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born 16 August 1990 is a Japanese and British singer-songwriter, actress and model. Born in Niigata, Japan, she emigrated to London with her parents at the age of five. In 2017, she Self-publishing her debut extended play, Rina. After signing to Dirty Hit in 2020, she released her debut studio album, Sawayama, to critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Hold the Girl, was released on 16 September 2022. Known for her musical versatility, and integration of feminism into her craft, Sawayama has also modelled for fashion campaigns, and made her film acting debut in the action film (2023).
At the age of 16, she began posting music covers on Myspace, and during sixth form she formed a hip hop group called Lazy Lion. In a September 2023 interview with BBC News, Sawayama said that she had been sexually groomed by a school teacher when she was 17. She subsequently underwent sex and relationship therapy for the trauma. Sawayama went on to cover the experience in second studio album, Hold the Girl, particularly in the song "Your Age".
Sawayama attended Magdalene College, Cambridge where she studied politics, psychology and sociology. She graduated from the university with a degree in political science.
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. 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." The song has been described as "nostalgic greatness… ultra-sweet and shimmering pop", and "90s R&B pop perfection".
In 2017, the singles "Alterlife" and "Tunnel Vision", a duet with Shamir, were released, followed by her debut EP, Rina. 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. The Guardian deemed the EP "bracing and modern", stating that Sawayama had proven "she can shepherd pop into the future, too". Pitchfork ranked Rina in its list of best pop and R&B albums of the year. In 2018, Sawayama released the single "Valentine" on Valentine's Day. The music video for the track "Ordinary Superstar" was released in June 2018. In August 2018, Sawayama released the track "Cherry", in which she explores her sexual identity. Sawayama embarked on her Ordinary Superstar Tour across the UK, the US and Canada in late 2018. In 2019, she performed as the supporting act for Charli XCX's tour across the UK. That same year, she acted in the comedy series Turn Up Charlie.
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 music tracks", both from her then-upcoming debut album. A third single, the Rock music and 2000s R&B-inspired "XS", was released on 2 March. The following month, Sawayama released another single from the album titled "Chosen Family". Her debut album, Sawayama, was released on 17 April to widespread critical acclaim. In June 2020, she released a cover of "Dance in the Dark" by Lady Gaga as part of Spotify's Singles series. The song was recorded in Sawayama's home studio, her version replacing the Europop sound of the original song with nu-metal-influenced electropop. The album and aforementioned song was primarily produced by Clarence Clarity.
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. The hashtag "#SawayamaIsBritish" became Twitter trends in the UK shortly after. Sawayama's movement gained major support from Elton John online, who wrote that he was "happy to hear that the
Sawayama started working on her second studio album in 2021. In November 2021, she embarked on the first leg of The Dynasty Tour in support of Sawayama. She featured on the single "Beg for You" by Charli XCX, released on 27 January 2022 and later on "Follow Me" by Brazilian drag queen Pabllo Vittar, released on 31 March of the same year. On 16 May, Sawayama announced that her second studio album, Hold the Girl, would release in September 2022. Its lead single "This Hell" was released on 18 May. "Catch Me in the Air" was released as the second single from the album on 27 June. The title track "Hold the Girl" was released as the album's third single on 27 July. On 25 August, "Phantom" was released as another single from the album. On 12 September, the final single from the album, titled "Hurricanes", was released.
Sawayama made her film acting debut in the in the John Wick film series. The film was released in March 2023, receiving positive reviews. Sawayama also released the song "An Eye for An Eye", which appears in the film.
Sawayama has been vocal about the importance of feminism in the music industry, noting that "misogyny and abuse in the music industry" is rampant following complications regarding the ownership of her masters and therefore release of new music in the year 2023 and onward.
In 2017, Sawayama criticized pop-star Madonna for casting Asian women as nail salon employees, noting that Madonna chose to portray them as, "silent stereotypical accessories to her overpriced skin care line".
On the music industry’s competitive nature, Sawayama has commented, "it's silly" that female musicians are pitted against one another, and would prefer the industry to be an all-inclusive space.
In July 2020, she signed an open letter to the UK Equalities minister Liz Truss calling for a ban on all forms of LGBT+ conversion therapy.
In a September 2022 interview with Them, Sawayama mentioned that she has IBS.
In 2017, Sawayama was ranked in The Guardians "18 for '18" list as well as Dazeds "100 people shaping culture in 2017" list. Lady Gaga described Sawayama as "an experimental pop visionary who refuses to play by the rules".
| 2023 ! scope="row" | Shimazu Akira | Film debut | ||
| 2019 ! scope="row" | Turn Up Charlie | Layla Valentine | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Innovator Award | |||
| 2023 | Best Independent Album | Hold the Girl | ||
| 2023 | Best New Artist | |||
| Best International Solo Act | ||||
| Best International Album | Sawayama | |||
| 2022 | Best International New Act | Herself | ||
| 2023 | Outstanding Music Artist | Hold the Girl | ||
| 2023 | ||||
| Best Solo Act from the UK | ||||
| Best Live Act | ||||
| Best Collaboration | "Chosen Family" (with Elton John) | |||
| Best Pop Artist | ||||
| Song of the Year | "XS" | |||
| Best Music Video | "Bad Friend" | |||
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