"Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" is the lead single and eighth track from Rina Sawayama's debut extended play Rina (2017). Written by Rina along with Justin Tailor and its producer Clarence Clarity, the song was released on 22 March 2017.
Background[]
Sawayama wrote "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" back in 2015, and described it as "a prequel to Tunnel Vision".[1] She also said that the song was inspired by a conversation with Arvida Byström about "being confident online to deal with pain [in real life]".[2]
On 17 March 2017 she announced the song's released date for 22 March, with a series of videos on her social media.[3][4] Sawayama said about the song:
‘Cyber Stockholm Syndrome’ is happy and sad, honest and autobiographical, and I feel like I’ve truly written from the heart from the first time. It took two years of rewriting and revising as I wrestled with the beauty and anxiety of digital life. Before, I saw the internet as a captor of our time and free will. But now, I see embracing a positive relationship with our online selves as an act of self-preservation and defiance. In this age, the digital world can offer vital support networks, voices of solidarity, refuge, escape. Marginalized people, or socially anxious people like myself can, in fact, be freed. That’s what ‘Cyber Stockholm Syndrome’ is about: pessimism, optimism, anxiety, and freedom.
— Rina Sawayama, 'Rina Sawayama’s Glitchy R&B Captures The Realities Of Living & Loving Online', The Fader[5]
Remix[]
A "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" remix was announced on 17 May 2017 for a 12-inch vinyl,[6] produced by Nite Jewel.[7] It was officialy released on 16 June 2017.[8]
Music video[]
Background[]
The official music video for "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" was shot on 6 June 2017, with direction by Anoushka Seigler.
Premiered on 30 August 2017 on The Vinyl Factory's YouTube channel, Seigler said about the video, "We wanted to place the landscape of the video in an other-worldly past, present or future to play on the introvert and extrovert aspects of the character in the the track. Flirtatious yet shy, she is exploring her cyber fantasy and understanding ways of communicating how she feels."[9]
Synopsis[]
The dystopian music video, described as a "retro-futuristic homage to ’90s and ’00s music TV", takes tentative steps into a the intoxicating world of cyber sensuality through a high gloss sheen of vibrant hues and hazy focus.[9]
Behind the scenes[]
_001.jpg "2017-6-7 Rina Sawayama (Twitter) 001.jpg (42 KB)")
Track listing and formats[]
Digital releases[]
|
Label: House Of Us Format: Digital download, streaming Released: 22 March 2017 Catalog #: N/A Barcode: N/A Photography: Matilda Finn and John Yuyi Design: Matilda Finn, Rina Sawayama, John Yuyi |
|---|
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" | 3:42 |
- Nite Jewel Remix
|
Label: The Vinyl Factory Format: Digital download, streaming Released: 16 June 2017 Catalog #: N/A Barcode: N/A Photography: Megan K Eagles Design: N/A |
|---|
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" (Nite Jewel Remix) | 5:16 |
Physical release[]
- 12" vinyl[10]
|
Label: The Vinyl Factory Format: 12" vinyl Released: 16 June 2017 Catalog #: VF277 Barcode: 5060438880563 Photography: Megan Eagles (2017) Design: Bravo. Charlie. Mike. Hotel. (BCMH) |
|---|
| Side A | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Tunnel Vision" | 1:53 |
| Side B | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Alterlife" | 4:05 |
| 2. | "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" (Nite Jewel Remix) | 5:16 |
Lyrics[]
Girl in the corner
Stirring her soda
Biting the shit out of her straw
Ready to go out
Only her body tells her no
Pretty but sad inside
Isn't she beautiful?
Queen of the ball
Even when she's home alone
And she said
I'm not here for love tonight
The way you touch just don't feel right
Used to feelin' things so cold
Minimizin' windows
Pictures lit by electric lights
Fiction, fact, boundaries collide
Find me in my palm so bright
Cyber Stockholm Syndrome
Came here on my own
Party on my phone
Came here on my own
But I start to feel alone
Better late than never, so I'll be alright
Happiest whenever I'm with you online
Better together
Ever the overrated touch
I am connected
I am the girl you want to watch
Lips full of glitter glow
Spinnin' like mirror-balls
Phone in a strobe
Stuck in a crazy cyber-world
And she said
I'm not here for love tonight
The way you touch just don't feel right
Used to feelin' things so cold
Cyber Stockholm Syndrome
Came here on my own
Party on my phone
Came here on my own
But I start to feel alone
Better late than never, so I'll be alright
Happiest whenever I'm with you online
In my 4 by 3
They can't get to me
Free to roam all over my cyber fantasy
Better late than never but I am alright
Happiest whenever I'm with you online
Now you see her flying high speed
'Cross the distant galaxy
Candy cane your heart out
Burn bright, don't burn out
Came here on my own
Party on my phone
Came here on my own
But I start to feel alone
Better late than never, so I'll be alright
Happiest whenever I'm with you online
(Came here on my own)
Credits and personnel[]
| "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" music video credits | |
|---|---|
| Director | Anoushka Seigler |
| Director of Photography | Kamil Dymek |
| Camera Operator | Pawel Ptak |
| Production Assistant | Luis Muñoz |
| Stylist | Lauren Anne Groves |
| Hair | Jake Gallagher |
| Makeup | Kristina Ralph Andrews |
| Starring | Rina Sawayama, Louise, Ashley, Mel |
| Choreographer | Joelle D'Fontaine |
| Dance Co-ordinator | Windy Tsoi |
| © The Vinyl Factory 2017. All Rights Reserved. |
References[]
- ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "I have written a prequel to Tunnel Vision called Cyber Stockholm Syndrome - can u guess what it's about"
- ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "2 yrs ago I started writing this song inspired by a conversation w/ @arvidabystrom about being confident online to deal with pain irl"
- ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "22/03/17"
- ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "< CSS >"
- ↑ Rina Sawayama’s Glitchy R&B Captures The Realities Of Living & Loving Online
- ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "fuck u guys r gonna love this CSS remix thats coming out oh lordddd"
- ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "omg @NiteJewel"
- ↑ Nite Jewel remixes Rina Sawayama’s Cyber Stockholm Syndrome for belting new 12″
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Rina Sawayama unveils dystopian video for 'Cyber Stockholm Syndrome'
- ↑ The Vinyl Factory. Rina Sawayama - Cyber Stockholm Syndrome
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| Self-Released • 2017 |