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.
Where U Are
Rina Sawayama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i wanna be where u are
oh, i
oh, i
can it be i stayed away too long
or did i leave your mind when i was gone?
it's not like you're never getting back
this time let me tell you where i'm at
i wanna be where u are
the only time i see you these days is in my projections
i need to feel your pulse baby
and i'm holding on to
this unclear connection
and i'm staring at you to see
but doesn't even
(shhhh)
listen
can it be i stayed away too long
or did i leave your mind when i was gone?
it's not like you're never getting back to me
this time let me tell you what i need
the only time i see you these days is in my projections
i think i feel the love, love, love
it's kind of crazy
cause i've never met you
now i'm losing sight of who i'm meant to be in this reality
can it be i stayed away too long
or did i leave your mind when i was gone?
it's not like you're trying to get back
(back to me)
this time let me tell you where i'm out
don't you know there's something
lately i've been hiding
second guessing my love constantly
don't you known there's one thing
you always protect me
sick and tired of knowing you were never real
you were never real
can it be i stayed away too long
(you were never real)
or did i leave your mind when i was gone?
(you were never real)
funny how together we're alone
thought you were the one but i was wrong
Rina Sawayama's song "Where U Are" is an introspective examination of the modern world's increasing reliance on technology and how it affects our emotional connections. The song begins with Rina expressing her desire to be where her loved one is, but she recognizes that she has grown too distant from them. She fears that she may have left their mind when she was absent, and this distance is only bridged by her "projections," or digital representations of this person. Even though she acknowledges that their connection is unclear and inadequate, she continues to hold on to it, desperate for a tangible connection with her loved one. Rina questions the reality of the connection she feels, admitting that she has never met this person but is losing herself in this "reality."
As the song progresses, Rina expresses her frustration with their relationship. She feels disconnected and unsure about their connection, constantly second-guessing her feelings. She realizes that while she has been clinging to this digital connection, it has made her forget who she is in this reality. She recognizes that this virtual world has become a barrier, preventing her from living in the present moment and experiencing genuine human connections.
Line by Line Meaning
i wanna be
Expressing the desire to be wherever the subject of the song is.
i wanna be where u are
Emphasizing the singer's need to be near the subject of the song.
oh, i
An exclamation of excitement and anticipation for being near the song's subject.
can it be i stayed away too long
Questioning if the artist has been gone from the subject's presence for too long.
or did i leave your mind when i was gone?
Wondering if the subject has forgotten about the artist's existence.
it's not like you're never getting back
Encouraging the subject of the song to return to the singer.
this time let me tell you where i'm at
Offering to update the subject of the singer's location.
the only time i see you these days is in my projections
Noticing that the artist only sees the subject through their imagination or fantasies.
i need to feel your pulse baby
Desiring physical contact with the subject of the song.
and i'm holding on to
The artist is grasping onto something intangible, perhaps an emotion or feeling.
this unclear connection
Describing the relationship between the singer and the subject as hazy or uneasy.
and i'm staring at you to see
Looking at the subject, desperate to gain some insight into their feelings or thoughts.
but doesn't even
Introducing a pause or quiet moment.
(shhhh)
Further emphasizing the silence in the previous line.
listen
Implying that the subject should listen to the singer's words or needs.
i think i feel the love, love, love
Realizing that the artist is falling in love with the subject, despite never meeting them in reality.
it's kind of crazy
Acknowledging the irrationality of the artist's feelings.
now i'm losing sight of who i'm meant to be in this reality
Feeling lost or disoriented due to the intensity of the singer's emotions and fantasies surrounding the subject.
don't you know there's something
Directing a question to the subject of the song.
lately i've been hiding
Admitting to the subject of the song that the artist has been concealing something from them.
second guessing my love constantly
Expressing doubt or uncertainty over the artist's feelings for the subject.
don't you known there's one thing
Emphasizing the importance of a specific aspect of the artist's relationship with the subject.
you always protect me
Noting that the subject of the song has always provided a sense of security to the singer.
sick and tired of knowing you were never real
Expressing frustration over the lack of reality in the artist's relationship with the subject.
funny how together we're alone
Noting the irony of feeling isolated or disconnected from the subject of the song, despite the singer's strong emotions for them.
thought you were the one but i was wrong
Admitting that the singer's initial beliefs about the subject were incorrect.
Contributed by Gavin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sharyn Corpuz
Lyrics:
I wanna be
I wanna be where you are
Oh, I
Oh, I
Can it be I stayed away too long?
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not like you're never getting back
This time let me tell you where I'm at
I wanna be where you are, oh, I
The only time I see you these days is in my projections
I need to feel your pulse baby
And I'm holding on to
This unclear connection
And I'm staring at a you that sees but doesn't even
(Shhhhh)
Listen
Can it be I stayed away too long
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not like you're never getting back to me
This time let me tell you what I need
The only time I see you these days is in my projections
I think I feel the love, love, love
It's kind of crazy
Cause I've never met you
Now I'm losing sight of who I'm meant to be in this reality
Can it be I stayed away too long
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not like ?
This time let me tell you where I'm at
Don't you know there's something
Lately I've been hiding
Second guessing my love constantly
Don't you know there's one thing
You always protect me
Sick and tired of knowing you were never real
You were never real
Can it be I stayed away too long
(You were never real)
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
(You were never real)
Funny how together we're alone
Thought you were the one but I was wrong
tigerlilyy
I wanna be
I wanna be where u are
Ohh
Ohh
Can it be I stayed away too long
Or did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not like you're never getting back
This time let me tell you where I'm at
I wanna be where u are (ohh)
The only time i see you these days is in my projections
I need to feel your pulse baby
And I'm holding on to
This unclear connection
And i'm staring at you to see
But doesn't even
(shhhh)
Listen
Can it be I stayed away too long (too long)
Or did i leave your mind when I was gone? (When I was gone)
It's not like you're never getting back to me (back to me, me, me)
This time let me tell you what i need
The only time i see you these days is in my projections
I think i feel the love, love, love
It's kind of crazy
Cause I've never met you
Now I'm losing sight of who I'm meant to be in this reality
Can it be I stayed away too long
Or did i leave your mind when I was gone? (When I was gone)
It's not like you're trying to get back
(back to me, me, me)
This time let me tell you where I'm out
Don't you know there's something
Lately I've been hiding
Second guessing my love constantly
Don't you known there's one thing
You always protect me
Sick and tired of knowing you were never real
You were never real
Can it be I stayed away too long
(you were never real)
Or did i leave your mind when I was gone?
(you were never real)
Funny how together we're alone
(you were never real)
Thought you were the one but I was wrong.
Neoshenlong
Okay so I've listened to like 4 of her songs and they all sound so different from each other.
Soyborne. Born, made, and undone by the soy.
That's what you call a good artist.
Sabian the Omnivore
So crap can alter tunes.
Bernardo Patiño
that's range hunty 💋💋💋💋💋💋
Mind Riot
@latinbiostevo Her music is genrefluid.
Mind Riot
This is a great thing.
Nom De Plume
Rina says they made this video with £500 and a stolen camera and this made me love this music video even more 😂. We stan a resourceful queen 👑
tattoo6862
@tia oli Trust me, it isnt, most clips havee a lot more resources than this one. She shot only in a room with a crappy camera.
no twerking in this house
@Francisco Oliveira
I wish i could become a performer .
Francisco Oliveira
@Sister Freeja Pabblo Vittar - Open Bar music video, who have the same no money to invest vibes cost 300,00 Reais.