Rachel Chinouriri was raised simultaneously in two worlds – a traditional Zimbabwean upbringing at home and a contemporary British life outside. These two halves of her culture introduced her to a wide span of artists – Daughter, Lily Allen, Oasis, and the Sugababes – ultimately leading her to create the lovely melodies she currently produces.
Chinouriri first began producing music at 17, using a £20 microphone and uploading them onto SoundCloud using her mother’s laptop. In 2018, her single “So My Darling” went viral on TikTok, and was picked as a “special play” on BBC Radio 1. Soon after, she released her EP Mama’s Boy in 2019 followed by her mini album Four° in Winter in 2021. She has also released the album What A Devastating Turn of Events in 2024 and her upcoming EP Little House is set to release today.
Besides creating music, she has also opened for some pretty big names in the music industry such as Louis Capaldi and Sabrina Carpenter. Her songs take the influences of the music she grew up on – Britpop, traditional African music, indie pop, and alternative rock – and create a whole new sound entirely her own. Chinouriri’s work is known for her poetic and emotionally honest lyrics, allowing listeners to find not just a catchy beat but understanding and connection as well.
Songs on her latest album vary from indie rock (“The Hills” and “Cold Call”) to softer ballad-type songs (“Robbed”, “Pocket”, and “My Blood”) – allowing most types of genre-lovers to find a little something. Chinouriri’s instrumentation varies across songs, which allows her to show off her range of vocal skills and how she can blend her voice into all types of melodies. She connects with the listener on a personal level, discussing difficult issues such as heartbreak, suicide, eating disorders, and betrayal. Her music reminds people that struggling is ok, and others are going through similar things.
My Top Ten:
- “The Hills” (What A Devastating Turn of Events)
- “Robbed” (What A Devastating Turn of Events)
- “Garden of Eden” (What A Devastating Turn of Events)
- “Can we talk about Isaac?” (Little House)
- “So My Darling”
- “Follow Excitement!” (feat. Rizzle Kicks)
- “All I Ever Asked” (What A Devastating Turn of Events)
- “It Is What It Is” (What A Devastating Turn of Events)
- “Give Me a Reason” (Four° In Winter)
- “Beautiful Disaster” (feat. Sam Dotia)
For fans of Olivia Dean, Sombr, and Vance Joy.
