Basking in the Ultraviolet Light with RINI’s Newest Single “Selfish”
Photo by Yudo Kurita
[UNPUBLISHED:] “Selfish” is really sultry and alluring as you find yourself in what seems to me to be a war of wills with a lover. What inspired this song for you?
[RINI:] For the past couple of years I've been going through a lot of self realization and just growing. I've been experiencing a lot of things with friends and my past relationship. I've felt like there've been situations where I've been taken advantage of. People can be selfish at times, and it's okay. It’s one of those things that you learn from and that's where “Selfish” comes from. It’s me saying enough is enough, learning that I need to stand my ground and not let these people take my kindness for weakness. You’ve gotta learn how to stand your ground and get rid of that energy.
[UNPUBLISHED:] “Selfish” also features BEAM, who is hot off the heels of a major feature with Beyonce. How did this collaboration come about and do you have any fun stories to share from the creation between the two of you?
[RINI:] I've known about BEAM for a while through his collaborations, but I never really thought I'd get the opportunity to work with him. Probably like a year and a half ago, when I was in Miami in a studio with Cool and Dre, and they were the ones that brought BEAM into the session. We were just listening to different records for inspiration and then all of a sudden BEAM was called in the next day. He’s super down to Earth and also just very, very talented. Writing “Selfish,” we literally had an hour-long conversation about our relationships and things, and then he went into the booth with the beat. It took him like an hour to put it all together, and it’s different for me sonically, but we had so much fun messing around and trying new vibes.
[UNPUBLISHED:] The music video seems to follow you through a variety of different places and scenes as you're dealing with the hard nature of your lyricism. What was the thought process or driving force behind that video?
[RINI:] I worked with my friend Maureen who basically directed the video. “Selfish” is kind of self explanatory, but we wanted to make the video a little bit more interesting. We came up with this concept of somebody having control over you like a puppet. In the video it is kind of like a different world - I’m in her world that she controls, and every time something happens and I try to wake up to reality, she calls my name and pulls me back in. That’s what happens in reality too you're in a toxic relationship, when you’re blinded by your love for somebody and you can't tell that you're drowning.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Wow, that blurring of vision is such a real experience for so many people, and it is so powerful in the video. In a different vibe, last year found you exploring the aspects of love throughout your debut album Constellations. With “Selfish,” do you think that your upcoming EP Ultraviolet is creating a new musical era for you?
[RINI:] For me, Ultraviolet is more of a tester kind of project. I haven't put out music for a whole year. The whole time I’ve been working and getting into the studio with different producers, and I just wanted to put out something that people could vibe out to. The name Ultraviolet means something as well in terms of me coming out of my comfort zone and trying something new. It is going to be completely different to Constellations, and it's not going to have the same sonics or the same attitude towards things. It’s like a completely different persona, and I really wanted to showcase that side of me. I’m just having fun with it.
[UNPUBLISHED:] With so much experimentation, what would you say your biggest challenge was in creating Ultraviolet?
[RINI:] I think it's just like learning to love this new way of making music for me. I started making music in my bedroom back in Australia by myself. Being in LA and Atlanta, I've been exposed to more writers and producers and I've been collaborating more. Being okay with letting other people in was definitely the hardest thing for me. I’ve learned that I can only do so much with my own stuff, and collaboration is very important in music to grow, but it’s hard to accept not having control over some things. It’s like you have a child and it’s your first time letting someone else babysit. It’s scary! I’m pretty much over that now, and I’m so happy with how the EP sounds and how much growth it was for me. I love it.
[UNPUBLISHED:] With the EP being a sonic shift, were there any specific inspirations that you pulled from in making Ultraviolet?
[RINI:] I’m on a journey of a lot of inspiration from rock and hip hop. I like the new stuff that we're hearing today in popular music. Constellations is more of an old school neo-soul vibe that I love but I already know how to do, so I’m pulling a lot from what people around me are making now.
[UNPUBLISHED:] So I know you currently live in LA, but you were born in the Philippines and grew up in Australia. Do you think the places that you’ve lived in have impacted your music?
[RINI:] They have absolutely impacted how I make music. If I was still living in the Philippines, I wouldn't be making the music that I'm making right now. Being in a different place and being exposed to a different culture changes what you’re into. Before I went to Australia, I used to listen to classical music and rock music only. When I moved to Australia, I met people who were listening to hip hop and R&B and that's kind of like where it all started for me. Now being in America, it's like a completely different thing again because the people here listen to a lot of different music. I definitely get a lot of influence from the places that I've visited too. I was in London last year and they were playing a lot of Afrobeat that inspired the vibe of “Need It” last year.
[UNPUBLISHED:] As you are beginning the process of ushering in a new EP, can you hint at all on if you have any plans for fans to catch you on tour?
[RINI:] Oh, hell yeah. We’re looking at dates and locations all around the world, and shout out to my wonderful team that’s been helping me with that. I can’t ait to get out of my house, play live, and see the fans. I’ve got a lot planned.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What’s your favorite part of performing live?
[RINI:] There's a bunch of parts that I really love. I love getting to the place I’m performing at and imagining what the show will be like. It always kind of blows my mind, especially because I’ve come from another country and yet here I am. It’s mind boggling for me. Another thing I love is just being on stage and getting to interact with the fans, especially when they’re singing my songs back at me. That feels like I’m on top of the world, having people connect and relate to my music like that.
[UNPUBLISHED:] As you've grown and changed throughout your music career so far, is there any advice that you wish that you had been given when you were first starting out?
[RINI:] Damn, yeah. I was given the advice to speak out for myself but I wish I had taken it. Being in the industry, it's like a whole different game. There's a lot of people that are gonna be in your ear and you can really get lost quickly. I'm not saying that I did that, but there's been times where I get annoyed and I regret the way I have handled things. I've learned that I need to realize that I’m here for me. I’m the one that’s been on my music since day one, on my career since the beginning. It’s also important to have people around you that you trust to help you. Those people keep you on track, keep you from losing yourself. That is the most important thing to me. It’s the only way your artistry will keep coming out.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Is there anything else you want the readers to know?
[RINI:] I’m already excited for the music I’m making next. I keep growing, and my music keeps changing, so it’s going to be different from everything else I’ve put out. It’s sounding pretty crazy and I’m really exploring all the music I want to be making.
