At last, Rina Sawayama has released “Bad Friend,”(or more to the point the video for “Bad Friend,”) it’s a track from her iconic debut album “SAWAYAMA,” and I have been desperate to write something about it. If you’re not familiar with this artist. Japanese-British singer-songwriter Rina is a talent who doesn’t put her eggs in just the one basket. She dips in and dabbles (smashes!) with as many music genres as she possibly can. The album without reservations packs a punch. It is truly a visionary one that I’d jokingly hazard a guess ‘explorer’ is perchance Rina’s middle name. One minute, she’s the queen of rock, the next she’s showing off her skills in R’n’B or pop balladry. There is no label more applicable to put on her than being a pop chameleon in all senses of the word.
On “Bad Friend” Rina’s vocals are beautifully sublime, she sings like an absolute angel. Funnily enough, the track is unlike anything else on the album. It’s a delightful, melodic track which adds a lovely dose of mellow vibes to the surrounding, patchwork of musical splendour and colour.
“The song is about the heartbreak of losing a friendship and, realising that you were the cause of the breakdown. When you hear the song, this is not the video you imagine, but that’s exactly what we wanted. The music video is a reimagining of the themes in “Bad Friend“; of longing, loss, self hate and ultimately self-love.” Says Rina
I thought the track was amazing. Yet now the video is out, I think I have to resort to capitalising how even more AMAZING “Bad Friend” has become. Rina is almost unrecognisable in the film noir clip. She’s been decked out in prosthetic make-up and is characterised as a businessman who seeks solace in his internal personal battles by downing several glasses too many of liquor. Normally, she’s as colourful as a peacock. In this grey footage, she’s seen dealing with, painful emotions. It is a music video which is gripping and poignant to the very last. Is it too early to begin touting Rina Sawayama as the newest pop music sensation? On the strength of the “Bad Friend” music video, I’d say she’s every inch worthy of this status.
Connect with Rina Sawayama
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rinasawayama
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rinasawayama
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rinasonline/
Now that’s what I call electronic pop!
Only the best new pop, electronic and indie music makes it onto our This Beat Is Poptronik Spotify playlists.
Curated by Mandy Rogers and Raj Rudolph from EQ Music – This Beat Is Poptronik is your must-listen-to playlist to download on-the-go.
Turn it up and tune everything else out.
Follow us on Spotify!