Rachel Chinouriri is All Loved Up in New EP ‘Little House’ (Review)
Rachel Chinouriri is firing out hit after hit, claiming her throne as the British pop queen we need. While coming off the back of touring with Sabrina Carpenter, Rachel has used her muses to create the lovestruck four-song EP ‘Little House’.
If you are not already drawn into the unique talent of Rachel Chinouriri, where have you been? She is of Zimbabwean descent and was born in London, who at a very early age grew an unwavering curiosity for British culture. While growing up with, as she describes, a traditional African upbringing, her curiosity fixated on British musicians like Lily Allen and Coldplay. Little did she know her name would soon be up there with these celebrated artists.
While this past year has been a whirlwind for Chinouriri, ‘Little House’ seems to be a grounding exercise for the ever-growing singer. This is the first release we have had since her groundbreaking 2024 album ‘What A Devastating Turn of Events’. However, despite that recent record, her sound has just kept on evolving. The singer continues to add something to pop music that no one else is.
Firstly, starting off the EP with an ode to her partner, ‘Can we talk about Isaac?’ is a beautiful recount of falling in love, then continuing to do so as you learn more about the person. Due to its dance-filled beats and gushing lyrics, it earned a spot on my top 5 songs of this quarter. If you have already found your summer love then this track will end up on repeat.
Similarly, the following track ‘23:42’ focuses on that same relationship. However, this time it is full of tiny nuances only her partner will understand. While ‘Can we talk about Isaac?’ is a more well-tuned track, ‘23:42’ still has its moments of sweetness. It shows that relationships can stay in that honeymoon phase as you grow together. Ultimately a winning factor of this tune is its production. Accompanied by an almost disconnected whirl of synths, similar to The 1975’s ‘Give Yourself A Try’, it elevates the otherwise standard beat. Rachel worked with apob AKA Aaron O’Brien who helped produce her former album. Undoubtedly this continuity allowed Chinouriri’s style to develop but keep on track with her distinctive sound.
Moving on from the witty storytelling of being in love, ‘Judas (Demo)’ takes on a new perspective. Whilst playing on the story of betrayal, this track delves deeper into that metaphor. Rachel holds herself accountable for her own faithlessness. Ultimately risking a lot for something that will be great in the long run but at the time may seem dishonest to yourself. For instance, in the lyrics, “When you kissed me I tasted Scarlett / I could see the light / I’m too young to die, die.”, is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet.
Meanwhile, something she may have seen as forbidden was just a risk she needed to take. Along with the colour comparisons to emulate a certain feeling (Thank you Taylor Swift), it is something we see a lot in songwriting. Further invoking something extremely poetic, it fits perfectly with the rawness of her voice solely accompanied by light guitar strums.
Last but not least is ‘Indigo’. Admittedly, this track stands out as far as love songs go. It is filled with typical whimsy flair and hauntingly charming writing. And yet, there is something about it that strays away from your typical love song. Something I love about Rachel’s songwriting is her sincerity and unabashed honesty, ‘Indigo’ is no stranger to this. Likewise described by Rachel herself on Behind The Track, the song reflects on the journey she and Isaac have had. Moreover, specifically about a shared track they both love called ‘Ryley Crow’ by Foreign Fields.
From listening to the tracks one after another you can see not only why it is a favourite but how its importance influenced her own song. Likewise, writing music about how another artist’s work makes you feel is a beautiful stream of creativity. Altogether, it is the crescendo of the track that sweeps you up and shows you how this love makes her feel. The crashing and whirling could feel a little out of place on such a small body of work, especially one that keeps it fairly light and whimsical. Yet those few seconds elevate the project’s story completely.
‘Little House‘ has its highs and lows. However, its highs are perfect demonstrations of the incredible artist Rachel Chinouriri continues to be. Dedicated to her love, this EP is representative of every different way we each individually show our appreciation. Luckily Rachel chooses to share her way with us.
Rating: 8/10
You can find Rachel Chinouriri on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Listen to ‘Little House‘ below and read more album reviews here.
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