Tokyo alt-rock rising star Sarina has released her new single “If you need me to be the villain (then maybe I am).”
Hawaii-born Sarina is best known for her song “Sometimes I Wanna Cry :(,” having released her debut single “Identity” in 2022 through Sony RED.
A talented multi-instrumentalist, Sarina and her mother launched their label, SyrenSong, last year.
Produced by Kevin Thrasher (Blink-182, Avril Lavigne), the new single is Sarina’s answer to the stress many women face in relationships, striving to either be perfect or always be the side that takes the blame.
In her established alt-rock–meets–pop-punk style, Sarina makes her feelings extremely clear. The new single is, in many ways, a battle cry for both herself and all women who have felt unfairly maligned by their romantic partners.
Sarina has accepted the role of “the villain” as a way to empower herself—and she believes other women should, too.
Starting with gentle, melodic piano accompanied by Sarina’s bright vocals, “If you want me to be the villain (then maybe I am)” swiftly takes a turn into something harsher and more angry. The choruses are particularly heavy, with deep, reverberating guitars—the apex of Sarina’s rage at the situation she’s facing.
The lyrics reveal the conflict behind her anger, as Sarina sings, “I can smile / make it reach my eyes / don’t look too close / you’ll see through my lies.” It’s been a struggle to get to this point, but Sarina has decided to turn her pain and rage into something she can use to protect herself.
It’s something many people can relate to, and Sarina isn’t holding back—for herself or her listeners.
