“ENTER SANDMAN ABSOLUTELY SLAPS!”
Metal-loving pop chameleon Rina Sawayama on unleashing her inner Hetfield
How did you get into Metallica?
Rina Sawayama: “I first started listening to Metallica when I was around 13 years old, after being introduced to them by a friend who was really into metal. The first Metallica song I ever heard, I think, was Enter Sandman, and it absolutely slapped. I rediscovered them when I was listening through inspiration for [Rina’s 2020 debut album] SAWAYAMA and [co-producer] Clarence Clarity added songs to our shared playlist we work from.”
What impact have they had on your music?
“My music blends a lot of different genres, but I always find myself taking inspiration from metal. Songs like STFU! and XS obviously have metal/ nu metal influences, but even my earlier songs like [2017’s] Alterlife do as well. I love matching pop production with crunchy guitar riffs and an epic guitar solo – both of which Metallica are the absolute kings of.”
So how did you channel your inner Hetfield?
“Ha ha! I definitely attempted to channel Hetfield! I hope he’ll be able to tell. And we’ve snuck in some of his vocals, like, right at the beginning that then blends into a firework and a flamethrower! Ha ha! I recorded two days before an acoustic set I did for NPR’S Tiny Desk [live concert series] and ended up losing my voice in between
– I wanted to make it perfect, but it felt like my vocal cords were bleeding by the end of the session.”
What did it mean to you to be asked to contribute to The Metallica Blacklist? “It was an absolute honour, I’m in such great company. It was especially great knowing that all proceeds from my cover of Enter Sandman will go to Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and my charity of choice, Positive East. They’re a charity that I have worked with for many years and do incredible grassroots work in supporting those with HIV/AIDS, as well as educating on the topic.”