Rina Sawayama

Rina Sawayama is a Japanese and British singer, actress, and model known for her wide-ranging musical styles and feminist themes. Born on 16 August 1990 in Niigata, Japan, she relocated with her parents to London at the age of five. After initially releasing music independently, she achieved widespread acclaim with her full-length projects. Alongside her musical career, she has worked in high-profile fashion campaigns and expanded into screen acting, including a feature role in a major action film franchise.

Growing up in London, Sawayama initially faced language barriers, which she overcame in part through pop music. Following her parents' divorce when she was ten, she stayed in the city with her mother. During her youth, she maintained a connection to Japanese culture by listening to acts such as Hikaru Utada and Morning Musume. She began sharing song covers online at sixteen and formed the hip-hop group Lazy Lion during sixth form. Sawayama later attended Magdalene College, Cambridge, where she studied politics, psychology, and sociology, eventually graduating with a degree in political science.

Sawayama launched her solo recording career in February 2013 with the single "Sleeping in Waking." Over the following years, she released additional tracks, including "Tunnel Vision" and "Where U Are," the latter exploring digital media and human connection. In 2017, after working for several years to self-fund her work, she independently issued her debut extended play, titled Rina, which garnered positive critical attention. She followed this with her Ordinary Superstar Tour in 2018 and served as a supporting act for Charli XCX in 2019, the same year she appeared in the comedy television series Turn Up Charlie.

In 2020, Sawayama signed with the label Dirty Hit and released her debut studio album, Sawayama, supported by singles such as "STFU!", "Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)", "XS", and "Chosen Family". The album earned widespread acclaim. Later that year, she spoke out regarding eligibility rules for major British music honors that excluded non-citizen residents; her advocacy, supported by Elton John, prompted the British Phonographic Industry to revise its criteria. She subsequently collaborated with Elton John on a duet version of "Chosen Family" in 2021.

Sawayama released her second studio album, Hold the Girl, in September 2022, featuring lead singles such as "This Hell" and "Catch Me in the Air". Her acting career reached a major milestone when she made her feature film debut in the action movie John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023), for which she also contributed the song "An Eye for An Eye". In addition to music and acting, Sawayama has established a successful modeling career signed with Anti-Agency and Elite Model Management, starring in campaigns for brands including Versus x Versace and walking for Balmain.

Throughout her career, Sawayama has cited diverse musical influences, including Hikaru Utada, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Avril Lavigne. A vocal advocate for feminism, she frequently addresses industry issues and embeds feminist perspectives into her creative output. In her personal life, Sawayama publicly identified as pansexual in 2018 and has used her platform to support LGBT+ rights, including signing a public petition calling for a ban on conversion therapy in the United Kingdom.