Hawaii-born Japanese artist Sarina sparks interest with her captivating new single titled “If You Need Me To Be The Villain (Then Maybe I Am),” which came out on August 8th.
The alt-rock sensation from Tokyo, Japan, started her rise to fame from the young age of two, with lessons in classical piano, guitar and the ukulele. Drawing inspiration from musicians like Paramore, Olivia Rodrigo, and Avril Lavigne, Sarina artistically explores themes of mental health and personal life struggles in this single, produced by Kevin Thrasher (blink-182, Avril Lavigne, Panic! At The Disco.)
Sharing more about the inspiration from the song, Sarina says:
“‘If You Need Me To Be The Villain (Then Maybe I Am)’ is about an experience so many women have, especially in relationships, where we are made to feel like everything is ours to take responsibility for… no matter the issue, we feel like we have to apologize regardless of who was in the wrong. We reassure and apologize regardless of who was in the wrong. We reassure and apologize despite being the ones hurt.”
With the fiery, ravenous call to justice, this song pulls listeners into a deep sense of connection and emotion flourished with alt-rock ambience. It allows one to present oneself as the “villain” as a form of empowerment, answering the war-cry no matter the cost, no matter who’s right or wrong.
Released under the Sony RED Label, Sarina’s debut single “Identity” (2022) showcased her multifaceted instrumental talents and bilingual talent as she began releasing songs in both Japanese and English. Other releases include the first EP Foreword (2023) and her first album Break Out!! (2024). She then co-founded and launched the SyrenSong label in May of 2024.
Keep up with Sarina: Instagram // X // TikTok // Youtube // Spotify
