FEATURE:
Spotlight
CHINCHILLA
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HAVING released….
some awesome music in 2023, I am embarrassed it has taken me until now to discover the magnificent CHINCHILLA. The alias of Daisy Bertenshaw, the London-based artist is someone that everyone needs to watch. Released in April, Little Girl Gone, is her most recent track. I know there will be new music really soon. Even though CHINCHILLA has been on the scene for a little while now, I think that this and next year will be her most successful and busy. She released her debut album, Awakening, in 2020. I know there are a lot of people out there who will be looking forward to a new album. Truly one of the most impressive and important artists out there right now, I wanted to spotlight CHINCHILLA here. I am going to come to some 2023 interviews soon. Before that, Our Culture Mag spoke with the tremendous CHINCHILLA in 2020. This was early during the pandemic. Not an ideal time for an artist who was trying to make an impression and get her music shared, I wonder whether she thought, three years later, she would be talked about as this incredible artist with a hugely bright future. Being played on stations like BBC Radio 6 Music:
“Firstly, how are you, and how have you been coping with the current COVID-19 crisis?
‘How are you’ – the question which means SO MUCH MORE in lockdown… I’m alright! Ups and downs. Thriving and surviving. Focusing on music and checking on friends a lot. Trying not to be glued to my phone and stay hydrated… easier said than done.
You recently released a new single named ‘The Lockdown Getdown,’ how did the idea for it come about and what was the goal of the piece?
Me and one of my best friends Boonif wrote and produced this together, purely as a bit of fun to be honest. We were chatting all things quarantine and he said, ‘have you written a lockdown song yet?’ Which I hadn’t, and we went from there, listing off all the things we’d been doing in lockdown and were sick of. We’d both been having trouble sleeping and burning lavender oil to try and help us sleep, which is where the first lyric ‘lavender on my sheets, but I still can’t get to sleep’ came from. We really just got bored of the mundane new reality and thought ‘fuck this I’m gonna be fabulous’ – just wanted to spread some joy I think.
Were there any challenges making the song?
There are always challenges, Lockdown didn’t make things easy, and actually in the lead up to this single I’m pretty sure I had some sort of version of corona virus, was stuck in bed for 2 weeks which prolonged this song coming out… how ironic. But, in saying that, with this song in particular it really just felt like fun. We had such joy writing it, producing it, recording it, shooting the cover for it, etc. All of it just felt… really fun? I’m lucky to have that kind of team around me. I think you can hear that joy in the song.
If you could give any advice to somebody who wants to become a musician, what would it be?
I’d say trust your instincts. Take in the knowledge of those around you but also know that a gut feeling about something can be powerful as fuck and level out years of experience. Try to stay in the present – not think too much about the future, the past, or compare yourself /your progress to others around you”.
Despite the fact she has released so many terrific songs, Little Girl Gone has taken on a life of its own. It may be the song that most associate with CHINCHILLA. It is definitely one of the best songs of this year. I am keen for as many people as possible to investigate the exceptional CHINCHILLA. Why Now spoke with CHINCHILLA around the release of Little Girl Gone. A song that resonated so quickly, it shows that we have a very special artist in our midst:
“CHINCHILLA’s story, in many ways, epitomises the current climate for emerging artists. Making what she terms ‘feisty pop’ – which traverses between RnB and alt-pop and bears her signature powerful vocals – the London-based artist was previously signed to major label Sony, before the desire for greater artistic freedom proved too great.
Leaving such a backing is never easy, but the artist, writer and producer now finds herself riding a wave of support on TikTok for her latest track ‘Little Girl Gone’, which got its full release today.
With many resonating with the lyrics that tap into a feeling of “feminine rage” – generating millions of views for CHINCHILLA’s videos on the platform in the process – we speak to the artist about her present success, her tour support for McFly, and how Nicki Minaj unknowingly blessed her with her artistic moniker.
CHINCHILLA, it seems things are taking off for you right now, especially on TikTok. How’s that going?
Insane. Last year I said I was going independent and planned all these things. I didn’t have it in mind the first single would completely blow up and basically turn my life upside down. So now I’m trying to manage all the things I already had going on, which was already busy, and then do all this new stuff.
You’ve described ‘Little Girl Gone’ as a comeback song. Where have you been? And what have you been up to?
I had a while where I wasn’t really able to release any music. A lot was going on in the music industry for me, which was super shit, and it was very hard. I had a lot of times when I thought I couldn’t do it anymore, I was really down. The music industry’s hard enough for an artist to break through when you’re doing well. I split with, and lost, a lot of my team, and a lot of my support, and was going through a lot of legal stuff. It’s very hard to be motivated and write your best music when you’re feeling so low.
