Rina Sawayama is back with a brand new single, “Flicker”. It follows on from this year’s bi pop anthem “Cherry”, and was written by Sawayama and produced alongside longtime collaborator Clarence Clarity.

Rina debuted “Flicker” live at Heaven in London earlier this year, introducing the song with a story about feeling othered at school when a teacher mispronounced her surname. In a press release, the singer explains that “the first day of reception year at school my teacher totally butchered my surname while calling out the register. I remember crying so hard and that was the first time I realised that I was different to all the others in class.”

“When I was writing ‘Flicker’ I was thinking how our name shapes our experience in life and identities us in a deeper way than we realise,” she continues. “Whether it’s a name that no one can say, or the frustration of being misgendered, or quite simply being misunderstood for who you truly are – this is a song for you.”

In “Flicker”, Rina Sawayama sings: “When you're down, feeling low, just remember your name, they ain’t us, they ain’t us baby.”

The pop musician will join Years & Years at London’s O2 arena on December 5 as part of their “Rendezvous” showcase of emerging LGBTQ+ artists.

Listen to “Flicker” below.