Rachel Chinouriri and Cat Burns call out industry prejudice on powerful new collaboration, ‘Even’

Two of the UK’s brightest rising stars, Rachel Chinouriri and Cat Burns have teamed up for a new single, ‘Even’ - an important exploration of the enduring challenges faced by Black artists trying to break through. 

Having first met during their time at BRIT School, the pair have since both achieved widespread critical acclaim: former DIY cover star Rachel released her debut album ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events’ in May and will support Sabrina Carpenter on her 2025 UK/EU tour; Cat, meanwhile, was shortlisted for this year’s Mercury Prize for her debut LP ‘early twenties’. 

Nevertheless, both artists have been vocal about the challenges they’ve faced as young Black British women in the UK music industry - experiences which they’ve shared in ‘Even’. Speaking about the track, Rachel has explained that “[it’s] about the injustice Black and POC people feel with identity in a world that can treat them [as] foreign.  Sometimes it feels like no matter what we do to fit in, we have to work twice as hard to take one step forward. 

“The limitations that Black people have had to go through are something every Black person has to accept at some point, but this song questions how far we need to take it and it questions why these things happen to us.”

Of her contribution, Cat has commented: “I felt honoured when Rachel asked me to jump on this beautiful song, it felt real and authentic because we genuinely have supported each other since we were in school together! I hope people listen to our hearts with this one and understand our experience even more.”

You can revisit our cover interview with Rachel - taken from our May 2024 print mag - and listen to ‘Even’ below.