Singer Rina Sawayama has shared how much it means to be opening for Sir Elton John at British Summer Time Hyde Park, revealing how ‘chilled’ it is to go on holiday with the music legend.
Today, the Rocket Man hitmaker is kicking off the London-based festival as part of his highly-anticipated Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, joining big names including Adele and Nile Rodgers & CHIC as a headliner of the event.
The 75-year-old has several opening acts joining him for the performance, who were all hand-selected by him, including emerging star Rina – whose recent collaboration with Charli XCX, Beg For You, currently has over 45million streams on Spotify.
Speaking exclusively ahead of the BST Hyde Park festival, Rina described how ‘wonderful’ it was how ‘supportive’ Sir Elton had been of her first album, titled Sawayama, which was released to critical acclaim in 2020.
‘Ever since we met he has been genuinely supportive – not just outward facing at events like this where he has me as his support act, but in calling me to check if he can help me with anything,’ the 31-year-old explained.
‘We have even been on holiday together where I could get to know his kids, his team and hanging out with David [Furnish, Sir Elton’s husband] – it’s a very loving, warm, chosen family. Holidaying with Elton is really chilled. We went abroad last summer, and we did a lot of eating nice food, chatting and listening to music.’
When Rina received the call that Sir Elton wanted her to join him at BST Hyde Park, she didn’t hesitate before saying yes – before she’d even given him a chance to say what he was contacting her about.
‘Elton called me and was like, “Do you wanna…” and I was like, “Hell yeah!” Just these last two years, my head is constantly spinning – I just can’t believe some of the things I’ve been so lucky to do,’ she recalled.
‘I’m actually wearing this [outfit] from his collection that he did with Gucci in 2018 [to celebrate]. I’m wearing the Elton John Gucci Club – look, it says EJ on the zips and I’m just obsessed. The man knows how to combine fashion with music.’
At present, Rina – who was born in Japan and raised in London – is heavily focused on working on her next album, so when asked about any future collaborations that she has in the pipeline, she revealed that she doesn’t have more information to give… for now.
‘For me it’s all about the song, so if it’s good… I’d love to work with Britney – she would be amazing,’ the singer said, when listing off her dream collabs.
‘Kacey Musgraves – I just love the way she sounds. Dolly Parton would be just iconic! My album is inspired by country music, and I admire the song-writing and storytelling in country pop – so I would love to work with some country pop legends.’
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