Rachel Chinouriri

Rachel Chinouriri is an English singer and songwriter. She first gained attention by sharing original tracks on SoundCloud before securing a record deal and releasing acclaimed projects such as her debut extended play, Mama's Boy, her mini-album Four° in Winter, and her debut full-length record, What a Devastating Turn of Events. She is also recognized for popular tracks including So My Darling and All I Ever Asked.

Born on 1 November 1998 at Kingston Hospital, Chinouriri was raised in the Forestdale area of Croydon from the age of three. Her family moved to the United Kingdom from Zimbabwe shortly before her birth, and she grew up in a traditional Christian African household alongside four siblings. Driven by a curiosity about British music culture during her youth, she enrolled at the BRIT School. At age 17, she began writing music and recording tracks on her mother's computer using an inexpensive microphone to upload to SoundCloud.

Chinouriri's performing career began in October 2017 when she opened for Celeste in London. By 2018, her digital music releases led to a deal with Parlophone. Her official debut single with the label, So My Darling, earned radio support on BBC Radio 1. In August 2019, she issued her critically praised debut EP, Mama's Boy, which was followed by festival appearances at Field Day, Dot to Dot, and Pitchfork Music Festival. In September 2021, she published her debut mini-album, Four° in Winter, featuring the single Give Me a Reason, which earned a nomination for an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song.

Following the widespread popularity of So My Darling on TikTok, Chinouriri issued an acoustic version in early 2022. That same year, she released the single All I Ever Asked, which was highlighted as a Hottest Record by BBC Radio 1, alongside her second EP, Better Off Without. To support these projects, she launched a national tour of the United Kingdom and served as an opening act for musicians such as Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, and Louis Tomlinson, while appearing at events including Latitude Festival, Truck Festival, and All Points East.

In May 2024, Chinouriri released her debut studio album, What a Devastating Turn of Events, which reached number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and number 5 on the Scottish Albums Chart. That summer, she performed on the Introducing Stage at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, played the Other Stage at Glastonbury Festival, and opened for Sabrina Carpenter on the European and UK legs of her Short n' Sweet Tour.

In 2025, Chinouriri released a collaborative version of All I Ever Asked with Sombr and put out her EP Little House. Continuing her touring and recording activity into 2026, she supported Wolf Alice in Finsbury Park, won the Silver Clef Award for best new music, and was selected as an opener for Gracie Abrams. She also announced her second album, I Think I Spoke Too Soon, alongside a global concert tour.

Chinouriri draws musical inspiration from diverse genres, including noughties Britpop, indie rock, African a cappella, and pop groups, citing acts such as Daughter, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Coldplay as significant influences. Based in Camden, she has also used her platform for advocacy, notably choosing to boycott the 2024 South by Southwest festival in protest of its military sponsorships and the conflict in Gaza.