Ahead of her debut album’s release next month, Rachel Chinouriri is prepared for people to have questions about its artwork. “Your first reaction, especially if you’re black seeing that, might be like, ‘What on Earth is she doing’?,” she tells BBC Newsbeat.
The singer’s talking about the England flag, which features prominently on the cover. Rachel includes herself among those people from minority backgrounds who have a complicated relationship with the St George’s Cross. Some would argue it has come to symbolise oppression or racism. But Rachel says she’s determined to reclaim it.
Born in London to Zimbabwean parents, the 25-year-old says her upbringing hasn’t been without its challenges. “I have had lots of things with racism and discrimination in the UK but I still feel like the UK is my home,” she says. “Even though there were points I felt really unwelcome.”
Rachel’s been releasing a steady stream of singles and EPs since 2018 and her upcoming debut album, “What A Devastating Turn of Events”, explores the idea of home.
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