Rina Sawayama has shared another track from her forthcoming debut album.
After offering up chords and lyrics early, and asking fans to submit their own takes, she’s now delivered the final, official take on ‘Chosen Family’.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Rina says: “‘Chosen Family’ is a very special song for me. The concept of a chosen family is, to me, a queer one – people are often kicked out of their homes or ostracized by their family, friends, and community after coming out. This can be an incredibly painful experience that can be remedied by finding a new ‘chosen’ family. The chorus lyrics ‘We don’t need to be related to relate, we don’t need to share genes or a surname’ is an invitation for anyone that feels that sense of otherness to find their chosen family, where they can truly be themselves and feel loved. I dedicate this song to my queer friends who I now consider family – it’s essentially a big thank you to them, as I love them so much and I genuinely don’t think I would be alive right now if it weren’t for them.”
She’ll be following the drop up with a video tomorrow, where she teaches fans how to play the song. Isn’t that lovely?
Debut album ‘SAWAYAMA’ is set for release on 17th April via Dirty Hit, and includes previously released singles “STFU!,” “Comme Des Garçons,” and “XS.”
“The album ultimately is about family and identity,” she explains. “It’s about understanding yourself in the context of two opposing cultures (for me British and Japanese), what ‘belonging’ means when home is an evolving concept, figuring out where you sit comfortably within and awkwardly outside of stereotypes, and ultimately trying to be ok with just being you, warts and all.”
