Through Rina Sawayama's alternative take on East Asian beauty standards and philosophical, "glittery cute" R&B sound, the Niigata-born, London-bred musician and model has carved a path of her own with few precedents to look up to. Celebrating her unique take on Eastern-meets-Western culture, in this latest instalment of i-D Meets we put Rina's childhood gaming skills to the test through a round of Final Fantasy and Dance Dance Revolution – and talk about her experiences as an East Asian woman in the entertainment industry and her admirable ambitions for the future.


Director Kate Villevoye
Producer Tom Ivin
Global Executive Producer Eloise King

Director of Photography Tayo Yusuff
Editor Isolde Penwarden
Sound Mix Matt Cheney
Colourist George Dutton

Runner Donal Talbot

Production Manager Lauran Clark
Production Coordinator Rosa Harris Edmonds

Post Production Manager Tom Lynch
Post Production Coordinator Regina Lemaire-Costa

Director of Licensing Cristina Lombardo
Senior Music Supervisor, EMEA Alex Benge
Music Supervisor Bonnie Reilly

Senior Designer Rebecca Boyd-Wallis
Designer Kristina Britton

Production Accountant David Gray

Equipment Manager Richard Smith
Equipment Assistant Henry Cotsford

Post Tech Supervisor Dominic Brouard

Commercial Creative Director Bunny Kinney

Senior VP Production, UK Bree Horn
Production Executive Shelley Hurley

Head of Post Production Daniel Elias

Channel Manager, UK Jordan Joseph

Styling Lauren Anne Groves
Styling Assistant Rochelle Loren

Look 1
Rina wears top and shorts Kenzo. Choker Versus Versace. Trainers Nike.
Earrings and rings Jiwinaia. Headband Joomi Lim.

Look 2
Rina wears jacket, trousers and shoes Acne Studios. Top Fiorucci.
Earrings Gillian Horsup. Rings Jiwinaia.

Look 3
Rina wears skirt and hoodie Ashley Williams. Shoes Kenzo.
Rings Jiwinaia and Gillian Horsup. Earrings Jiwinaia.

Look 4
Rina wears top and trousers Mother of Pearl. Shoes Acne Studios.
Rings Gillian Horsup and Jiwinaia. Earrings Jiwinaia.

Look 5
Rina wears jacket and trousers Natasha Zinko. Trainers Nike.
Earrings Jiwinaia. Rings Gillians Horsup and Jiwinaia.

Make up Artist Kristina Ralph Andrews
Hair Stylist Takuya Morimoto using L'Oréal Professional

Music

"Alterlife"
Written by Rina Sawayama, Ash Carvell, Justin Tailor, Adam Crisp
Performed by Rina Sawayama

"Tunnel Vision"
Written by Rina Sawayama and Justin Tailor
Performed by Rina Sawayama

"Cyber Stockholm Syndrome"
Written by Rina Sawayama, Justin Tailor, Adam Crisp, Hatty Carman
Performed by Rina Sawayama

Jingle Punks

Photos Courtesy of Rina Sawayama, The Avenue, Ava Powchik

Archival Video Courtesy of Square Enix Co. Ltd, Ali Kurr

Final Fantasy IX © Square Enix Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Special Thanks
Haider Masroor, Toby Na Nakhorn at Las Vegas Arcade



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