Rina Sawayama
For Rina, no genre is off-limits, from early 00s boyband-era pop bangers that peppered 2017's critically-acclaimed mini-album, RINA; the crystalline R&B of breakthrough single Cyber Stockholm Syndrome or 2018's soulful pansexual anthem, Cherry. It's this daring attitude that's seen her join the upper echelons of left-field pop's current premiere league, a move augmented via support slots with Years & Years and Charli XCX. 2020 is when Rina Sawayama goes fully interstellar, however.
Born in Japan but raised by her single mum in north London, she's always had to fight that little bit harder. And she recently signed with Dirty Hit, partially because of their track record around sustainability, with eco-friendly touring and merchandise top of their agenda.
Rina has been working on new music with her regular collaborator in London Clarence Clarity, and in LA with the likes of Bram Inscore (Troye Sivan), BloodPop (Lady Gaga), Nate Company (Carly Rae Jepsen) and Nicole Morier (Britney).