Then I found anger, which was the next stage. So that’s why I call this my comeback single. This is a really new era for me, and I feel more empowered than I’ve ever felt, especially within the music industry. It’s so nice this song has done well. I love the song, but never expected this kind of reaction.
Does it feel like a vindication in your decision to go independent?
I think it does. And that’s not to say I won’t work with teams of people again, in terms of management and label. But now I’m in a position where I know I can do this myself better than with anyone else. It’s proven that doing this by myself for a bit, and finding that empowerment, being a one-man band, has done the best for me. So if I’m going to bring anyone else on my team, it needs to be people who are enthusiastic; I don’t have the time or energy to be making anyone else feel that about my project – otherwise I’ll do it by myself.
Do you feel part of a community – that “female rage community”, as you put it – trying to turn the tide on all of that?
Definitely. I feel like it’s always been in me, that’s why the people this track has reached couldn’t be a better group of people. That’s the underlying theme of all my songs: some sort of empowerment. Every time I write a ballad, I never want to feel sorry for myself. If someone suggests a lyric in a co-writing session, I’ll say if I don’t like it. Or if it’s too based on another person, I’ll try and make it say something more about me. I think it’s in my DNA that I have this female empowerment thing in my in my bones. I just love boss women.
Why the name, CHINCHILLA?
It’s funny – I don’t have a very good story for this – but I was choosing between names. I always used to wear big faux fur coats, and I have my nails that are usually long. I loved the sound of the word, and always came back to it. I was picking between a couple names in an Uber, because I felt I really needed to pick one at that stage. A Nicki Minaj song was playing; I just wanted a sign and then she said ‘Chinchilla’ in the song [‘Letcha Go’], as I was thinking it”.
I am going to wrap up very soon. There are a couple of other interviews that I want to get to. Spindle celebrated Little Girl Gone – declaring this a new era for a wonderful artist. The incredible Moon Maintenance for Dummies was released in 2021. A brilliant E.P., it further cemented the fact that CHINCHILLA is an artist with a massive future. Despite the fact she is not a ‘rising’ artist as such, she is someone who has not reached all ears yet. I wanted to concentrate on her, because I think that she is on the cusp of something amazing:
“It’s been a couple years since your last EP, ‘Moon Maintenance For Dummies.’ How do you feel you’ve changed as an artist in the last two years?
I think I just feel like this is a big comeback. I feel different in myself; I don’t feel desperate for the music industry’s approval anymore, I just want to make music that I love and that the people who listen to it would love. I feel more connected to the people who listen to my music than ever. And I just feel proud of myself, I’ve really worked on myself and I’m protecting this energy.
You’ve had a pretty amazing journey so far from supporting legends like Sting and McFly, and playing the main stage at Isle of Wight Festival — do you have any goals you’d like to achieve, either in the near future or in general?
I have so many, I have them all written out in a book which no one will find! They say to keep your goals to yourself… right?
Let’s take it back to the beginning — have you always been drawn towards making music? What were your influences growing up?
Definitely, yeah, I loved huge female powerhouses like Beyoncé, Janis Joplin, Christina Aguilera, Aretha Franklin. Big voices I always looked up to and specifically in big boss women. I also always loved the creative artistry of everything, like Katy Perry and the candy cane worlds she made, Paloma Faith’s stage shows, and Lady Gaga’s red carpet looks. I just love breaking rules and getting creative with stuff. Recently I really love Ashnikko, Lil Nas X, and Raye – people who are doing something a bit different and creating their own worlds…
You have such a unique and distinct style, both sonically and also with your outfits. Do you have any major style inspirations, and have you always had an interest in fashion as well as music?
I’ve always loved fashion, yes, I think it’s the only other thing I can think of that I’d do if I didn’t do music. I love a glue gun, and I love making my own hats and things. I really like drawing inspiration from different places like steam punk, the artful dodger (form Oliver!), Willy Wonka, the mad hatter, to Prince to, Rihanna to Helena Bonham Carter! I really like grabbing inspiration from everywhere”.
I am going to finish with another interview around the release of Little Girl Gone. Headliner Magazine chatted with the remarkable CHINCHILLA about a smasher of a single. We also learn more about an artist that people seriously need to follow and show some love for. There is nobody quite like her on the scene at the moment:
“Accent aside, her self-deprecating sense of humour (and choice use of F-bombs) immediately gives away she’s a Brit, although a lot of people assume she’s from the US. Maybe it’s her big hat energy, or the sheer bravado, Headliner suggests?
