London-based singer and producer Chinchilla is (literally) leaving her mark. “I have to be in control of everything I put out –from music to visuals,” she says. With a disruptive and DIY take on her artistry, she self-released her breakthrough single “Little Girl Gone” in April, breaking through industry norms and expectations. Since then, the single has racked up more than 200 million combined streams and nearly 14 million combined views, and she also became the first UK female soloist ever to top Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.

“Last year was terrible with some real lows,” she says plainly. “But it led to a massive change in my mindset. I was like, ‘I’m going to do everything independently now and surround myself exclusively with people who are borderline obsessed with my project and I’m obsessed with them!”, she shares. Here, we caught up with the rising star to discuss her viral single, her new chapter flying solo and her secret to stay grounded amidst the whirlwind of success and attention — spoiler: she flies Ryan Air!

Listen to the single…

Read the full interview…

What does a day in the life look like for you at the moment?
Well, today is a special day because I’m in Estonia performing my first ever stadium show with NOËP, not every day looks like that… but my life has got crazy enough that things like this are not that unusual anymore – it’s a dream.

Congratulations on the massive success of “Little Girl Gone”! Could you take us back to the moment you decided to release it independently?
Thank you! Last year I went through a lot and really had to rebuild myself and my project from the ground up. I needed to stop pleasing people and do it by myself. It just felt right. It’s the best move I’ve ever made.

What drove that decision?
A bunch of music industry bullshit!

What is the message behind “Little Girl Gone”? What do you want your fans to feel when they’re listening to it?
It all comes back to empowerment for me. I think if people take anything from my music I want it to be that. Strength when they need it.

Breaking records as the first UK female artist to top the US Billboard Emerging Artist Chart is a remarkable achievement. How does it feel to know that your music is resonating with audiences worldwide?
It’s been a long haul to get here and it’s all the more rewarding because of that. It’s really amazing that people like it – if I can help people find strength in some small way then that’s so amazing.

With over 201 million streams and 14 million YouTube views for “Little Girl Gone”, how does it feel to see your music connecting with such a massive audience?
It’s really mind-blowing, it’s groundbreaking for me because I’ve been doing this for a while. It’s not come easily or overnight, but this song has just completely lifted everything and to be honest it’s really changed my whole life. I feel really connected to the people listening to it and I think the fact it’s resonated with people emotionally so much is just more than I could ever dream of.

How has social media played a role in propelling your music career?
I hate to say it, but massively. I think we live in a funny world now and the music industry has definitely completely changed with the rise of social media, it’s a bit of a love/hate isn’t it? There’s no question that it can be such an amazing tool though for mass exposure – as I said, it’s been really instrumental in my journey.

Could you share how your personal journey has influenced the messages and themes in your songs?
I’ve always been about empowerment, my songs are often the words I haven’t been able to say in life. Or things I’m working out in my head, or a surge of emotions that I need to get out of my system. Last year when I split with my label and management I hit a really low point, and I really had to claw my way out of it – and I guess that’s where ‘Little Girl Gone’ came from.

How do you maintain creative control over your own sound in such a large-scale industry?
It’s a skill I’ve had to learn and nurture. It comes with time I think, and definitely with bad experiences. But I’m constantly checking in with myself and making sure everything is authentic in what I’m doing, if something isn’t working then I’m quick to change it so that I’m getting the best out of myself. It’s a long self-growth journey actually, a bit exhausting at times but definitely worth it!

How do you stay grounded amidst the whirlwind of success and attention?
I fly Ryan air.

What advice do you have for other rising musicians looking to embark on their music careers?
Say yes when it feels right and no when it doesn’t.

What can your fans expect next from Chinchilla? Are there any hints you can drop about upcoming projects or collaborations?
I have so much new music I’m about to release, I’m so excited about it I can’t put it into words, I’m nervous too, but I can’t wait to get it out.

You can find a teaser for Chinchilla’s next single, “Cut You Off” here!