Rachel Chinouriri Confronts Her Mirror Reflections On New Album ‘I think I spoke too soon’
On her sophomore record, the “All I Ever Asked” singer reflects on the different versions of who she becomes.
RACHEL CHINOURIRI: Photographed by Yana Van Nuffel
RACHEL CHINOURIRI: Photographed by Yana Van Nuffel
Marking a leap into a new creative undertaking, Rachel Chinouriri is back in full swing with a sophomore record that speaks to, and reflects, a shift in perspective.
Released through Atlas Artists and Parlophone Records, I think I spoke too soon marks the English singer-songwriterSinger-SongwriterA musician who writes and performs their own songs, typically accompanied by guitar or piano. Valued for personal storytelling and authenticity, singer-songwriters form a major part of the Filipino musicGo to Singer-Songwriter Glossary’s return with a full-length album that allowed her to discover a new version of herself through her experiences.
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“I was partying a lot and drinking a lot. And I just thought maybe it’s not the route that I really want to go down. So I had a lot of self-reflection,” the “All I Ever Asked” singer tells Billboard Philippines.
The 12-track record explores the idea that we can change who we are at any point in our lives, which resembles how she makes music and art following her earlier success.
“I have a lot more patience for myself. I try not to trigger myself when I speak about certain topics and try to write from a different place. And the album, I guess, has this, like, bathroom mirror that becomes a powerful metaphor for confronting different versions of yourself,” she adds.
Much like her experiences of living life, what inspired the record was the idea of a loop of habits. “I feel like when you walk into a bathroom, especially when you’ve partied, or you’re drinking, or you’re going out, you kind of have this thing where you have to, you know, work yourself up to feel better,” she explains.
“But also, I just thought looking into the mirror, you kind of see a different version of yourself maybe inside than what is actually being reflected. And I wanted that to be reflected in this,” she adds.
Before the album was released to the world on October 16, 2026, the singles “One song away from crying,” “Make believe,” and “Broken chair” showcased Chinouriri’s venture into a wholly different sound compared to her previous releases.
“I was excited to go more electronic, sort of indie pop. I was inspired by a lot of, like Passion Pit, MGMT, Madonna, Kylie Minogue. I was inspired by a lot of those sorts of things, which is really cool, which is obviously slightly different from what I had before, which was quite indie, indie rock-influenced,” she details.
The album’s focus track, “Pretty girls,” celebrates women, self-confidence, and freedom of expression without fear of being judged. Revealing the beauty of womanhood, the song puts individuality in the spotlight in true Rachel Chinouriri fashion.
Speaking about habits and steering away from the usual and what she’s used to, Chinouriri tried to allow herself to try something new this time around. Having worried about heading into the disco route, she felt a sense of relief once the tracks came to light.
Where there are parts of learning to let go of and being open to embracing, she learned to be comfortable with not having to overexplain herself. “I’m getting more comfortable with allowing myself to be an introvert. When I know people, I’m quite extroverted. So I think with my fanbase and my team and stuff, I’m quite extroverted,” she says.
On the other hand, tapping into her introverted self, especially when in a room full of strangers, is a transition she’s getting used to.
Listen to I think I spoke too soon below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Chinouriri drew on a period of partying, drinking, and self-reflection, using a “bathroom mirror” metaphor to explore confronting different versions of herself across the 12-track record.
The album released October 16, 2026, through Atlas Artists and Parlophone Records, marking Rachel Chinouriri’s follow-up full-length after her earlier indie rock-leaning work.
She leaned into electronic, indie-pop production inspired by Passion Pit, MGMT, Madonna, and Kylie Minogue, a shift from the indie rock influence of her previous releases.
“One song away from crying,” “Make believe,” and “Broken chair” previewed the album, showcasing Chinouriri’s shift toward a more electronic, indie-pop direction.
“Pretty girls” celebrates women, self-confidence, and freedom of expression, spotlighting individuality and womanhood as the album’s standout focus track.
