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Rachel Chinouriri
Rachel Chinouriri
Rachel Chinouriri
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Key Information

Rachel Chinouriri (born 1 November 1998; pronounced /ˌtʃɪnəˈriːri/, CHIN-ə-REE-ree)[5] is an English singer-songwriter. After posting numerous songs on SoundCloud, she began releasing music on major streaming platforms in 2018. She released her debut extended play (EP), Mama's Boy, in 2019 to critical acclaim. One of the songs from the EP, "So My Darling", received attention on TikTok when it became a popular audio to use.

Chinouriri was signed to Parlophone, with whom she released her debut mini-album, Four° In Winter, in 2021. Its single "Give Me A Reason" was nominated for a Ivor Novello Award in the category "Best Contemporary Song".[6] She then released her second EP, Better Off Without, in 2022. Chinouriri released her debut studio album, What a Devastating Turn of Events, in May 2024,[7] followed by the EP Little House in April 2025.

Early life and education

[edit]

Chinouriri was born in Kingston Hospital on 1 November 1998. Her family later moved to the Forestdale area of Croydon,[7] where she was raised from the age of three.[8] Her family had moved to UK from Zimbabwe shortly prior to her birth, and she experienced a "traditional African upbringing".[9] Her upbringing led her to be curious about British culture, specifically its music, and as a teenager, she became influenced by the discographies of Daughter and Lily Allen.[9] At the age of 17, Chinouriri began writing songs and recorded them on a £20 microphone, uploading them to the music-sharing website SoundCloud via her mother's laptop.[9]

Career

[edit]

Chinouriri began formally releasing various singles on major streaming platforms in 2018, which led to her being signed to Parlophone.[10] Her first release with the label was "So My Darling", which she wrote aged 17 and released in 2018. The song received radio play when it was picked as a special play on BBC Radio 1.[9] She was then announced as an act at Field Day festival in 2019.[11] Chinouriri followed "So My Darling" with "Adrenaline" in April 2019. She played a headline show in London in June 2019.[12]

Chinouriri released her debut extended play (EP), Mama's Boy, in August 2019.[13] It was released to critical acclaim.[14] Following the release, she dropped the song "Where Do I Go?", which she said was written about her thoughts on the afterlife.[15] She played at Dot to Dot Festival and Pitchfork Music Festival that year. The song "Beautiful Disaster", featuring Sam Dotia, was released in July 2012. Tom Bibby of Yuck magazine described the song as "an honest and heartfelt portrayal of the isolation and stillness felt in the midnight hours, told through Chinouriri's powerful falsettos", adding that she has proved herself to be "a powerful singer-songwriter".[14] She then released various singles, including "Give Me a Reason",[8] "Darker Place"[16] and "Through the Eye". The latter acted as the lead single for her debut mini-album, Four° in Winter, which was released in September 2021.[17] She released a deluxe edition later that year, with the addition of three new songs.[18]

In January 2022, after the rise in popularity of her 2018 single "So My Darling" on the video sharing app TikTok, Chinouriri re-released the song in acoustic form.[19] At the time of release, the audio had more than 40,000 videos shared on TikTok.[20] In March 2022, she released the single "All I Ever Asked". The song was chosen as that week's "Hottest Record in the World" by BBC Radio 1's Clara Amfo.[21] Chinouriri subsequently announced plans for a second EP that would feature the song, as well as a national tour throughout the UK.[20] That summer, she played at the Great Escape Festival and Boardmasters Festival, and also had a gig supporting Sam Fender.

In early 2023, Chinouriri was one of the openers for Lewis Capaldi on his tour, and humorously told the story of how she had secured the gig through having sent him a drunk DM.[22] She played at a number of summer festivals, including Latitude Festival, Truck Festival, Kendal Calling, Connect Music Festival, and All Points East. Later that year, she was selected as one of the openers for Louis Tomlinson on the Europe leg of his Faith in the Future World Tour.[23]

In January 2024, Chinouriri announced that she would be releasing her debut album, What a Devastating Turn of Events,[7] on 3 May.[24][25] Four singles were released in the build-up leading to the record: "The Hills", "Never Need Me",[24][25] the title track[26] and "It Is What It Is".[27] What a Devastating Turn of Events debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart,[28] and at number 5 on the Scottish Albums Chart during the week starting from 10 May 2024.[29] Also in May, the artist performed as one of the headliners on the Introducing Stage at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend festival in Luton.[30] In June, Chinouriri played on the Other Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2024, playing both her own songs and a cover of Estelle's American Boy.[31] In July, it was announced that she would be the opener for the United Kingdom and European leg of the Short n' Sweet Tour by Sabrina Carpenter.[32]

On 7 February 2025, Chinouriri released a new version of "All I Ever Asked", recorded in collaboration with American singer-songwriter Sombr.[33] On 4 April 2025, Chinouriri released the EP Little House, consisting of four tracks including the single "Can We Talk About Isaac?". Chinouriri has mentioned the EP is written about her "dreams of maybe having a little house with my future partner."[34] On 28 November 2025, she released the song "Little House" as the final song from Little House.

Artistry

[edit]

Chinouriri grew up listening to indie music, pop girl groups such as Girls Aloud, The Saturdays and the Sugababes; African a cappella;[35] Britpop bands like Oasis, Blur, and The Libertines;[36] as well as the likes of V V Brown and Noisettes.[37] She cited Daughter and Ladysmith Black Mambazo among her main influences,[38] while Coldplay is her favourite band.[39] She has also expressed an admiration for Sampha,[40] Kings of Leon, and Phoenix. For her debut album, Chinouriri took inspiration from the sonic and visual aesthetics of the noughties Britpop culture and icons of her childhood.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

In March 2024, Chinouriri was one of the acts who decided to boycott the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, over the event's sponsorship deal with the US Army and major defense contractors, and in protest against the Gaza genocide.[41][42] In a statement of social media, Chinouriri explained her decision by stating that the topic of war was "extremely triggering" for her,[41] as both her parents had served as child soldiers in Zimbabwe before emigrating to the United Kingdom;[42] she also encouraged fans to "support victims of war in any capacity".[41]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[43]
What a Devastating Turn of Events 17

Mini-albums

[edit]
List of mini-albums, with selected details
Title Details
Four° in Winter[44]
  • Released: 23 April 2021
  • Label: Parlophone
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Details
Mama's Boy[45]
  • Released: 21 August 2019
  • Label: Marathon
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Better Off Without[46]
  • Released: 20 May 2022
  • Label: Parlophone
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, LP
Live at KOKO[47]
  • Released: 23 August 2024
  • Label: Parlophone
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Little House
  • Released: 4 April 2025
  • Label: Parlophone
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[43]
"What Have I Ever Done" 2018 — Non-album single
"So My Darling" —
"Adrenaline" 2019 — Mama's Boy
"Mama's Boy" —
"Where Do I Go?" — Non-album single
"Beautiful Disaster"
(with Sam Dotia) 		2020 — Four° in Winter
"Give Me a Reason" —
"What the World Needs Now" — Non-album single
"Darker Place" 2021 — Four° in Winter
"Through the Eye" —
"November"
(featuring Hak Baker) 		— Non-album single
"If Only" — Four° in Winter
"All I Ever Asked" 2022 46 Better Off Without
"Thank You for Nothing" —
"Smithereens"
(with Boyish) 		— Non-album singles
"I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Trying)" —
"Maybe I'm Lonely" 2023 —
"Ribs" —
"The Hills" — What a Devastating Turn of Events
"Never Need Me" 2024 —
"What a Devastating Turn of Events" —
"It Is What It Is" —
"Even"
(with Cat Burns) 		— Non-album single
"Can We Talk About Isaac?" 2025 — Little House
"What a Life" —
"—" denotes recording that did not chart in that territory.
[edit]
List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Animals (MK Remix)"[49]
(Preditah featuring Rachel Chinouriri) 		2019 Non-album single
"Stuck"[50]
(Kam-Bu featuring Rachel Chinouriri) 		2021 Black on Black
"Right Together"[51]
(Conducta featuring Rachel Chinouriri) 		Non-album single
"Can't Get Enough"
(p-rallel featuring Rachel Chinouriri & Venna) 		2022 Forward
"End of the Road"
(The Snuts featuring Rachel Chinouriri) 		Burn the Empire
"Love Me in Chapters II"
(Chrissi featuring Rachel Chinouriri) 		2023 Non-album single
"Fairytale"
(Mac Wetha featuring Rachel Chinouriri) 		Mac Wetha & Friends 2
"Parachute"[52]
(Shimza featuring Rachel Chinouriri) 		2024 Non-album single
"Chameleon"[53]
(Alemeda with Rachel Chinouriri) 		2025 TBA

Tours

[edit]

Headlining

  • What a Devastating Turn of Events (2024)[54]
  • All I Ever Asked for Was a North American Tour (2025)[55]

Supporting

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award ceremony Category Nominee(s)/work(s) Result Ref.
2025 Brit Awards Artist of the Year Herself Nominated [57]
Best New Artist Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Rachel Chinouriri

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Rachel Chinouriri (born 1 November 1998) is an English singer-songwriter of Zimbabwean descent. Born in Croydon to Zimbabwean parents, she began uploading original songs to SoundCloud as a teenager before transitioning to releases on major platforms. Her music incorporates indie and alternative pop elements, often reflecting personal narratives drawn from her experiences as a young Black woman in the UK. Chinouriri attended the BRIT School and has released EPs such as Little House prior to her debut studio album, What a Devastating Turn of Events, issued in May 2024 via Parlophone Records. She has garnered industry recognition, including a shortlisting for the Ivor Novello Rising Star Award in 2021 and a place on the BBC Sound of 2023 longlist.

Early life

Family background and upbringing

Rachel Chinouriri was born in to parents of Zimbabwean origin who immigrated to the in the , shortly before her birth. She is the youngest of five siblings, including four elder sisters and one brother, all of whom were born in prior to the family's relocation. Her parents had served as child soldiers during the in , an experience that shaped their transition to life in Britain. Raised in , , Chinouriri grew up in a household steeped in Zimbabwean cultural traditions, despite the family's British residence. This environment instilled strong moral values derived from her heritage, fostering a sense of cultural continuity amid the immigrant experience. Her upbringing contrasted with British norms, prompting early curiosity about local culture while maintaining close ties to Zimbabwean identity through family practices.

Education and initial interests

Chinouriri attended the in , a performing arts institution, starting at age 16, where she studied musical theatre to address her fear of performing. The program provided structured training that built her confidence, including vocal and stage skills, though she recalled an emotional first day involving tears during a singing exercise. She began songwriting independently around age 18, shortly after completing her studies there. Her initial musical interests stemmed from a blend of family traditions and personal discovery, including and church songs sung at home, reflecting her Zimbabwean heritage without strict religious adherence. Early inspirations included South African group , whose harmonies influenced her melodic style, alongside Zimbabwean and broader African sounds absorbed during childhood. She later incorporated indie elements from English exposure, such as early and noughties , which shaped her shift toward self-directed songwriting amid feelings of isolation.

Career beginnings

Initial releases and SoundCloud era

Chinouriri initiated her music career by uploading self-produced tracks to in 2016, primarily recording in her bedroom. Her first documented upload, "Weight of the World," appeared on the platform on March 7, 2016, and was incorporated into Bedroom Tales, a series of SoundCloud-exclusive songs framed as a personal "diary." The track garnered early exposure through BBC Introducing, securing its debut radio play on on June 18, 2016. Additional early SoundCloud releases included "Rick," uploaded on March 19, 2016, and a demo version of "So My Darling" on November 4, 2016, the latter written when she was 17. These uploads showcased raw and alternative influences, building a modest online following through organic shares and playlist inclusions. By 2018, Chinouriri expanded to major streaming platforms, releasing "So My Darling" on July 8 as her inaugural official single, which highlighted themes of enduring friendship and received initial radio support. This marked the close of her primary phase, transitioning toward label-backed output. Her debut extended play, , followed on June 13, 2019, distributed by Marathon Artists and comprising five tracks, including a polished version of "So My Darling." The EP, announced via her official channels days prior, represented her first structured project beyond solo uploads, emphasizing introspective lyricism over lo-fi experimentation.

First EPs and rising visibility

Chinouriri released her debut , Four° In Winter, on 23 April 2021 through Records. The eight-track project included singles such as "Give Me a Reason" and showcased her blend of , , and introspective songwriting. A deluxe edition followed on 15 October 2021, expanding the original release with additional material. Her follow-up EP, Better Off Without, arrived on 20 May 2022, also via , featuring four tracks centered on emotional recovery and relational fallout, led by the single "All I Ever Asked." The release received positive coverage for its raw vulnerability and sonic intimacy. These early EPs elevated Chinouriri's profile within the music scene, culminating in her inclusion on the Sound of 2023 longlist in October 2022 and shortlist announcement on 21 December 2022, positioning her among emerging talents tipped for breakthrough success. In January 2023, she joined Lewis Capaldi's European arena tour as an after impulsively sending him a direct message video pitch following a night out, which he accepted, exposing her to larger audiences. She also earned a for the ' Rising Star prize that year, further signaling industry recognition.

Mainstream breakthrough

Key singles and viral moments

Rachel Chinouriri achieved mainstream recognition with the 2022 single All I Ever Asked, which emerged as a breakthrough hit after gaining traction on , where it inspired over 36,000 videos. The track, initially inspired by a friend's and later reflecting Chinouriri's own experiences, accumulated over 88 million streams on by late 2025. Its viral resurgence in 2024 led to live performances, including a television debut on NBC's Today show on September 24, 2025, where it was highlighted as her viral song. In January 2024, Chinouriri released Never Need Me, a single from her debut album What a Devastating Turn of Events, which featured in the music video alongside and amassed approximately 28 million streams. The song's nostalgic pop-rock elements contributed to its popularity on , with the sound used in thousands of videos. Earlier, the acoustic version of So My Darling, originally her 2018 debut single, went viral on , generating nearly 96,000 user videos and helping establish her online presence. These tracks, supported by consistent streaming growth and engagement, marked Chinouriri's transition from indie releases to broader commercial visibility.

Debut album: What a Devastating Turn of Events

Rachel Chinouriri announced her debut studio , What a Devastating Turn of Events, on January 18, , with a scheduled release date of May 3, 2024, through Records. The comprises 14 tracks spanning 49 minutes and includes previously released singles such as "The Hills" and "Never Need Me," the latter serving as the . Recording took place between 2022 and 2023, with Chinouriri collaborating closely with producer Daniel Hylton-Nuamah and executive producer Rich Turvey, whose credits include work with and . The album explores personal themes including heartbreak, loss, family challenges, and the suicide of Chinouriri's cousin in , as detailed in the title track, blending emotional depth with and alternative elements. Upon release, What a Devastating Turn of Events debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart, marking Chinouriri's first entry on the Official Albums Chart. Critics praised the album's blend of vulnerability and energy, with Pitchfork awarding it a 7.5 out of 10 for its humorous take on devastation and British alt-pop appeal. The Guardian highlighted its fresh ideas beyond included older hits, while DIY Magazine gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars for rejecting simplistic chart-friendly themes. Aggregated critic scores reached 81 out of 100 on Album of the Year, reflecting broad acclaim for its songwriting and production.

Recent developments

2025 EP and tours

In April 2025, Chinouriri released her fourth EP, Little House, through Parlophone Records and /Atlas Artists. The five-track project included the "Can We Talk About Isaac?", released in advance on March 5, and explored themes of new relationships and personal growth. A bonus track, "What A Life", followed on September 12 as an addition to the EP, marking a continuation of its introspective style. Chinouriri supported the EP with a spring headline tour across , commencing on May 10 at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., and featuring stops at in New York on May 12, The Axis Club in on May 14, and concluding with a set at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 13 in . Additional 2025 performances included a slot at , where her setlist featured tracks like "Garden of Eden" and "All I Ever Asked". Later appearances encompassed the in September.

Collaborations and live performances

Chinouriri has engaged in several musical collaborations, blending her style with diverse genres. In May 2024, she featured on South African DJ Shimza's Afro-tech track "," marking an eclectic fusion of electronic and vocal elements. In October 2024, she teamed up with for "Even," a single addressing faced by Black artists in the music industry. This was followed in February 2025 by a collaborative version of her single "All I Ever Asked" with Los Angeles-based artist Sombr. In July 2025, she appeared on ' comeback single "Follow Excitement!," evoking her early influences from the British rap duo. Most recently, in October 2025, Chinouriri contributed to PinkPantheress's remix project Fancy Some More? on the track "Romeo + Rachel Chinouriri." On the live front, Chinouriri has built a reputation through festival appearances and support slots. She performed at on June 30, 2024, delivering a set on the Other Stage that included covers like Coldplay's "The Scientist." In 2025, she took the stage at on July 5, showcasing tracks from her debut album amid a finalized lineup announcement in April. She supported Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet Tour across Europe in spring 2025, performing her own material including "All I Ever Asked" to enthusiastic crowds. Additional highlights include her set at in on September 29, 2025, and a television appearance on in February 2025. Chinouriri also embarked on her first North American headline tour in May 2025, supported by artists BIZZY and Alemeda.

Artistry

Musical style and genre positioning

Rachel Chinouriri's music is characterized by an alternative indie core, incorporating elements of pop rock, shoegaze, and lo-fi production, often featuring grungy guitar riffs, multi-layered vocals, and confessional songwriting delivered in a husky, whispering style that conveys emotional weariness. Her debut album What a Devastating Turn of Events (2024) exemplifies this through tracks like "The Hills," which employs 90s shoegaze production with thunderous builds, and "Garden of Eden," drawing on Pixies-esque guitars for a bold, genre-hopping energy. Production choices, such as cassette-tape nostalgia and fluting vocals amid bird chirps, evoke Y2K British alt-pop influences including Sugababes and Lily Allen, while maintaining succinct, punchy structures under four minutes per song. Chinouriri has positioned herself firmly within indie and alternative genres, explicitly rejecting early industry labels of R&B, , or urban music despite her background, which she attributes to pigeonholing practices that limit non-hip-hop/ artists. In interviews, she has emphasized returning to her indie roots—shaped by influences like , , and —over misapplied urban brackets, stating that such categorizations felt "bizarre" given her upbringing listening to rock and pop. This stance reflects a broader effort to redefine artistry in indie spaces, inspiring younger fans drawn to rock without conforming to expected genres, amid collaborations like those with hip-hop producer that still prioritize her alternative framework.

