Rina Sawayama's Debut Mini-Album is Equally Nostalgic and Refreshing

The world was introduced to Japanese-born, London-based pop singer Rina Sawayama in March with her single Cyber Stockholm Syndrome. It wasn't her first single, nor did it make huge waves, but it seemed to draw just enough attention to the singer to start sowing the seeds of a major breakout. With a nostalgic sound reminiscent of Britney Spears, Destiny's Child, and early Namie Amuro, Sawayama is a breath of fresh air for many who grew up in the 90s. Her debut mini-album, RINA, may just serve to solidify her place in modern pop's canon.

RINA is billed as a mini-album; at 8 tracks I'd be inclined to disagree if it didn't clock in at just under 30 minutes (with two interludes, no less). It's a compact sequence of absolute pop bangers, bop after bop and incapable of ever getting old. Singles like Alterlife,  Tunnel Vision, or the aforementioned Cyber Stockholm Syndrome fit right in with the "filler" tracks, of which there are none. In recent years the pop industry has been putting out more albums which are good front-to-back without feeling the need to pad out the space with fillers, and RINA is one of those albums. Every track on here has major mainstream appeal.

Album opener Ordinary Superstar is like a Christina Aguilera track backed up by Weezer, and it only gets better from there. Take Me as I Am has such major single potential that I'm surprised I haven't heard it bursting out of speakers everywhere I go. It just screams Christina Milian in the best possible way. Even the interludes are good here. Through the Wire is beautiful and leads perfectly into Cyber Stockholm Syndrome (which serves as the album's closer). Not only is the album full of shameless and unironic Disney Pop revival, but there's a dreamy sheen over the production and some glitchy beats and synth lines that serve to add just a little extra bite. 

RINA is an absolute gem. This mini-album holds some of the best pop music I've heard all year, hands-down. I can't recommend it enough!

-Justin

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