Rainbow Chan made a statement recently on her Facebook page claiming that people within the music industry aren’t necessarily taken with her debut album.

Whilst inherently a ‘pop’ record, her new music isn’t exactly radio friendly; the instrumentation is foreign, the vocal melodies are unpredictable, and the sonic palette is eclectic to say the least. But for Rainbow, this record is clearly intended to be more than just an album of pop. Instead, it’s a personal statement, one from a self-aware musician who won’t be stifled by anyone.

In the four years it took Rainbow Chan to write this record, it’s evident that she has been through her fair share of heartbreaks – a theme that provides a strong contrast to what is, in a lot of instances, a bubbly pop record. It seems clear though that a lot of the lyrical content is not only referencing her personal relationships, but also her disenchantment with the process of writing an album.

The most inspiring thematic thread in Spacing is a realisation of self-worth in the confines of a relationship, evident especially in ‘Work’ and ‘Pillow Talk’. These two songs especially hit a chord, because it feels as though Chan has taken those lessons learnt from her personal relationships and applied them to her approach on this record in particular – with incredible results. On Spacings she is wholly and unashamedly Rainbow Chan; a brilliant producer, a vulnerable wordsmith, and a multi-faceted musician.

Unfortunately, she exists in an Australian electronic music landscape cluttered with producers using the same array of Ableton plug-ins and synth palettes, pushing first and foremost for radio acceptance. Instead, she pushes away from the framework set by the aforementioned sceptical “industry people” and lays down for herself her own set of guidelines and expectations of what it means to be a successful musician.

On this defiant record, she pushes for a whole new realm of possibilities for an electronic artist and, in turn, becomes a beacon of hope for musicians afraid of making a body of work that is truly representative of themselves, rather than the industry.

Take a bow, Rainbow.

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