The rising singer-songwriter offered something unheard of in Malaysia’s music scene: original music fusing Malay with the energy of anime.
“I started out by writing Japanese lyrics to Japanese melodies because that’s what I grew up loving,” she told FMT Lifestyle.
“But over time, I thought, what if I wrote in Malay, but kept the Japanese sound? Not many Malaysians understand Japanese, so I wanted to create something they could relate to while still enjoying that essence.”
That blend has since become her signature sound.
Raised on anime and deeply influenced by its high-energy opening songs, Rina-Hime eventually transitioned from casual cover gigs to writing original material, employing lyrics that channel classic Malay vocabulary like mentari (sun), bayu (breeze), and senja (dusk).
“It’s not exactly pantun, but I like using poetic Malay words you don’t hear often in modern pop,” she explained. “It gives the music depth and identity.”
The gamble paid off, as fans from both Malaysia and Indonesia have embraced her cross-cultural style. “A lot of people tell me, ‘This sounds like an anime song… but I understand it!’” she laughed.
With over 14,000 followers on Instagram and performances at events like Comic Fiesta and Animenia under her belt, Rina-Hime’s journey has grown far beyond busking and open mics.
She also played at the Sime Darby Arts Festival in 2023, with Japan Expo Malaysia 2025 marking a milestone, not only for her performance, but also as the recipient of the event’s solo entertainment award.
While many Malaysian artists today dabble in Japanese covers, Rina-Hime is committed to building something original.
“Back when I started, not many people were into this kind of fusion. But now, with platforms like YouTube, it’s taken off. That said, I focus on creating my own material.”
Her writing process is as layered as her music: melodies arrive in Japanese, lyrics begin in English for emotional clarity, and are then adapted into Malay. “The structure and meaning change a little, but the heart of the song stays the same,” she said.
Her songs are often personal, which are reflections of her own experiences or stories from others.
“I want my music to feel like a story that people live through,” she said. “And I hope it reminds them to hold on to love, for yourself, for others, and for what you do.”
At an expo that drew more than 70,000 visitors and celebrated cultural bridges between Japan and Malaysia, Rina-Hime’s performance stood out as a testament to how music can be both local and global, traditional and modern.
“I didn’t expect this kind of music to find an audience,” she admitted. “But the response has been incredible.”
She reminds her audiences to “always follow what they love, and if they have a dream, go for it.”
“You never know where it might take you,” she said.