Rina began collaborating with London-based producer Hoost and released her debut single ’Sleeping In Waking’ in 2013. In 2016, she was included in The Fader's 13 Artists You Need To Know About In 2017. Her debut EP ’RINA’ was released in 2017.
In 2018, she released the new single ’Valentine’ on Valentine’s Day. The music video for album 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 and United States in late 2018.
In 2019, Rina began to rollout of her debut full-length album, starting with the single ‘STFU!’, which is based on her experiences of micro-aggressions as an Asian woman. The album's third single ’XS’, which serves as a satirical criticism of modern capitalism, was released in March 2020, and was well received, helping her get her name more known. The album, ’SAWAYAMA’ was finally released on April 17, and went onto become one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year. It was praised for its mix of genres, wide range of influences and vocal performances. The project made multiple end-of-year lists, notably ranking #1 on The Line Of Best Fit's list. The album was also loved by musical icon Elton John, who would then go on to feature on a new duet version of the single ‘Chosen Family’.
Rina would embark on the ‘Dynasty Tour’ for the album in 2021 after being delayed a year. Soon after in May 2022, Rina announced her sophomore album ’Hold The Girl’, scheduled for a September 2nd release, along with the lead single ‘This Hell’, which puts a fun spin on negative stigma towards the LGBTQ+ community. The album's release was pushed back to September 16th, with the singles ’Catch Me In The Air’, the title track, ’Phantom’ and ‘Hurricanes’ being released in the run up. The record also garnered positive reviews upon release, and debuted at #3 on the UK charts, Rina's first time charting this high. The ‘Hold The Girl Tour’ began in October 2022, and ended in February of the following year. This tour was followed up by a second run of North America, titled ‘Hold The Girl Tour - Reloaded’, beginning in June 2023, and rounding up the tour and era in October of the same year.
Many of Sawayama’s tracks are co-written and produced by Clarence Clarity. She has also collaborated with the likes of Shamir, Bree Runway, and Charli XCX, the latter of which's collaboration ’Beg For You’ gave Rina her first top 40 hit in the UK. In September 2023, Empress Of released her single ‘Kiss Me’ featuring Sawayama.
Dynasty
Rina Sawayama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the darkness of the world
Catch me before I fall
Saving myself
Is all I really know
Seen it been done before
I'm a dynasty
Dynasty
Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream
Dynasty
And if that's all that I'm gonna be
Would you break the chain with me?
I'm a, I'm a (uh), I'm a, I'm a (uh)
I'm a, I'm a (uh), I'm a, I'm a (uh, ooh)
I'm a, I'm a (uh), I'm a, I'm a (uh)
I'm a, I'm a (uh)
I'm gonna take the throne this time
All the world's all mine, all mine
It's been way too long, too far
Too gone, to carry on
You can't hide it in the walls
Sweep it under marble floors
It's been living in our lives
Best told damn family lie
Anything you get, return to
Dynasty
The pain in my vein is hereditary
Dynasty
Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream
Dynasty
And if that's all that I'm gonna be
Would you break the chain with me?
Mother and father, you gave me life
I nearly gave it away for the sake of my sanity
Hurting inside, no end in sight
Passing it down, I'm not losing this fight
Mother and father, I know you were raised differently
Fighting about money and this infidelity
Now it's my my time to make things right
And if I fail, then I am a dynasty
Dynasty
The pain in my vein is hereditary
Dynasty
Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream
Dynasty
And if that's all that I'm gonna be
Would you break the chain with me?
In "Dynasty," Rina Sawayama expresses a sense of inherited pain and trauma that runs deep in her family line. The lyrics suggest that she feels overwhelmed by how this legacy has affected her, and that she is lost in a world that seems to perpetuate it. She calls out for help and for someone to catch her before she falls, acknowledging that she doesn't know how to save herself. Despite the challenges she faces, however, Sawayama also declares that she is a dynasty, and that the pain in her vein is hereditary. By doing so, she is owning this legacy and recognizing that it is a powerful force that has shaped who she is. She calls on others to break the chain with her, suggesting that she is ready to take the throne, to make things right, and to become the ruler of her own destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm losing myself
I am feeling lost and unsure of myself.
In the darkness of the world
I am surrounded by negativity and negativity is affecting me.
Catch me before I fall
Please help me before I give in to this negativity.
Saving myself
I am trying to find my way out of this darkness on my own without help.
Is all I really know
I am relying only on myself to get through this difficult time.
Seen it been done before
I have seen others go through similar struggles and come out the other side stronger.
I'm a dynasty
I am part of a long line of family members who have inherited a legacy of pain.
The pain in my vein is hereditary
The pain and struggles I am experiencing have been passed down to me from previous generations of my family.
Running in my bloodstream, my bloodstream
This pain and suffering is a part of me and will always be a part of me.
And if that's all that I'm gonna be
If my only legacy is this pain and suffering, I don't want to continue that cycle.
Would you break the chain with me?
Will you help me break the cycle of pain and suffering in my family?
I'm gonna take the throne this time
I am taking control of my life and my family legacy, rather than letting it control me.
All the world's all mine, all mine
I am determined to overcome these obstacles and find my own success and happiness.
It's been way too long, too far
This cycle of pain and suffering has been going on for too many generations and has affected too many family members.
Too gone, to carry on
It's time to break this cycle and start anew.
You can't hide it in the walls
The pain and suffering we have experienced cannot be buried and ignored. It needs to be addressed.
Sweep it under marble floors
We can't just pretend everything is fine and luxurious while ignoring the struggles underneath the surface.
It's been living in our lives
This pain and suffering has been a constant presence in our lives, generation after generation.
Best told damn family lie
We have been lying to ourselves and each other about the extent of our pain and suffering for too long.
Anything you get, return to
Whatever we receive in life, we will inevitably pass down to future generations.
Mother and father, you gave me life
I am acknowledging my parents for bringing me into this world and giving me the opportunity to change our family legacy.
I nearly gave it away for the sake of my sanity
I almost gave up on my life and my potential to break this cycle of pain and suffering.
Hurting inside, no end in sight
The pain and struggles seem never-ending and are taking a toll on me.
Passing it down, I'm not losing this fight
Despite the challenges, I am determined to overcome them and not continue the cycle of pain and suffering in my family.
I know you were raised differently
I understand my parents were raised in a different time and with different values than I was, but I want to change our family's legacy.
Fighting about money and this infidelity
My parents have had their own struggles and challenges in their relationship that have contributed to the pain and suffering experienced in our family.
Now it's my time to make things right
I am taking responsibility for changing our family legacy and breaking the cycle of pain and suffering.
And if I fail, then I am a dynasty
Even if I don't succeed in breaking the cycle of pain and suffering, I will still be a part of this legacy, but I am determined to succeed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Adam Mark Crisp, Rina Sawayama
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind