Rachel Chinouriri is peeling back another layer of her upcoming second album, and this one cuts especially close to the bone. Today the rising UK artist shared "Make Believe," a darkly shimmering, sensual new single that arrives as the second preview of I Think I Spoke Too Soon, out October 16 via Parlophone/Warner Records! Believe us when we say, this one is a can’t miss.

Beneath its seductive surface, "Make Believe" is really about the gap between how we present ourselves and what we're actually feeling. Chinouriri has described the track as capturing a version of herself that reads as empowered on the outside while actually masking deep insecurity, the kind of self-betrayal that happens when you let someone who clearly doesn't value you keep access to your life anyway. It's a heavy theme wrapped in a deceptively smooth package, the sensual atmosphere of the production acting almost as camouflage for the vulnerability underneath, which is exactly what makes the song hit as hard as it does.

That push and pull between surface and substance feels like the throughline of this whole era for Chinouriri. "Make Believe" follows lead single "One Song Away From Crying," an iridescent burst of synth-pop that captured its own specific kind of emotional whiplash, the moment on a dancefloor when you realize you've never looked better and never felt worse. Together, the two songs suggest an album unafraid to sit in contradiction, and I Think I Spoke Too Soon looks like it's building on exactly that tension across its full runtime.

It's also a significant creative leap. Chinouriri's 2024 debut, What A Devastating Turn of Events, was a genuine critical breakthrough, earning a four-star review from NME and landing at number ten on the outlet's list of the year's 50 best albums. Rather than chase that same formula, I Think I Spoke Too Soon picks up where that record left off and pushes further into new creative territory, expanding her already distinct alt-indie-pop sound into bigger, more textured spaces. Early signs point to an artist who's grown more comfortable taking risks with both her writing and her sound, which is exactly what a second album should do.

Chinouriri isn't slowing down between now and the album's release, either. She's set to perform as the musical guest on SNL UK on September 26, a high-profile spot that should introduce her to plenty of new listeners ahead of the album drop. From there, she heads into December for a run of U.S. arena shows supporting Gracie Abrams, a pairing that puts her in front of massive crowds right as I Think I Spoke Too Soon will be freshly out in the world.

With one more single confirming just how much range this album has, October 16 can't come soon enough. "Make Believe" is streaming now, the album is available to pre-order and pre-save, and between the SNL UK spot and the Gracie Abrams dates, Rachel Chinouriri is about to have one of the biggest stretches of her career so far.

Pre-Order/Pre-Save - “I Think I Spoke Too Soon”

Rachel Chinouriri Live - 2026

11th September – Trabendo, Paris, FR – SOLD OUT

13th September – Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam, NL – SOLD OUT

16th September - Säälchen, Berlin, DE

2nd December – Ball Arena, Denver, CO*

3rd December – Ball Arena, Denver, CO*

6th December – Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA*

7th December – Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA*

9th December – Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ*

10th December – Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ*

14th December – Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA*

*w/ Gracie Abrams

2027

23rd – 24th January – Lollapalooza India, Mumbai, IN

16th February – Enmore Theatre, Sydney, AU

17th February – 170 Russell, Melbourne, AU

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Rachel Chinouriri shares a sultry new single, "Make Believe"