Spindle Radar: CHINCHILLA Ushers In Her New Music Era With Electric Single ‘Little Girl Gone’

London-based artist CHINCHILLA is entering her new music era with her brand new single, ‘Little Girl Gone.’ Since 2019, the young talent has captivated music listeners with her unapologetic and empowering music. Over the course of three years, CHINCHILLA has earned millions of streams, performed at some of the UK’s most popular festivals, and has been nominated for several accolades, including two Estonian Music Awards. With her dynamic comeback single ‘Little Girl Gone’ currently making the rounds, CHINCHILLA’s new music era is gearing up to be her best yet. We were able to chat with the songstress about everything from ‘Little Girl Gone,’ 2023 goals, TikTok fame, and so much more. Read our full interview below. 

Hey CHINCHILLA! Thanks so much for speaking with us today. How are you?

I’m good! Life is so chaotic at the moment but good chaos. 

Congratulations on the release of ‘Little Girl Gone’, it’s a banger. Tell us a little more about the single!

Ah man, this single! It has so much of me in it- I’d describe it as the feeling of exploding after biting your tongue too long. I felt so liberated writing it, and I think that’s why it’s resonating with people, because so many people know that feeling of being walked all over or people pleasing for too long and wanting to just scream it out. 

You’ve just gone completely independent for this new music — how does it feel to be doing this alone after being signed to a major label? 

Every success I have from this song just means so much more to me, I keep crying! I think I just reached a point after a really rough year in this industry where I was so low and needed to do this totally independently for a while. It took a while to feel confident and empowered enough to do that but I got my mojo back and I’m more feisty than ever! 

The preview of ‘Little Girl Gone’ is doing so well on TikTok, too! Must be an amazing feeling seeing so many people loving the track before it’s even out.

It’s completely overwhelming and completely amazing. The type of people it’s resonating with are so ME as well, I love it! Empowered women everywhere – makes me emotional to hear all their stories.

It’s been a couple years since your last EP, ‘Moon Maintenance For Dummies.’ How do you feel you’ve changed as an artist in the last two years?

I think I just feel like this is a big comeback. I feel different in myself; I don’t feel desperate for the music industry’s approval anymore, I just want to make music that I love and that the people who listen to it would love. I feel more connected to the people who listen to my music than ever. And I just feel proud of myself, I’ve really worked on myself and I’m protecting this energy. 

You’ve had a pretty amazing journey so far from supporting legends like Sting and McFly, and playing the main stage at Isle of Wight Festival — do you have any goals you’d like to achieve, either in the near future or in general?

I have so many, I have them all written out in a book which no one will find! They say to keep your goals to yourself… right? 

Let’s take it back to the beginning — have you always been drawn towards making music? What were your influences growing up?

Definitely, yeah, I loved huge female powerhouses like Beyoncé, Janis Joplin, Christina Aguilera, Aretha Franklin. Big voices I always looked up to and specifically in big boss women. I also always loved the creative artistry of everything, like Katy Perry and the candy cane worlds she made, Paloma Faith’s stage shows, and Lady Gaga’s red carpet looks. I just love breaking rules and getting creative with stuff. Recently I really love Ashnikko, Lil Nas X, and Raye – people who are doing something a bit different and creating their own worlds…

You have such a unique and distinct style, both sonically and also with your outfits. Do you have any major style inspirations, and have you always had an interest in fashion as well as music? 

I’ve always loved fashion, yes, I think it’s the only other thing I can think of that I’d do if I didn’t do music. I love a glue gun, and I love making my own hats and things. I really like drawing inspiration from different places like steam punk, the artful dodger (form Oliver!), Willy Wonka, the mad hatter, to Prince to, Rihanna to Helena Bonham Carter! I really like grabbing inspiration from everywhere. 

Why the name CHINCHILLA? 

I just really liked it as a name and sound, I used to wear a lot of faux fur jackets, and I guess I always have my claw-like nails on… Then I was choosing between a few names in a cab, and chinchilla kept coming back to me, and a Nicki Minaj song was on the radio, and she said ‘Chinchilla’ in it while I was thinking about it…. done deal. A sign from Nicki! 

Do you have any dream collaborators? 

I’ve always said Mark Ronson, but there’s loads, to be honest. I’d love to do a song with Sam Smith or Raye – their stuff is amaaaaazing. 

What else can we expect from CHINCHILLA for the rest of 2023? 

Soooo much new music!!! Big big things.

Listen to CHINCHILLA’s brand new single ‘Little Girl Gone’ here or below.