“Everyone keeps saying this,” she says, delighted. “I’m kind of loving it, I’m not gonna lie. I quite like being this enigma. But yeah, I'm totally British,” she grins.
‘The CHIN’ – as she calls herself – has been releasing music for years, but something hit different with this comeback song, which lands like a gut punch thanks to lyrics which are literally screamed into your ears: ‘Say that again, I didn't quite hear you / Messed with the wrong bitch in the wrong era / I been at work and I got my badge of honour / Honey, I've changed so much since I last saw you.’
The empowering song spits out all the words CHINCHILLA has been bottling up after having it up to here with people-pleasing and being underestimated. She says it’s the most ‘me’ song she’s ever written. It’s pure, feral venom – (‘I like your blood on my teeth just a little too much / So bite me, slap me round the face / Now I'm twisting your arm 'til I hear it break’) – “I didn’t want the lyrics to be glamorous, I wanted to draw up chaos,” she explains.
I've never had a response or reaction like I’ve had to this song.
Aside from being an absolute banger, Little Girl Gone is a call to arms. It’s a war cry for the broken, the abused, the downtrodden and those fed up of being told to smile.
It’s for every woman who’s had to bite her tongue after being talked down to or underestimated, had to make an excuse after a new bruise appears, for everyone who walked away humiliated after not standing up for themself who wins a new version of the argument in their head later on. People will be screaming this in their cars at full volume after a bad day at work. Forget sad girl music, Little Girl Gone is where to go to channel your rage.
“I write a lot of songs, and every song that I've put out into the world, I'm obsessed with, otherwise I wouldn't have put it out,” says CHINCHILLA.
“So I feel that every song I write has the potential to do really well. Some will do better than others, but I've never had a response or reaction like I’ve had to this song. When I wrote it, my mind was blown and I loved it instantly.
"I was dancing down the street to it on the way home from the session – I don't do that,” she stresses, explaining that the music video immediately came to life as she was getting the words down.
“I could see the music video in the session,” she nods. “I was writing the song and also writing the music video concept – literally storyboarding the music video while I was not even finished writing the song. I had two documents open on my laptop: one for the music video, one for the song,” she laughs.
“I felt like this song was a bit different. You always hope that it's going to have the reaction that you want it to have, but it's mind blowing what's happened with it?” She poses this as a question rather than a statement, as if at any moment the song’s trajectory could be revealed to be an elaborate hoax.
TikTok exists in its own social media bubble; does CHINCHILLA worry that people will only show her love in the app?
“Yeah, definitely,” she admits. “It can happen where people love the song, but it doesn't go as far as loving the artists. I think because I have a big image, people bought into that, which I'm so grateful for. I think people can see me as an artist, and not just for one song.
"There's also a lot of personality in the song, and people resonate with that – it makes them feel authentic, raw emotions. I was worried about it getting the same kind of numbers on Spotify, but then I was also kind of confident because I really think that people would want to listen to this song. I don't think it's just a TikTok fad, but you never know,” she shrugs.
It isn’t. CHINCHILLA has already been contacted by fellow artists – “musicians that I love are contacting me, there’s some crazy names being thrown around and I've been in some really exciting sessions,” – and she’s just announced a headline show in London this summer, where fans are encouraged to wear their finest hats.
And on those hats, which are as big of a statement as her all-caps name and unapologetic CHIN ethos. CHINCHILLA is not only self-styled, as an independent artist she self-funded Little Girl Gone and its ass-kicking music video.
“I did have a terrible year last year in the music industry,” she shares. “I split with my management, I split with my label. It was very hard to work out my path. I decided to go independent and just went into turbo. I needed to do the independent thing for a bit. I needed to do this myself.
"It really changed me; I made a switch that was basically, ‘I'm not doing this for the music industry's approval anymore.’”
She explains: “I had tons of meetings with new managers last year and I felt so susceptible to being told, ‘This is a hit. This isn't a hit. This strategy won't work. This strategy will work. You can't be too personable, but you can't be too standoffish. You can't show too much of yourself on social media, but you have to show loads of yourself on social media”.
Go and follow the one and only CHINCHILLA. Daisy Bertenshaw has created this wonderful musical persona that is responsible for music that has changed people’s lives. I am excited to see where she goes next. I know there will be an announcement soon enough when it comes to future plans. Championed as a major talent, there is no denying the brilliance of CHINCHILLA. Make sure that you go and check her music out…
WITHOUT hesitation.
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Follow CHINCHILLA