Influences and songwriting approach

Chinouriri's musical influences draw from a diverse array of indie, alternative, and Britpop acts, reflecting her Zimbabwean heritage and London upbringing. She has cited Coldplay's early work and Chris Martin's emotive vocals as formative, particularly influencing tracks like "Robbed," which echoes the anthemic quality of "Fix You." Additional inspirations include Daughter's atmospheric electronic and poetic style, Ladysmith Black Mambazo's intricate acapella harmonies, and Sampha's sampling techniques, which inform her blend of indie introspection with layered production. She has also referenced Kings of Leon for evoking nostalgic UK soundscapes and early Adele alongside Amy Winehouse from her time at the BRIT School, shaping her raw vocal delivery. Her songwriting approach emphasizes therapeutic expression over formal theory, a deliberate choice stemming from her decision to study at the to avoid rigid constraints. Chinouriri describes writing as her primary emotional outlet, stating, "Songwriting is my first . I’m not a very good talker, so even when I was younger and I couldn’t express how I was feeling, I’d write it in a poem or a song." She typically begins with guitar and vocals to capture the song's core, often collaborating with producers like Dan or Adi Basten to layer in alternative electronic elements during brainstorming sessions. This process yields honest, narrative-driven lyrics rooted in personal turmoil, such as breakups, family dynamics, and identity struggles, as seen in her debut album What a Devastating Turn of Events, developed over two years with input from producers including and Leroy Clampett. Chinouriri adapts songs based on mood and feedback, incorporating metaphors like water imagery tied to her zodiac sign for emotional depth, while prioritizing simplicity and relatability to process self-sabotaging tendencies—evolving toward themes of joy and self-forgiveness in recent work. Her rejection of imposed genres like R&B or , insisting on indie-pop authenticity despite racial in the industry, underscores a commitment to unfiltered over commercial conformity.

Lyrical themes

Rachel Chinouriri's lyrics frequently explore personal trauma and challenges, drawing from her own experiences with depression, , eating disorders, and . In tracks like "Dumb Bitch Juice" from her 2024 debut album What a Devastating Turn of Events, she addresses these struggles with raw , using vivid of literal and metaphorical blood to convey emotional turmoil and self-destructive patterns. She has described songwriting as a therapeutic outlet originating from trauma, allowing her to process heavy emotions without sensationalism. Romantic relationships form another core theme, often depicting heartbreak, unmet expectations, and the ache for basic reciprocity. Songs such as "All I Ever Asked" lament the absence of simple commitment and respect in partnerships, inspired initially by a friend's experience but reflective of broader relational disappointments. Chinouriri navigates toxic dynamics and emotional confusion in lyrics about communication breakdowns and post-breakup reckoning, as seen in her multi-year relationship's dissolution that influenced much of What a Devastating Turn of Events. Later works like "Can We Talk About Isaac?" shift toward vulnerability in new love, capturing self-doubt on initial dates and the empowerment of openness. Coming-of-age narratives intertwine with cultural and familial loss, including a third-person account of her Zimbabwean cousin's due to out of wedlock, highlighting themes of and inherited pain. Her songwriting evolution emphasizes brooding love, awkward longing, and profound , evolving from trauma-driven to more mature reflections on growth and identity. Chinouriri attributes this progression to a deliberate move away from genre constraints, prioritizing honest emotional mapping over commercial appeal.

Reception and legacy

Critical acclaim and commercial performance

Rachel Chinouriri's debut studio album What a Devastating Turn of Events, released on May 3, 2024, garnered strong critical approval for its emotional introspection and genre-blending production. praised the record as a "debut that’s better than it thinks," noting its abundance of fresh ideas amid influences and older hits inclusion. Aggregated at , professional reviews scored 100% positive, emphasizing the album's thrilling intensity and refusal to stagnate in one style. highlighted tracks like the title song for confronting personal tragedy, such as her cousin's , within a broader narrative of vulnerability. Commercially, the album entered the at number 17 and sustained sales momentum into 2025, reflecting a gradual ascent rather than instant blockbuster status. Lead singles achieved niche traction: "Never Need Me" climbed to number 59 on the UK chart in February 2024, marking an early peak for her solo work. "All I Ever Asked," from the album, logged 20 weeks on UK tracking metrics by August 2025, rising to number 75 while accumulating over 88 million Spotify streams. The track also debuted on UK Singles Downloads at number 38 and at number 42 in March 2025. Her follow-up Little House EP, issued in April 2025, continued the acclaim trajectory, with commending its sunny disposition, chatty accessibility, and sharp songwriting as a maturation of her pop sensibilities. Live shows have drawn mixed but generally favorable consensus, rated as "watchable" with decent overall execution across 13 reviewed concerts. Chinouriri secured her first BRIT Award nominations in 2025 for and another category, validating her post-album rise; sent congratulatory flowers upon the announcement. She also received dual nods at the 2024 UK Awards for and . No major wins have followed to date, aligning with her preference for organic, slow-burn growth over rapid hype.

