It was only a matter of time before these two powerhouses joined forces: In the past two years, Rachel Chinouriri and Cat Burns have established themselves as two of the most promising pop voices in the UK, and on October 2nd, 2024, they released their first collaboration, titled ‘Even’.
Rachel and Cat respectively released their debut albums What a Devastating Turn of Events and early twenties this year. Both albums dealt with issues that lots of young people, especially girls, can relate to, and both artists are known for their genuineness and authenticity.
Their collaboration has been a long time coming, as they have been friends for years, having spent time together at BRIT School.
With ‘Even’, they tackle an ever present issue: The unfair reality that artists of colour, women especially, have to work harder than their white peers to be respected, taken seriously and cherished. Throughout the song, they give many examples of this and explain in great detail what they are going through in the industry, summing it up with the line “Guess they never played us even.” Neither Rachel or Cat are ones for overly complicated metaphors or euphemisms. Instead, they have a very straightforward style of writing, which is why listening to their songs often feels like catching a glimpse inside their diaries. ‘Even’ is no exception. Certainly, the most poignant, hard-hitting lyric is the line “Isn’t it crazy that when I raise my voice or speak my mind, I risk everything being taken from me?”
Despite the song’s heavy subject, the chorus is sonically lighthearted and, like the rest of the track, has a beautiful flow. Cat’s velvet voice matches Rachel’s tender vocals perfectly, especially in the last chorus.
Rachel Chinouriri and Cat Burns are the very definition of a dream team, so here’s hoping that ‘Even’ won’t be their last collaboration!
Written by: Melanie Falkensteiner
Edited by: Shanna Henselmans
