The definition of a Pop Star is not a very concrete one. Some may say that Pop-stardom requires a loss of integrity, or selling out for the price of fame while compromising their sound for the masses. Others say that a Pop Star is whatever you make of it, and that the title is applicable when an artist has made a bit of a name for themselves while maintaining somewhat of a public or Social Media presence. Whatever it may be, one thing's for sure. Up and coming singer/songwriter Rina Sawayama is redefining what a Popstar really is, while bridging the gaps between seemingly incompatible musical styles.
Earlier this year, Rina released her debut album “Sawayama”, a spiritual successor to her equally self-titled debut EP “Rina”, an EP with undeniably catchy choruses, unique production and substantive lyrics. This followup record however, is quite the artistic evolution for Rina. The amount of genre-jumping leads to a very diverse array of emotions on display. Rina is just as comfortable pumping out Nu-Metal bangers about Microaggressions as she is hopping on funky Nu-Disco grooves. And when both of these examples are side by side in the tracklist, you know you’ve got a special album on your hands.
The album’s sound palette is not only diverse, but is complemented by crisp A-Grade Mixing and Mastering. Super-Producer Clarence Clarity makes sure to evenly balance out these fun and colorful instrumentals while making sure Rina’s vocals are still front and center. You can really tell how much creative chemistry she has with her collaborators, as her vocals and writing style always fit like a glove over whatever musical experiment they create together.
The album contains this quite eclectic blend of styles to showcase a variety of different song-topics and lyrical themes. In terms of subject matter, Rina speaks about her relationship with her family and heritage, her views on Capitalism/Consumerism, failed friendships, her paranoia over climate change, and her experience as a Pansexual woman.
My absolute favorite song in the tracklist is “Bad Friend”, a power ballad about the heartbreaking loss of a once-important friendship that Rina feels remorse over. The emotionally despondent vocoder harmonies during the chorus perfectly encapsulate the feeling of having your heartbroken while realizing you lost someone close, knowing damn well it was at least partially your fault.
Other highlights include the ass-kicking Nu-Metal track “STFU”, a track about telling someone how much of an ignorant bigotted jackass they are. “Fuck This World”, an ethereal dystopian electropop song about Rina’s fears of climate disaster in the coming years. “Chosen Family”, a Rock-Infused R&B track about finding a meaningful familial relationship with someone who isn't blood-related, but also acts as a message to the LGBTQ+ community that she resides in. “XS” acts as a tongue and cheek critique on consumerism, sarcastically indulging in opulent material possessions over a Britney Spears-inspired Acoustic-Guitar-driven instrumental that occasionally breaks down into metal riffs to show that something’s a little off about Rina’s lyrics. And finally, “Love Me For Me” is THE self-love anthem, with it’s badass chugging guitars, New Jack Swing aesthetic, and undeniably catchy chorus.
In fact, almost every song on this project has gotten stuck in my head incessantly, and pop into my subconscious at random no matter the circumstances. That’s just a testament to how good of a songwriter Rina is. She sings about substantive topics in a very sophisticated way, but isn’t afraid to embrace her pop sensibilities and have so much fun with it. You can’t make a song like “STFU” if you don’t have a sense of humor.
The tracks I haven’t mentioned yet are also great. “Akasaka Sad” is a sinister-sounding absurdist electropop song that focuses on relating to hereditary mental illness, and relating your struggles to your parents in a bleak way. The synthesizer work, bubbly percussive samples, odd background vocals, and borderline Industrial elements lead to a very quirky yet haunting result. “Dynasty” also works as a rock solid opener to the project, setting some of the album’s recurring lyrical themes over a String-Heavy Power-Metal backdrop. Sends chills down my spine. “Tokyo Love Hotel” and “Snakeskin” are fairly good tunes as well, despite not being quite as exciting as earlier portions of the album.
Hell, I believe the only track I dislike is the Arena-Rock Centric “Who’s Gonna Save You Now”. The lyrics detail a scenario in which Rina Sawayama sets boundaries and cuts ties with someone who is desperately clinging onto unhealthy behavior. This subject matter however, doesn’t clash well with the intentionally cheesy Glam Rock production, as a result, in my opinion comes off as callous to those who suffer from abandonment issues and mental illness with lines like “I wish you well, but go take it somewhere else. Who’s Gonna Save You Now?”.
Despite a dud in the tracklist, this is a nearly perfect album in my honest opinion. If you’re looking for a Pop-Artist who defies genre and has something completely fresh to offer in terms of style and substance, I cannot recommend this enough.
Rating:
9.5/10
Cover photo credit: https://hypebeast.com/2020/4/rina-sawayama-debut-album-stream
The writer and where to find her:
Hi! I'm Jordyn-Laurette Bailey, and I mainly specialize in Queer Music-Oriented topics and Music Reviews on The Q! I'm a college student who is getting her fine arts degree in music, and am 1/2 of the band Phantom Glitch Souls. In my spare time, I listen to music constantly, practice bass guitar, play Nintendo games, and talk way too freaking much. Lol
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