RACHEL CHINOURIRI WHAT A DEVASTATING TURN OF EVENTS
THE DEBUT ALBUM OUT TODAY
LISTEN TO ‘ROBBED’
Praise for Rachel Chinouriri
“It’s no surprise the singer has taken off: her music is an intoxicating blend of dreamy vocals and prominent guitar lines.” – Sunday Times Culture
“What a Devastating Turn of Events, the 14-track record will leave listeners emotionally winded at every turn.” – ES Magazine
“Rachel weaves a rich story, one that comes with a myriad of lessons to be taken forward, all to the soundtrack of dreamy guitars and sparkling soundscapes.” – Dork, 5*
“Consistently charming, while offering enough range in sound and scope to hint at Chinouriri’s future ambitions. She has worked hard to make it sound this easy” – NME, 4*
“the mark of a true indie star in the making… huge things surely await.” – Rolling Stone UK
“a unique voice on the British indie scene” – Grazia
“A really singular voice, really stretching her own boundaries and the boundaries of the industry we’re in today… she feels like she’s on the runway for takeoff” – Monocle On Culture
Hotly tipped alternative indie pop artist Rachel Chinouriri today releases her long-awaited debut album What A Devastating Turn Of Events via Parlophone / Atlas Artists.
What A Devastating Turn Of Events is a culmination of the experiences, challenges and joys of Chinouriri’s life so far, explored through the prism of musical stylings honed through years of experimentation and creation. Ever-eclectic and brutally honest, the album traverses life’s light and shade, the writing and sharing a healing process for Rachel, and she hopes, her listeners.
What A Devastating Turn Of Events features the singles ‘It Is What It Is’, ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events’, ‘Never Need Me’ (with a video starring Florence Pugh) and ‘The Hills’. To coincide with the release Rachel has shared tender album highlight ‘Robbed’, an intimate reflection on grief and loss.
On releasing the album, Rachel shares “This album is a culmination of the beginning of a journey I’ve been waiting to take for a while and to be honest, there were points where it might’ve not happened. I hope people are able to hear my potential and creativity and tune in for many more future albums. This album could’ve gone so many ways but I decided to try and make it reflect on my life and upbringing. I could’ve made it wonky, moody and more experimental but to get to this position has been such a struggle, especially being black and British… and now I’m just ready to have FUN. The topics are sad, but I felt like I was just so sad for years and now I feel like I’m healing and can just have fun and be free now. With releasing this album… I just feel so free and so happy. No matter what anyone thinks, I just am happy that I can hopefully perk more interest and continue to grow and flourish in music”.
Listen to WhatA Devastating Turn Of Events
Following a triumphant sold out headline show at London’s KOKO, and her sold out debut headline shows in the US in New York and LA, Rachel is currently back on the road for a run of intimate outstore dates in celebration of the release of What A Devastating Turn Of Events. See below for the full list of dates.
Rachel has this week also announced a new headline tour set to take place this November; she’ll play in Glasgow, Birmingham, Brighton and play her biggest ever hometown show at London’s Kentish Town Forum. Tickets are available on Wednesday 8th May via artist and O2 Priority presale, on Thursday 9th May via venue presale and on general sale on Friday 10th May. See below for full list of dates, find out more at https://www.rachelchinouriri.com/.
What A Devastating Turn Of Events tracklisting
Garden Of Eden
The Hills
Never Need Me
My Everything
All I Ever Asked
It Is What It Is
Dumb Bitch Juice
What A Devastating Turn Of Events
My Blood
Robbed
Cold Call
I Hate Myself
So My Darling
On What A Devastating Turn of Events, Rachel Chinouriri is unflinching and mesmerising as she invites us into her world and the experiences that have shaped her to become the person she is today. Despite facing up to the darkest parts of herself and her life – relationships, loneliness, regret, abuse, unconditional freedom, self harm, alcohol abuse and ultimately, death – Rachel asks us to consider the beauty amongst it all too.
The record examines the thoughts that had been swirling around her head: there are more long-standing themes of love, self-deprecation, unworthy exes and finding her boundaries in the album’s first half, but then in the second half, things get heavier.
“It’s a turning point,” she says, “Each song represents how you deal with trauma, but on the second half it’s when you get bad news and your world turns upside down.” This is an album which deals with grief, heartache, hurt, and what she calls the “worst-case scenarios” when these things are left unspoken for too long.
“I’m a lot better now,” she smiles, “And all of these topics don’t hurt me anymore, to a degree, but they shaped me and made me the person I am. When these things happen, you will never be the person you were before then, you adapt; and I think this album reflects that. It’s a healing tool, and I’m hoping people listening to it might feel less alone.”
In the process of learning to collaborate with other writers and producers in the creation of her debut album, Rachel was able to create the sonic world that she’d long been searching for. From soft acoustics to shiny indie pop to roaring scuzz, there’s her mellifluous vocal, the sumptuous harmonies, and even occasional bouts of cheeky, chatty speak-singing à la Kate Nash and Lily Allen, through which she builds upon her penchant for candid, lyrical songwriting.
What A Devastating Turn Of Events’ expansive palette was fleshed out with executive producer Rich Turvey (Blossoms, The Courteeners, The Coral), and co-credits include hip-hop behemoth Kenny Beats, and writers like Aaron “Apob” Paul O’Brien, Glen Roberts, Mary Weitz, and her long-term collaborator Daniel Hylton-Nuamah.
Listen to WhatA Devastating Turn Of Events
