name of "Riina". [19] Sawayama would later reveal in a
2021 Billboard interview that the reason she used only her first name is because her last name was
"an inconvenience".[20]
In June 2015, she released a music video, directed by Arvida Byström, to her track "Tunnel Vision".
In 2016, she released the single "Where U Are", with an accompanying music video co-directed by
Alessandra Kurr.[21] 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." [22] The song has been
described as "nostalgic greatness… ultra-sweet and shimmering pop", [23] and "90s R&B pop
perfection".[24]

2017–2019: Rina and touring[edit]

Sawayama at Heaven nightclub in 2018

In March 2017, her single "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" premiered on The Fader.[25] 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."[25]
In 2017, the singles "Alterlife" and "Tunnel Vision", a duet with Shamir, were released, followed by
her debut EP Rina.[26][27] Sawayama was then an unsigned artist, and Rina was released
independently; she confirmed on Twitter that she worked for two to three years to save money to
release the EP.[28] The Guardian deemed the EP "bracing and modern", stating that Sawayama had
proven "she can shepherd pop into the future, too". [29] Pitchfork ranked Rina in its list of best pop and
R&B albums of the year.[30] In 2018, Sawayama released the single "Valentine" on Valentine's Day.
[11]
 The music video for album track "Ordinary Superstar" was released in June 2018. [31] In August
2018, Sawayama released the track "Cherry", in which she explores her sexual identity.
[32]
 Sawayama embarked on her Ordinary Superstar Tour across the UK, the US and Canada in late
2018.[33] In 2019, she performed as the supporting act for Charli XCX's tour across the UK.[34]

2020–present: Sawayama and the Dynasty Tour[edit]

In 2020, after signing to Dirty Hit records, Sawayama released the singles "STFU!", a nu-
metal, heavy metal, pop and avant-pop song, and "Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)", a
"homage to early 2000s dance tracks", both from her then-upcoming debut album. [35] A third single,
the rock and 2000s R&B-inspired "XS", was released on 2 March.[36] The following month, Sawayama
released another single from the album titled "Chosen Family". [37] Her debut album, Sawayama, was
released on 17 April to widespread critical acclaim. [38][39] On 29 June 2020, she released a cover of
the Grammy-nominated Lady Gaga song, "Dance in the Dark" (2009) as part
of Spotify's Singles series. The song was recorded in Sawayama's home studio and is
an electropop composition with production handled by Clarence Clarity, her version replacing
the Europop sound of the original song with nu-metal-influenced electropop.[40]
In late July 2020, Sawayama made a public tweet about her ineligibility to be nominated for major
British music awards, such as the Mercury Prize and BRIT Awards, due to the fact that she does not
hold British citizenship.[1][41][42][43] The hashtag "#SawayamaIsBritish" became trending on Twitter in the
UK shortly after.[44] Sawayama's movement gained major support from Elton John online,[45] who
wrote that he was "happy to hear that the [BPI] are reviewing the rules that led to Rina Sawayama's
well-deserved album being snubbed from this year's [Mercury Prize] list of nominees."[46] The British
Phonographic Industry (BPI) later changed the rules to allow anyone who had remained in the UK,
including her, to be eligible.[47]
On 26 October 2020, Sawayama made her television debut performing the song "XS" on The
Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[48] The following month, she released a song titled "Lucid",
produced by BloodPop.[49] On 4 December 2020, a deluxe version of Sawayama was released.[50]
In April 2021, Sawayama released an updated version of her song "Chosen Family", as a duet
with Elton John.[51] The following month, Sawayama was cast in an undisclosed role in the fourth
installment in the John Wick film series.[52] In August 2021, Sawayama was included
on Newsweek Japan "100 Japanese people respected by the world" list. [53] Sawayama contributed a
cover of the Metallica song "Enter Sandman" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist,
released in September 2021.[54]