With so much new music floating around the interwebs, sometimes it’s hard to dig a little deeper and find out more about a promising artist.

That’s why The Profile is breaking it down for you. The Pitch takes care of the nitty gritty factual bits, The Plot serves as a Q & A with the artist, and The Plug is where you can go for more.

The Pitch

Rainbow Chan is a Sydney singer/producer with a love for story-telling. An eclectic mix of vintage tones, strange textures and glitchy sounds, her music is forward-thinking pop, embedded in the nostalgic imagination.

The Plot

Hometown: “I was born in Hong Kong and devoted my early childhood to studying the songs and bowl-cuts of Canto-pop stars. Sydney has been home for a long time though and I’m as inspired by a delicious cronut as by the abundance of artistic talent in this city. I’m really enjoying the throbbing sensuality of a lot of music coming out at the moment. Dance floors are punctuated by bugged out club numbers, car rides are made more silly with washy, droney tracks, lounge rooms are filled with confessional RnB. Sweating it out with friends keeps me active and counteracts the cronuts.”

Influences: “I adore the wonderfully naff aesthetic of a lot retro Asian pop such as Meiko Nakahara, Toshi Kobuta and Aaron Kwok. It’s a strange appropriation of the West that is also distinctly Eastern. I can relate to this East-West feedback loop because I constantly work between the two spheres. I grew up listening to a lot of Golden Oldies too that my grandma would put onto mix tapes for family car trips so I guess that’s where my melodic and pop sensibilities come from. This is where I take my dancing cues.

On current rotation are the Kelela “Cut 4 Me” Mixtape, Dj Rashad, Ciara, Cupp Cave and Oneohtrix Point Never. Lately, I’ve been binging on Joe Hisaishi who has composed extensively for Studio Ghibli films and Japanese director Beat Takeshi. His use of dreamy synth pads, repetitive musical ideas and epic key changes makes me wish he could soundtrack my life. 

First song you ever wrote: “It was called “Dagger in my heart” written at the tender age of 14 about my first heartbreak. Times were dark when raging hormones ruled. I also sang with an Aussie accent because I was a massive Missy Higgins fangirl at the time. I even silk-screened her face on a DIY fan shirt and wore it to her concert. That’s how cool I was.”

Favourite local act: “Cassius Select. That boy knows how to move. Lavurn is one of the most talented and humble humans I know. I saw him recently where he played under a simple spotlight and the crowd formed a circle around him. I haven’t been moved by music in a long time, but I was. Pure energy, percussive chops, warbling bass! I am in awe of by how Lavurn can make music that is very minimal yet complex, innovative and elegant.

Two of my local influences/friends are Sui Zhen and Moon Holiday. They are such hardworking artists and are driven by similar musical interests and values as me. I’m really looking forward to their forthcoming releases.”

Favourite local venue: “Goodgod Small Club always brings good times because they put on diverse nights. They go to town with the smoke machine which I like.”

Dream collaboration/s: “Blood Orange.”

Dream rider: “Give me some ramen and Yakult.”

Best gig you’ve ever been to: “Björk on the Opera House steps, 2008. I cried so hard I almost hyperventilated. She has played a massive influence on me. That night ended perfectly with ‘Declare Independence’ and fireworks against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.”

Venue Or Festival you’d love to play: “I’d love to play in a cave cathedral.”

The Plug

Rainbow will be performing as part of Sydney’s Vivid Live festival.
May 24th: Since I Left You – A Celebration Of The Avalanches
May 30th: Astral People’s Vivid Live Sydney show

You can also check out the recently released the video to ‘Fruit’ the bonus track on Rainbow’s Long Vacation 12″, available in solid yellow at the Silo Arts online store.

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