NEW ALBUM “HOLD THE GIRL” OUT 2ND SEPTEMBER 2022
PRE-ORDER HERE
UK & IRELAND AUTUMN TOUR ANNOUNCED
PERFORMING “THIS HELL” ON JIMMY FALLON TONIGHT
Today sees the multidimensional pop sensation Rina Sawayama release her new single “This Hell”, out now via Dirty Hit. The single is taken from her forthcoming sophomore album “Hold The Girl” announced today and to be released this September 2nd via Dirty Hit.
Rina’s triumphant return kicks off with “This Hell”; a joyous and roaring slice of pop-meets-country which was produced by the legendary Paul Epworth and written by Rina alongside Epworth and longterm friend and collaborator Lauren Aquilina (Demi Lovato, Little Mix). Rina kicks off the track with an ode to Shania Twain as she says “lets go girls” before bursting into the first verse. The new single is awash with glam rock riffs and lyrics that are peppered with tongue-in-cheek one-liners shouting out a pantheon of gay icons Britney, Whitney and Princess Di and are destined to be screamed on sticky dancefloors for years to come. Rina is set to perform the new single for the first time on Jimmy Fallon this evening.
Speaking about the new single, Rina explains “I had so much fun writing ‘This Hell.’ The past couple of years I’ve been listening to lots of female country singers and wanted to write a euphoric and tongue in cheek country pop song. Country music at its core to me represents comfort, brilliant storytelling and authentic expression of the writer’s reality. I’ve been dreaming of working with Paul Epworth my entire career so I knew it was meant to be when we finished this song in a day. I put in as many iconic pop culture moments as I can, but the song is more than that.”
She continues, “It’s an important song for me given the human rights that are being taken away from minorities at a rapid rate in the name of traditional religious beliefs, more specifically I was thinking about the rights being taken away from the LGBTQ community when I wrote this song. When the world tells us we don’t deserve love and protection, we have no choice but to give love and protection to each other. This Hell is better with you.”
Today also sees Rina announce “Hold The Girl”, her highly anticipated sophomore album, set to be released September 2nd 2022 via Dirty Hit. Following on from her critically acclaimed debut “SAWAYAMA”, the new record will see Rina once again juxtapose intimate storytelling with arena-sized songs creating another ambitious and original album to excite fans and critics alike. Written and recorded over the last year and a half, Rina once again teamed up with longterm collaborators Clarence Clarity and Lauren Aquilina as well as enlisting help from the likes of the legendary Paul Epworth (Adele, Florence & the Machine), Stuart Price (Dua Lipa, The Killers, Madonna) and Marcus Andersson (Demi Lovato, Ashnikko) for their magic touch. The product of Rina and these collective minds coming together is an album melds influences from across the pop spectrum and is a bold and honest statement of Rina’s personal evolution; coming to terms with her own past and the jubilation of turning to the future.
Fresh off the triumph of her sold out UK and US headline tours and packed out sets at Coachella, Rina has today announced her forthcoming UK and Ireland tour. This October tour kicks off with two shows at Glasgow’s SWG3 before making it’s way to end in London with a show at the iconic Brixton Academy. Full tour dates below including forthcoming sets at Primavera and Latitude festivals. Tickets are available on pre-sale from 10am on Wednesday 25th May and general on-sale is from 10am on Friday 27th May. Exclusive pre-sale access will be given to fans who pre-order “Hold The Girl” via the Dirty Hit Store by 2pm UTC on May 24th 2022.
1st June 2022 – Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Festival2nd June 2022 – Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Festival9th June 2022 – Porto, Portugal – Primavera Festival26th June 2022 – Dublin, Ireland – Mother Pride Block Party21st July 2022 – Southwold, England – Latitude Festival5th August 2022 – Katowice, Poland – OFF Festival20th Aug 2022 – Osaka, Japan – Summer Sonic Osaka 21st Aug 2022 – Tokyo, Japan – Summersonic Festival 3rd Sept 2022 – Stradbally, Republic of Ireland – Electric Picnic12th Oct 2022 – Glasgow, Scotland – SWG313th Oct 2022 – Glasgow, Scotland – SWG315th Oct 2022 – Dublin, Republic of Ireland – Olympia Theatre18th Oct 2022 – Nottingham, England – Rock City20th Oct 2022 – Manchester, England – Manchester Academy21st Oct 2022 – Birmingham, England – O2 Academy Birmingham23rd Oct 2022 – Brighton, East Sussex, England – Brighton Dome26th Oct 2022 – London, England – O2 Academy Brixton
In 2020 Rina’s debut album “SAWAYAMA” became one of the most critically acclaimed albums that year landing on over 50 album of the year lists, including the New York Times (#2), The Guardian (#3) and Rolling Stone (#6). The last 18 months have seen Rina Sawayama achieve a magnitude of milestones including changing the Mercury Prize and BRITs eligibility rules which meant Non-British artists could apply if they have been a permanent resident in the UK for more than 5 years. In 2021 Elton John joined forces with the popstar to release a special rendition of “Chosen Family”, a powerful and emotional ode to her LGBTQ+ family. Elsewhere Rina injected new life into Lady Gaga’s instant club classic “Free Woman”. 2023 will see Rina in her film acting debut as she stars in John Wick 4 alongside Keanu Reeves.
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
