Rina Sawayama is two weeks away from the release of her new album SAWAYAMA, and to help ease the wait she has shared a new track called “Chosen Family”.
Whereas previous singles have been bold and in-your-face, “Chosen Family” finds Sawayama getting honest and reflective, being thankful for the friends and loved ones in her life that have become her family. It’s a song of comfort and salvation, and has no trouble lifting the spirits with its congregation of voices and lilting melody. In Sawayama’s own words:
“‘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.”
Look out for SAWAYAMA on April 17 via Dirty Hit.
