Live Review: Rachel Chinouriri – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London 16/11/2024
Rachel Chinouriri stunned London with a dynamic set, bringing an evening of joy, heartbreak, and all the emotions in between.
When Rachel Chinouriri released her debut album, ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events’, earlier this year, it’s soaring melodies and impassioned lyricism hinted at something bigger rippling under the surface – and we got to see this in play at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, when the album was given a live treatment that broke all emotional barriers and presented human experience in all of its pure, messy, and real form. It was a night of catharsis and release, set along to irresistibly catchy indie tunes in an effortless blend that Chinouriri has mastered so well. It’s no wonder that she has amassed such a following, including amongst stars such as Florence Pugh and Adele, and this show will only cement her status as the next big star to keep your eyes on.
To kick off the evening, ROCKKET set an energetic tone as he spun and stomped around the stage in a pair of furry boots. With only one song released, ROCKKET combined his own music with an array of covers to entertain the ever-growing crowd. A soulful rendition of Billie Eilish’s ‘WILDFLOWER’ garnered a loud singalong, while his original song ‘Crash & Fall’ got the audience jumping alongside the upbeat chorus. Although he merely had 15-minutes to warm up the crowd, ROCKKET certainly delivered a punch and promises to be an exciting act to watch out for in the future.
Leonie Biney followed with a tender set that seemed juxtaposed against the previous high energy, but there was certainly no dip in attention as she held the crowd transfixed with her delicate music. Stripping back to a guitar and keyboard, Binney epitomised the saying that ‘less is more’ as her beguiling vocals transfixed the audience and sent shivers up everyone’s spine. ‘Beach Song – Demo’ was mesmerising with soft vocals and gently guitars, helping you temporarily forget your troubles and transporting you to a calm oasis. Twinkling synths sprinkled in some lighthearted playfulness while Biney got the crowd to echo after her ‘do it again’ for an upcoming song, creating a cheerful atmosphere that masks the underlying poignancy. Anecdotes were peppered between songs, making fans laugh as Biney joked that the “next song is about drinking coffee and toxic relationships, but I don’t really like coffee or toxic relationships” before diving into the heart-breaking ‘I’m Making You Coffee’. Biney’s down-to-earth charm and heart-on-sleeve lyricism makes her a captivating performer, and there is little doubt that she will continue to grow as a musician with relatable music that can offer a solace for fans.
It was finally the moment that fans had eagerly waited for, as the introduction to ‘Garden of Eden’ allowed the band to assume their positions before exploding in a dazzling array of flashing lights and impassioned guitars. Chinouriri controlled the stage amidst roaring cheers, oozing with confidence – her moment to shine had finally come. She held an impressive command with intentional movement and impeccable vocals, before letting the façade break and allowing her excitement to surface as she ran around the stage with an uncontainable grin. Her energy sizzled through the roof with ‘Cold Call’, as she headbanged and pounded the floor with an almost primal instinct that made her utterly spellbinding to watch, before inviting fans to “sing with me if you can” for the driving ‘I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Trying)’.
‘It Is What It Is’ roused the crowd with its cutting questioning, and Chinouriri’s attitude-laden performance was rewarded with fans shouting back with equal, if not greater, force – clearly, more than a few people have had their fair share of being emotionally messed around and were fed up with it. Ensuing ‘Dumb Bitch Juice’ slowed down the tempo without losing any of the scathing intensity, with acerbic lyricism that carries so much bite that any grown man could (and should) cower at the prospect of being the subject of the track. This seamlessly flowed into the eponymous ‘What A Devastating Turn of Events’, with its R&B-flecked beats setting a woozy vibe for swaying along after the forcefulness of the previous tracks.
The energy was quickly elevated again when Chinouriri welcomed Cat Burns onstage for their recent collaborative single, ‘Even’. Chinouriri had touched upon the difficulties of succeeding as a black woman in the music industry and the accompanying feeling of impossibility, so to see these two friends playing to a host of adoring fans was a particularly empowering moment. Confessing that moments like this “make me feel like I could believe in myself”, Chinouriri’s vulnerability was further drawn out in the balladic ‘Robbed’ before ‘My Blood’ built to a climax with vocal harmonies layering on top of one another. Fans showed their solidarity and support with deafening cheers, and were further encouraged by Chinouriri as she professed that “love is the one thing that has no currency. You can underspend it, but you can’t ever overspend it”. As Chinouriri urged people to express their gratitude to their loved ones as the uncertainty of tomorrow looms large, the feelings of unity and appreciation from that moment will surely be fondly remembered.
‘The Hills’ showcased a more rock and roll side to Chinouriri as she let loose during the searing guitar solo, before the unreleased ‘Can We Talk About Isaac?’ got everybody bouncing along to its catchy pop hooks. Asking “who’s ready for more dancing?”, Chinouriri closed off her dazzling set on a high as she went into the middle of the crowd for ‘Never Need’, jumping along with a fervent energy before returning to stage for a final flourish. As the lights dimmed and everybody headed out, I overheard a fan gushing, “that was so incredible, I wish I could do it all again”, summing up how we all felt. The evening confirmed that Chinouriri is on an upward trajectory towards stardom, and the outstanding question is not if, but when we will have the chance to do it again.
Words by Athena Kam
Photography by Harry Wassell
