It has been almost a month since Rachel Chinouriri released her debut album and I had the pleasure of attending her opening night of her intimate album tour and Q&A. Her intimate tour was kicked off with a captivating performance, setting the scene for her album, “What a Devastating Turn of Events.” The hour-long show was a cozy and heartfelt affair, with fans already knowing the lyrics to her singles, creating a warm and connected atmosphere.
One of the most enjoyable moments of the night was when Rachel performed an unreleased, playful track titled “Dumb Bitch Juice,” which had the crowd buzzing. The show took an emotional turn before she sang “So My Darlings,” a song that initially brought her significant public attention. Rachel’s gratitude for her journey was evident as she teared up amidst the cheers from the audience.
Accompanied by a talented band, the performance was enhanced by the interesting and simplistic stage setup and styling. Each element added depth to the intimate vibe of the evening. After a few songs from her upcoming album and a couple older hits, Rachel transitioned to a Q&A session with an interviewer from Strathclyde University, who praised her natural stage presence.
Rachel delved into the meaning behind her song “The Hills” and its potentially controversial artwork. The lyrics, “When you don’t belong, the hills will know, it’s visible you don’t belong here,” reflect her feelings of displacement as a child of Zimbabwean immigrants in England. The English flag in the artwork symbolizes her reclaiming a sense of belonging.
She shared insights about writing 100s of songs, including the passionate “Never Need Me,” which she initially didn’t like but has since become a favorite thanks to her team’s encouragement. Rachel also discussed her favorite Scottish artists, highlighting Josef, The Snuts, and Young Fathers, and urged everyone to listen to Josef’s album “Permanent Damage.”
When asked about re-recording any track, she mentioned “Dumb Bitch Juice,” and said she’d love it to be a collaboration with Mae Muller, whose chaotic energy she admires. Rachel fondly recalled her show at London’s Koko, where over a thousand tickets were sold, a significant milestone for her, and expressed excitement about her forthcoming album release. Having been in the music industry since she was 16, Rachel reflected on her journey, particularly the challenges of making music during the pandemic and scrapping an album. Her love for physical vinyls also came up, emphasizing the art and experience beyond just the music.
In a touching final moment, Rachel picked one fan from the crowd to answer a question from and it felt like fate. The answered question came from a Zimbabwean fan who had recently moved to the UK for university, asking about the feeling of not belonging. She asked her if the feeling of being an outsider ever goes away and Rachel candidly shared that whilst the feeling never fully goes away it’s good to focus on personal growth and the beauty of the journey.
The evening was wholesome, from the pre-show treasure hunt and giveaways to Rachel staying after the show to take photos with fans. Witnessing Rachel Chinouriri’s career evolve has been a pleasure, and her future promises to be just as inspiring.
Written and photographed by Uchechi Adeboye @byuchechi
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