date: july 2023 - current
location: global
position: tour manager
Rina Sawayama is a Japanese and British singer, actress and model. Born in Niigata, Japan, she immigrated to London with her parents at the age of five. Known for her musical versatility, Sawayama has also modelled for fashion campaigns, and made her film acting debut in the action film John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). In 2018, Sawayama came out as pansexual, and has been an outspoken advocate for queer, LGBTQ+ rights around the world.
After signing to Dirty Hit in 2020, she released her debut studio album, Sawayama, to critical acclaim. Sawayama released the singles "STFU!", a nu-metal, heavy metal, pop and avant-pop song, and "Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)", a "homage to early 2000s dance tracks", both from her then-upcoming debut album.
In 2022, Sawayama released her second studio album, Hold The Girl, which received critical acclaim upon its release and charted at number three on the UK Albums Chart; the highest-charting album by a Japanese-born solo artist in the history of the chart. It also became Sawayama's first charting album on the US Billboard 200 and highest-charting album in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Scotland and Spain.
Sawayama is known for her high-energy live performances, with dancers, props, choreography and imagery, similar to that of a theater performance. She was recently nominated for the Live Act Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards 2023. Sawayama has collaborated with icons such as Sir Elton John, and Charli XCX. In 2021, she was included on Newsweek Japan "100 Japanese people respected by the world" list.
tour credits
tour direction: Lobby Call, Dan McKay & OnlyHelix
production management: Steve Mclean & OnlyHelix
creative direction: Ace Bowerman
lighting director: Chris Yeomans
mons: Barney Cushman
foh: Anna Dahlin