Filipino-born and Australia-based solo artist RinRin has crafted an infectious brand of pop-punk meets metal that she describes as “fast, loud and unhinged.”
RinRin is a fictional character from a world created by Perth-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Qarin Hipe. It started out as a solo gig, bringing in friends as members to help with tours and gigs, before going back to being a solo artist to focus on the RinRin brand and image and “make songs that are less instrument-focused.”
And since going solo again, RinRin, who’s recently become the first international artist to sign with UK label Year Of The Rat Records, has crafted a sound that she describes as “if Babymetal and Bring Me The Horizon had a baby.”
Our latest taste of this is RinRin’s new single CORNDOG!, which very much leans into the pop-punk side of her sound and was inspired by her cravings for corndogs during a trip to Melbourne. It opens up with light stabs of keyboard under light, engaging vocals “Super yummy, it’s a special flavour, That I will always savour, C-O-R-N-D-O-G, baby, You make me feel right inside and out, I will always choose you over anything.”
The pace picks up with effects-ridden vocals and driving guitar chords before dropping into light vocals that feeds into a big singalong chorus that extends with the lines “Corndog, always treat me right, Corndog will never make me cry, Like all the other guys, So why can’t people see that, Corndog is the only thing that I really need.” Funky electronic noises bridge into a section of cool rapped vocals, before building into another catchy chorus to bring the track to a close.
On the track, RinRin told us: “It’s been good. People weren’t expecting me to write a song about food but here we are. If anyone hasn’t listened to it, it’s basically a song about choosing food over feelings.” Check it out here:
That follows on from RinRin’s second EP Angels, released in January. The EP includes ChainsawGirl, which sees the heavier edge to her music shine through in a big breakdown, the really catchy FCKNRUN, the lighter Recession Pop, and a personal favourite in the intense final track PRN.
On the record, RinRin told us: “The EP was first written during the time I was hospitalised. It was when I realised I wanted to express myself more openly as my previous songs, before the EP weren’t as intense. I finally got to sing about things I thought I’d never let slip from my mouth, and I feel great about it.”
RinRin’s sound has been inspired by listening to Avril Lavigne and Paramore since she was little. “I wished one day I was brave enough to write and perform music someday,” she explained. “They were my main influences. As for topics, I tend to write about things that happened in my life, like disputes, traumas and weird experiences, as a way for me to process the events. It’s like my therapy.” More recently, her music has been shaped by listening to artists like Ashnikko, Poppy and Royal & The Serpent, who she admires for their boldness and intensity.
There’s plenty more to come from RinRin, who’s working on a debut album that should feature 11 songs. Her focus is fully on honing her songwriting skills and online presence, which has led to a break from performing live gigs this year.
And RinRin added: “I would like to give a shout out to Chris Lalic of Windwaker, who worked with me on my EP and is working with me on my debut album as my producer. He has taught me many things, and I feel like I wouldn’t have gotten my current sound without his guidance and immaculate talent.”
You can follow RinRin on Facebook and Instagram, and check out her music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
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