Challenges in the music industry

Chinouriri has publicly addressed racial barriers in the music industry, stating that "simply being black will make it twice as hard to be an indie pop star." She described how industry perceptions prioritize her race over her music, noting, "You see my colour before you hear my music," which imposes unique obstacles not faced by white counterparts. These experiences reflect broader systemic prejudices affecting Black artists in genres like indie pop, where marketing assumptions limit visibility and opportunities. The artist has resisted genre pigeonholing, rejecting industry pressure to produce soul or R&B despite her indie influences. Early in her career, labels and promoters categorized her work as R&B or soul for ease of marketing, with Chinouriri observing, "To be put into genres I never grew up listening to was so bizarre to me, then it clicked it was because of my skin." She countered this by incorporating alt-rock guitars on her debut album What a Devastating Turn of Events (2024), a deliberate choice to challenge stereotypes and affirm her artistic identity. Her manager had warned that promoting a Black woman in indie would be a "struggle," ultimately delaying her breakthrough. Financial pressures have also constrained Chinouriri's touring ambitions. On August 20, 2024, she withdrew from supporting Remi Wolf's North American tour dates starting September 30, 2024, in New York, as well as festival appearances like All Things Go, citing the "financial risk" and "strain on touring" as unsustainable despite opportunities from her debut album. This decision underscores the economic challenges for emerging independent artists, even amid growing acclaim.

Personal life

Identity and cultural experiences

Rachel Chinouriri was born in 1998 in , , to parents who had emigrated from to the shortly before her arrival, making her the only family member born in the UK. Raised in the Forestdale area of , , she grew up in a household that maintained strong Zimbabwean cultural traditions, including language and customs, while immersed in British society. Her parents had fought as child soldiers in 's war of independence, enlisting at age 13, an experience that shaped their strict religious upbringing of Chinouriri and influenced her perspective on resilience and displacement. Chinouriri has articulated a dual sense of identity, describing herself as ethnically Zimbabwean but culturally British due to her environment, though she has faced instances of feeling unwelcome in amid racial challenges as a woman. This tension manifests in her reflections on navigating stereotypes in the predominantly white , where her heritage positions her as an outlier challenging genre norms associated with specific racial demographics. Her cultural experiences also inform broader commentary on alienation, as seen in the 2024 single "Even" co-written with , which addresses the persistent sense of foreignness imposed on and people of color in Western societies regardless of birthplace or contributions.

Views on society and personal growth

Chinouriri has critiqued the racial homogeneity in indie and alternative music genres, observing that these spaces have long been associated with white male artists, which limited visibility for . In a January 2024 interview, she remarked that "indie-rock was always white boy bands," expressing a desire for greater representation of in such styles. She has also highlighted industry pressures to conform to genre expectations based on race, noting that labels initially pushed her toward soul or R&B rather than the she pursued, reflecting broader challenges for Black artists in non-traditional lanes. Chinouriri advocates for amplifying marginalized voices, emphasizing that success as a in requires confronting systemic barriers, including that makes entry "twice as hard." Regarding her cultural experiences, Chinouriri described a formative phase of heightened pro- identity during adolescence, influenced by her mother's decision to take her to at age 13, which contrasted with her earlier immersion in predominantly white environments where she encountered isolation as the only Black student. Despite this, she reported minimal overt racism in her schooling, attributing a sense of otherness more to social fitting-in struggles than explicit hostility. On personal growth, Chinouriri frames her music as a vehicle for processing trauma, including and toxic relationships, with her 2024 debut album What a Devastating Turn of Events serving as an examination of these impacts and subsequent healing. She has emphasized learning to sever harmful connections, advising against self-sabotaging patterns like "drinking the dumb bitch juice" in romantic contexts, which she links to broader gained through reflection and career milestones. In interviews, she expresses pride in her evolution from bedroom recordings to professional output, viewing songwriting as a tool for confronting darker impulses and fostering resilience amid industry demands. This growth, she notes, involves embracing vulnerability without genre constraints, allowing for a shift from isolation to empowered expression.

