Japanese-British singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama is officially returning to Dublin this year as part of her Hold The Girl tour on Saturday, October 15th.

The 3Olympia Theatre announcement comes as she gears up for the release of her brand new album Hold The Girl, which is due on September via Dirty Hit and off the back of the launch of the album’s first single ‘This Hell’.

'This Hell' kicks off with an ode to Shania Twain as Rina whispers “Let’s go, girls” before the first verse explodes into the fray. Between glam-rock riffs, Rina sings whimsical references to gay pop icons with lines like: “Fuck what they did to Britney, to Lady Di and Whitney.”

The track was co-produced by Paul Epworth (Adele, Rihanna) and SAWAYAMA producer Clarence Clarity, and was written by Rina alongside Vixen, Epworth and Lauren Aquilina (Demi Lovato, Little Mix).

Speaking about the new single, Rina explains “I had so much fun writing 'This Hell.' The past couple of years I've been listening to lots of female country singers and wanted to write a euphoric and tongue-in-cheek country-pop song. Country music at its core to me represents comfort, brilliant storytelling and authentic expression of the writer's reality. I’ve been dreaming of working with Paul Epworth my entire career so I knew it was meant to be when we finished this song in a day. I put in as many iconic pop culture moments as I can, but the song is more than that.”

She continues, “It’s an important song for me given the human rights that are being taken away from minorities at a rapid rate in the name of traditional religious beliefs, more specifically I was thinking about the rights being taken away from the LGBTQ community when I wrote this song.”

Fresh off a sold-out UK and US tour, plus two sets at Coachella, Rina also announced her forthcoming UK and Ireland tour. This October, the tour kicks off in Newcastle at the O2 City Hall before making its way to end in London with a show at the Brixton Academy.

Rina is also set to perform 'This Hell' for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight, May 19.

In 2020, Rina’s debut album SAWAYAMA became one of the most critically acclaimed albums that year landing on over 50 album of the year lists from the world's biggest tastemakers.

The last 18 months have seen Rina Sawayama achieve a magnitude of milestones including changing the Mercury Prize and BRITs eligibility rules which meant non-British artists could apply if they have been a permanent resident in the UK for more than 5 years.

In 2021, Elton John joined forces with the pop star to release a special rendition of her track 'Chosen Family', a powerful and emotional ode to her LGBTQ+ family. Elsewhere Rina injected new life into Lady Gaga’s instant club classic 'Free Woman'.

2023 will see Rina in her film acting debut as she stars in John Wick 4 alongside Keanu Reeves.

Presale for the show begins Wednesday, 25th May at 10:00am local, with the general release on Friday, 27th May at 10am local.

Revisit Rina Sawayama's Academy Dublin show and her latest interview with Hot Press.

Listen to 'This Hell' below.

TOUR AND FESTIVAL DATES:

6/1 – Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Festival
6/2 – Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Festival
6/10 – Porto, Portugal @ Primavera Festival
6/26 – Dublin, Ireland @ Mother Pride Block Party
7/22 – Southwold, England @ Latitude Festival
8/5 – Katowice, Poland @ OFF Festival
8/20 – Osaka, Japan @ Summer Sonic Osaka
8/21 – Tokyo, Japan @ Summersonic Festival
9/3 – Stradbally, Republic of Ireland @ Electric Picnic
10/12 – Glasgow, Scotland @ SWG3
10/13 – Glasgow, Scotland @ SWG3
10/15 – Dublin, Republic of Ireland @ Olympia Theatre
10/18 – Nottingham, England @ Rock City
10/20- Manchester, England @ Manchester Academy
10/21 – Birmingham, England @ O2 Academy Birmingham
10/23 – Brighton, East Sussex, England @ Brighton Dome
10/26 – London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton