“The Fool is a set of my strongest work to date,” explains Tokyo alt-pop artist Sarina. Inspired by a myriad of feelings and retrospective moments, her latest EP is themed around identity and the many facets of what that means. From what it is to be the “villain” to the intense gothic glimpse beneath the glamorous facade of “the fool,” the EP unpacks these archetypes and gives fans a glance into Sarina’s inner voice. From rebellious energy to hopeful anthems and unapologetic vitriol, The Fool is here for anyone who has ever felt out of place, victimized or angered by the titles put upon them. Turn this EP up because you’ll be singing along until your throat is raw. Below Sarina takes us through each song and tells us the story behind them.
Toast to the Broken:
“Toast to the Broken” is an anthem song for all the lost spirits, particularly among my generation. All of us twenty-somethings are trying to figure out how to deal with everything all the time. Sometimes, we don’t cope in the healthiest ways, but the fact is, we’re young, and we haven’t developed our prefrontal cortex yet. We need to make these mistakes to learn. I am so proud of the final result, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it. (And also to develop my prefrontal cortex.)
Siren or the Sailor:
“Siren or the Sailor” is a song about what it means to be a victim. What it means to be the one to blame. Especially as a woman, I often think about victimhood. Am I the one at fault for luring the sailor off of shore or am I the sailor unaware of my imminent death?
Race with no end:
“Race with no end” is about choosing to continue fighting even when it feels pointless. In a world where we are constantly being faced with comparisons and reasons why we aren’t good enough, I wrote “Race with no end” as a hopeful reminder to persevere even in the face of darkness. I hope it will help and inspire people to keep going the way it has me.
If you need me to be the villain (Then maybe I am):
“If you need me to be the villain (Then maybe I am)” is about an experience so many women have, especially in relationships, where we are made to feel like everything is ours to take responsibility for. No matter the issue, we feel like we have to apologize regardless of who was in the wrong. We reassure and apologise despite being the ones hurt.
This song is a surrender just as much as it is a battle cry. In the same breath, I embrace my role as the villain in your story, I question whether or not I’m the villain in my own story.
It is a powerful song about what it means to be the antagonist, so I knew the music video had to exude a complex mixture of cool power and intense emotional vulnerability. I’m so proud of how the team and I came together to capture that! With strong performances and captivating visuals, the video set forth to show a new level up to my music and I think we did just that.
The end can start with you.:
“The end can start with you” is a song I wrote essentially to throw down a gauntlet. I realised at some point in the last year that I had somehow managed to make myself a foot soldier. And by that I mean I gave someone else my crown and normalized the idea of being nothing but. In writing this song, I reclaimed the power I had given away. Very clearly I stated; the end of that can start with you. I reclaim my crown.
Fools Gold:
“Fools Gold” is my most powerful song to date. Drenched in gothic theatricality with a symphonic rock twist, it is about the smoke and mirrors of glamour and the rot the hides beneath. It’s easy to paint pretty colours on top of festering wounds, to cover and hide and boast when deep down we feel the sickness, the decay, and the lie of it all. That’s why the song is called “fools” gold. It’s not real, the shine, the value, none of it is real. It’s just a facade.
With the release of The Fool, Sarina has proved her dominance and taken control of the narrative, cementing herself as an Artist to Watch in the alt scene, and she shows no signs of stopping. Follow Sarina on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok @SarinasMusic to stay updated on future releases.
