Influenced by R&B veterans Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, singer-songwriter RIRI is among the new generation of Japanese artists breaking into the genre. • Though she began singing at four years old, RIRI officially started her music journey at 11, when she was selected as a finalist on the Japanese singing competition show Next Generation Star. • RIRI issued her 2016 debut EP, I love to sing, at 16. • In 2017, she made history as the youngest Japanese artist to perform at SXSW. That same year, she delivered the RUSH EP, her first to hit Billboard’s Japan Hot 100. • While still in high school, RIRI issued her 2018 eponymous debut album through Sony Music Japan. • A month later, she was tapped by German producer Zedd to offer a cover of “Stay”, his multi-platinum hit with Canadian singer Alessia Cara. • RIRI’s 2018 album NEO boasts features from the likes of Japanese singer Shota Shimizu and American rapper Saweetie.