Discography

Studio albums

is the debut studio album by English Rachel Chinouriri, released on 3 May 2024 through Records. The album, comprising 14 tracks with a total runtime of 49 minutes, was primarily recorded in 2022 and 2023. It debuted and peaked at number 17 on the . The record features production contributions from collaborators including Mary Weitz and Max Turvey, and includes singles such as "Never Need Me" and "It Is What It Is". Chinouriri described the album as a reflection of personal experiences, challenges, and joys accumulated over her life up to that point. As of October 2025, it remains her sole studio album, with subsequent releases classified as extended plays.

Extended plays and mini-albums

Chinouriri released her debut , Mama's Boy, on June 13, 2019, through Marathon Artists under exclusive license from Atlas Artists. The five-track EP drew early critical notice for tracks like "So My Darling," which gained traction via social media sharing. Her follow-up mini-album, Four° in Winter, arrived on April 23, 2021, via Records. The eight-track release (expanded to deluxe edition on October 15, 2021) blended and elements, marking her first project after signing with the label. The EP Better Off Without followed on May 20, 2022, also through . Featuring four tracks led by the single "All I Ever Asked," it continued her exploration of introspective themes and received acclaim for its production. In 2025, Chinouriri issued Little House, her fourth , on April 4 via and /Atlas Artists. The release included bonus track "What a Life" added later that year.

Singles

Rachel Chinouriri released her debut single "So My Darling" in 2018. The track gained renewed traction in early 2022 through viral use on , prompting an acoustic re-release. In 2021, she issued "Give Me A Reason" to promote her mini-album Four° In Winter. Her 2022 single "All I Ever Asked", released on March 8, served as the lead for her EP Better Off Without and marked her first UK chart entry, peaking at number 46 with 20 weeks on the chart. For her debut studio album What a Devastating Turn of Events, released May 3, 2024, Chinouriri promoted it with "Never Need Me" as the lead single, followed by "The Hills", the title track on March 15, 2024, and "It Is What It Is". In 2024, she collaborated on PinkPantheress's "", which featured her prominently. Chinouriri also recorded Spotify Singles versions of select tracks, released June 26, 2024. Subsequent 2025 releases include the collaboration "Follow Excitement!" with and "" with Alemeda, alongside "What A Life" tied to her Little House project on September 17.

Tours

Headlining and supporting tours

In 2025, Chinouriri launched her debut major headlining tour across , titled "All I Ever Asked For Was a North American Tour," which ran from 10 May at the 9:30 Club in , through multiple cities including New York, , , , , , Portland, , , , Phoenix, Austin, , , , and Nashville, before closing with a festival set at Bonnaroo on 13 June in . Alemeda and opened all non-festival dates. Chinouriri has gained live performance experience through supporting slots amid the challenges of independent touring. In August 2024, she withdrew from opening Wolf's "The Big Ideas Like All The Time" North American tour dates, explaining that the financial strain—including depleted personal savings and unsustainable costs for travel, crew, and production—posed too great a risk, highlighting broader issues in the touring economy for emerging artists. She was replaced by Slimdan on those shows. Later in 2025, Chinouriri opened for on the and European legs of the "Short n' Sweet" tour. In 2026, she is scheduled to support Florence + the Machine on select North American arena dates of their tour, including 8 April at in , ; 10 April at in ; and 13 April at in , , alongside acts such as CMAT, SOFIA ISELLA, and .

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2021Best Contemporary Song"Give Me a Reason"Nominated
2021Rising Star AwardHerselfNominated
2023 UK AwardsRising Star AwardHerselfNominated
2024 UK AwardsHerselfNominated
2024 UK AwardsBreakthrough AwardHerselfNominated
2025HerselfNominated
2025Best New ArtistHerselfNominated
Chinouriri has not won any of the above awards.

References

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