Live review

Rachel Chinouriri cements her star-in-the-making status at London’s Omeara

20th February 2025

Her BRITs week show - in collaboration with War Child - is filled with infectious passion and genuine heart.

Words: Kayla Sandiford
Photos: Aaron Parsons
24th February 2025

Every year, BRITs Week offers the chance to catch a series of intimate, one-off shows from some of the UK’s most exciting artists, from which all proceeds go towards War Child’s important work supporting young people affected by conflict. And, of 2025’s frankly stacked lineup, one of the hottest tickets is undoubtedly Rachel Chinouriri, whose dazzling turn at Omeara cements her status as a guaranteed star in the making.

From the moment doors open, a lighthearted buzz permeates the venue, and anticipation hangs in the air. Dedicated fans – aptly dubbed ‘darlings’ – are stationed front and centre awaiting Rachel’s entrance, and many attendees are sporting glitzy barrettes or bows in their hair as badges of honour paying homage to the indie-pop favourite. There’s an outpouring of applause as she takes to the stage, her sparkling blue dress glimmering under the stage lights in true pop princess fashion; then, as she launches into opener ‘Garden Of Eden’, the crowd respond with immediate energy. They hang on her every word as if she’s recruited a whole ensemble of backing singers, more than happy to oblige when she hypothetically asks: “who’s ready to scream some songs together?”

As we bounce through ‘Dumb Bitch Juice’, two-step to the playful groove of ‘It Is What It Is’, and cheer on volunteers who are called up to the stage to hold down a verse on ‘Even’, the night begins to feel like one big party. And yet, Rachel doesn’t shy away from tackling the difficult subject matter of her debut album, ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events’ (self-described as “a big trauma dump”), either. After breezing through some of the record’s more upbeat tracks, she slows things down with ‘Robbed’ – a song about losing people unexpectedly which she dedicates to War Child, after touching on her parents’ experiences of being child soldiers.“Anything you can do is always worth something. Fight for the cause, always keep people in your hearts,” she encourages ahead of ‘My Blood’, amid light sniffles from the audience. “If you ever feel unloved at moments, I love you. Know that you’re important to me, at least.” Moving and authentic, it’s enough to make anyone well up.

Knowing exactly when and how to revive the energy, Rachel propels the show to a triumphant finish with guitar-driven belters ‘My Everything’ and ‘The Hills’, adding to the renewed momentum with unreleased track ‘Can We Talk About Isaac?’ before joining the party herself, running right into the crowd for ecstatic closer ‘Never Need Me’. After a night filled with dancing, laughter, and even tears, one thing is abundantly clear: Rachel Chinouriri is absolutely gleaming with superstar potential, delivering an unforgettable night with infectious passion and genuine heart.

Tags: Rachel Chinouriri, Reviews, Live Reviews