Claire Dickson
Rina Sawayama is a British-Japanese pop artist who released her debut album in 2017 before making a record deal with Dirty Hit in 2020.
Not solely a gifted singer/songwriter, Sawayama has also modelled for several fashion campaigns and will in the near future be embarking on her film debut through acting in ‘Jon Wick: Chapter 4.’ Previous achievements in her career have included being ranked in the Guardian’s ’18 for 18’ list as well as Dazed’s ‘100 people shaping culture in 2017’ list. She has also partaken in activism by signing an open letter to the UK minister for equalities calling for a ban on all forms of LGBTQ+ conversion therapy, identifying as both a pansexual and bisexual woman.
“tears were pouring down her face”
‘Hold the Girl’ is the title song of Rina Sawayama’s sophomore album. The song is typical of the artist’s recent record in addressing less than positive themes regarding the endless cycle and at times struggle of moving forward with life. This is illustrated by the lyrics ‘sometimes I just wanna run away, leave behind the old me, start again.’
Speaking about the single’s release, Sawayama described it as the first song she wrote for the album at the end of 2020, a time at which she had just gone to therapy. In the past, she has alluded to the struggle of living in a social media-centred culture wherein the difference between what is posted online and reality is excessive. Added to this, she has been left disappointed by people’s attitudes towards her as a student at Cambridge as she wasn’t viewed as a Londoner but as an ‘other’ leaving her feeling disrespected. She also made reference to her emotional fragility going into the studio to write about in that the tears were pouring down her face as she entered the studio.
“something of a hidden gem”
A more optimistic element of the track is able to be perceived when Sawayama ultimately learns to practice self-love in that she knows her worth as an individual. The lyrics ‘who I’m really made of’ depict her eventual lack of wanting to be someone else as she realises she has enough within herself to counteract the challenges modern-day life may throw at her.
But it is not just the lyrics that have struck a chord with listeners. The music video which accompanies ‘Hold the Girl’ is something of a hidden gem and has brought the skillset of director Ali Kurr to the forefront of contemporary pop culture. Featuring Sawayama finding herself caught in a recurring time loop keeping her within the bounds of a 19th-century farmhouse until she is able to break free from it.
“a rising star”
And the success of the track does not stop there as it will be brought live to a range of audiences across the US at star-studded venues such as New York’s Great Hall and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium – the appetite for her new music is evidence of a rising star within the industry whose career can surely only grow from this point onwards.
Featured image courtesy of Eric Nopanen on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
