Rachel Chinouriri for her song “The Hills”, makeup by Georgia Hope Makeup
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RACHEL CHINOURIRI post from January 23rd 2022 expressing the difficulties of being a black woman in Indie Alternative Music
Before then it was always “indie” or “alternative” or even “electronic”. Then it became…
“You sound like a white girl”
“I can hear influences of soul”
“This is kind of RnB”
“Neo soul?”
“This is white music”
No, I am just black and you see my colour before you hear my music.
I, like many others, enter a space which would rather adapt the space than accept us
Urban, alternative RnB, Pop/RnB, Neo Soul
This is not to say there aren’t amazing black artists who make this music… it’s just not all of us.
If you didn’t know what unconscious bias was before, this is an example.
I don’t hate or hold anger to people who mistake me as I’m aware it’s confusing sometimes. Artists are genre bending more than EVER, including myself but it’s ALWAYS rooted from indie/alternative/electronic or pop influences.
In my early days, to be put into genres I never grew up listening to was so bizzare to me, then it clicked it was because of my skin.
Any producer I have worked with can tell you that I have never once referenced an RnB, soul, blues, jazz song.
I grew up listening to hours of Daughter, Coldplay, ry x, kodaline, James Blake, sampha, labrinth, melanie martinez etc
This is not to say that I’m not seen as indie now, but the journey here has sometimes pained me and it’s because I was scared to speak up.
I’m even scared to post this incase “I lose support” from people which is so weird… I feel like crying.
2020 the industry posted black squares and publicly promised to listen to black artists so let’s talk, not just then… but until we don’t have to anymore .
I’m honest with my music, this is just one thing that always scares me.
My biggest regret is not speaking when these things happened sooner because when I have, the reaction (for me) has been extremely understanding. I am SO lucky to have @atlasartists
Speaking up and unapologetically being myself rather than adapting has made my experience in the industry so much more pleasant.
Anyways, I love you all.
Black artists exist in every genre,
Just let us in x
This is me
Lots of love, rachel x
🥺
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