- SAWAYAMA, the self-titled debut from London based Japanese singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama is a revelation. Sure she’s influenced by fellow Londoners Charli XCX and Kero Kero Bonito, but Sawayama’s scope on this record covers exciting new territory. From the hard rock of STFU! to the disco-affected album highlight Comme des garcons (Like the Boys Do), Rina Sawayama finds her own ground amidst a golden age of experimental pop.
On lead single STFU!, Rina set her sights on disorienting heavy metal guitars that give this otherwise melodic pop song more exciting complexities. Bursting through these belting guitars is an exuberant chorus where Rina half-whispers “Shut the fuck up, shut the fuck up, shut the fuck up” repeatedly. Soon, booming drums and belting guitars return. Incorporating jarring rock instrumentation into pop music is slowly coming into trend. With the inclusion, and possible reclamation of historically masculine sounds into pop music, STFU! is not only adventurous, but daring.
Likewise, the track XS is a fever dream, combining 2000’s pop with echoing drums, jarring guitars and satirical lyrics that describe a desire for “excess”. It’s the kind of tongue-in-cheek pop that brings out all the bells and whistles; Rina succeeds at what Slayyyter tried and failed at last year with her track Mine. As the record continues, this hard-rock edge fades into bubblegum bass without losing any charm. Rina’s producer, Clarence Clarity, has the most fun on Akasaka Sad, which introduces PC Music samples that provide a refreshing change of texture.
SAWAYAMA strikes an emotional chord with the reflective and slick Paradisin, which finds Rina reminiscing on her sense of identity. She sings “Summer of drinking in Trafalgar Square, then you threatened to send me to boarding school for the seventh time / I know we can’t afford that so I’m fine”, a moment of fin-de-siecle reflection that delves deeper emotionally then we’ve heard from her before.
SAWAYAMA sees Rina launch her shapeshifting pop into a myriad of styles, flexing between different genres with ease. Like I said, it might be a golden-age of pop already, but Rina Sawayama makes it shine that bit more brightly.
- Sean Tayler.