I didn’t see myself bursting into tears in the middle of a venue, holding a camera on my Friday night bucket list when I first turned up to watch Rachel Chinouriri this evening at The Globe … but here we are.

Kicking off her UK Tour, with her first stop and show in Cardiff, this was going to be a night talked about for weeks to come. There was something about The Globe that really allowed for Rachel to connect with her audience on a personal level. Whether that was inviting them up on stage for a dance, or hugging them when she spotted a member crying after her song ‘So My Darling’ (also the song I cried at too), it didn’t go unnoticed just how much she truly adored her fans.

It’s so wonderful to be in a room filled with people who love the person they have come to see. Everyone was so tightly intertwined together, that it almost felt as though the crowd was all huddled up on the stage too. That they were the band as well as the singers. Bopping heads, swaying bodies, there wasn’t a moment where you didn’t feel the love pour out from every single person in that room.

Everyone was dressed for the occasion. Sparkly hair clips, bows in hair, cute outfits, honestly I felt like I’d found my people the minute I walked into the venue. The venues playlist flowed through the space, as everyone chatted and looked around, gearing up for what was going to be an incredible evening of music in its most raw and vulnerable form.

The night began with support from Leonie Biney, as the crowd peacefully listened and hung onto every single word she sung. Sweet acoustic songs filled the ears of the crowd, as Leonie introduced her orange guitar called ‘Lorax’, making the crowd giggle before revealing that for every tour stop she had made something, that evening being the top she was wearing. Ever the supportive community, the crowd drew her in to the biggest (metaphorical) hug and sent her on her way with screams of love as she finished her set.

Sitting back down on a couch, I tucked myself away until it was time for Rachel to come onto play. And, wow did she come onto stage. You almost felt her before you saw her, her stage presence was truly electrifying. Floating onto the stage like a butterfly, Rachel effortlessly commanded the attention of everyone in the room with her angelic presence and powerful vocals.

From the moment that the first chords of ‘Garden of Eden’ hit to the final ring of ‘Never Need Me’, her rich and soulful vocals soared through the venue, conveying a range of emotions from vulnerability to empowerment. I left that venue later in the evening, feeling like I could take on everything that was bothering me in my life and change it into something positive. Something worth it. Not everything was bad, that I can ‘underspend love but can’t overspend it, so I might as well spend as much of it as I can’.

After every song, the crowd erupted into coos and yells of encouragement, hugging each other and wiping tears. I suddenly wished that I had my best friends by my side, that everyone I loved could experience these moments with me. Bittersweet, sweet because I was apart of this evening and bitter because it would end soon.

The set list showcased a mix of old favourites and new tracks from her debut album ‘What A Devastating Turn of Events’. Highlights included the live debut of ‘I Hate Myself ’, ‘So My Darling’ and ‘It Is What It Is’ (my personal favourite and man was it a good cathartic release to scream along to the lyrics of this one). Each song was delivered with an effortless passion, leaving the audience mesmerised, me included.

As the night drew to a close, I was left with a heart overflowing and ears that surprisingly weren’t ringing! Rachel’s performance at The Globe was truly so special and a triumph, the audience left wanting more as her first show in Cardiff showcased her talent and artistry perfectly. It’s clear that, no matter what, Rachel is a force to be reckoned with in the industry and I, for one, am so excited to join along for the ride.

Thank you to Rachel for this evening, for this cathartic release and thank you to The Globe for having me. I can’t wait to see you again.

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Written by Meg Ivy Brunning