Rachel Chinouriri (w/ Alemeda)
Metro Chicago - Chicago, IL - May 20th, 2025
Photos & words by Nive Pai (@nivethroughthelookingglass)

The energy of the crowd was palpable on the night of Rachel Chinouriri’s concert in Chicago. After selling out general sale at Thalia Hall, the venue was upgraded to Metro due to popular demand, and the floors were packed at this sold out show.

The British artist’s premiere North American headline tour (wittily named ‘All I Ever Asked For Was A North American Tour,’ after her hit single “All I Ever Asked”) is promoting her critically acclaimed debut album What a Devastating Turn of Events, released last May. While she’s been releasing music since 2018, Chinouriri’s recent experience opening for a leg of Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet tour has been an undeniable boost to her fame. As an early fan of Chinouriri, I was extremely enthused to hear that she was being given a larger platform by being on that tour, and since then, her fan base has rapidly grown.

The openers, BIZZY and Alameda, set the scene, delivering vibrant stage presence and powerful vocals. As Chinouriri said later into her set, “They are the next superstars,” and that was truly evident by their standout performances.

Chinouriri opened her set with “Garden of Eden,” one of my personal favorites, and the audience was instantly charmed. Immediately everyone sang along, and that stayed a constant throughout the night – the enthusiastic crowd knew every single word. The connection each concertgoer felt with Chinouriri was apparent, and her constant check-ins with the crowd to make sure they felt comfortable and safe, going as far as calling out each section of the venue separately, displayed her sincere care towards her fans, a two-way outpouring of love that was beautiful to witness.

While introducing her song “Even,” Chinouriri delivered an impactful message. Chinouriri called out that the song was “written with another Black woman in the space,” Cat Burns, and brought out Alameda to sing the song with her. Before doing so, she gave a glimpse into the struggles she has faced to get to where she is today, stating that “Being a Black woman in indie and pop spaces has been hard, but it hasn’t stopped me from being here!” On tour, Chinouriri has been vocal about her efforts toward carving out a space for the underrepresented minorities in indie-pop. She urged the Black women in the room to push against the stereotypes working against them because they can do anything that they want to do, drawing a huge cheer from the crowd.

Chinouriri’s outfit told a similar story and was a wonderful representation of self. A cheetah print top and hot pink mini-skirt exhibited her fun, playful side and was paired with buckled platform boots and a studded leather belt showcasing her grit and fighting spirit.

“Robbed” works through a personal experience Chinouriri faced losing her niece unexpectedly at six days old. While it used to be hard for her to sing, she explained that now, it’s a beautiful way to remember her. “This is for anyone who’s ever lost someone” was her dedication before beginning to sing, and the sombre tune moved the crowd. The audience was still as they took in the bittersweet message, and many shed a tear.

She ended the night with her top hits, “The Hills,” “Can We Talk About Isaac?,” “All I Ever Asked,” and “Never Need Me.” Chinouriri’s music offers a chance to confront hard-hitting moments in life and their respective emotional fallouts, and there definitely an air of cathartic release as everyone screamed and danced along.

Overall, Chinouriri cemented herself as a rising pop star that rainy night in Chicago. The blend of vocals, dancing, songwriting, and stage presence all highlighted her incredible artistry. Her personality throughout her time on stage emanated warmth, a sparkling genuineness that resonated with her fans, which an unforgettable, heartwarming experience. She’s on the rise, and I can’t wait to keep following her journey and witness the new heights she’ll reach.