Rachel Chinouriri pulls out of Remi Wolf shows over US tour costs

Singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri has announced she’s cancelling her US shows because it’s too expensive.

The Never Need Me singer had been due to support Remi Wolf and also play some festival dates.

But in a statement on X and Instagram, Rachel, who released her debut album earlier this year, said the “financial strain of touring has become too much”.

Artists have previously spoken out about the rising costs of visas to perform in the US making it almost impossible to make money.

“This year I’ve invested all my savings and earnings into my shows, styling and band to be able to tour,” Rachel wrote.

“Despite my best efforts to secure funding for this incredible opportunity, it hasn’t been possible.

“This is the tough reality of the music industry.”

Remi confirmed on social media that Rachel had to pull out due to “unforeseen circumstances” and said she’d be replaced by Slimdan.

Commenting on Remi’s Instagram post, Rachel said she was “heartbroken but I know this tour is gonna be a dream”.

Rachel was nominated for the BBC’s Sound of 2023 and since releasing her debut album, What A Devastating Turn of Events, earlier this year she has performed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Glastonbury.

She had been due to support Remi Wolf for 10 of her shows, starting next month in New York and finishing in California in October.

The US singer kicks off the North American part of her tour in a couple of weeks before coming to the UK in December.

Rachel said she “adores Remi and her fanbase” and had “explored every possible option to make this work”.

Since April, new rules have meant the cost of getting a visa to perform in the US has more than doubled for performers.

Before the changes, the two visas that artists are likely to have to apply for – O or P visas – cost $460.

The new prices vary based on factors like who artists will be working with when they get to the US but can be more than $1,000.

Additional expenses like legal costs and processing fees can also add to the total bill.

The US embassy previously told Newsbeat it had been facing rising costs for things like rent, staffing and the technology it uses, as well as a backlog in handling applications after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Applications have taken longer to process as a result of that backlog, leading some artists to pay up to $2,805 in extra fees to speed it up.

When the changes were brought in, The Last Dinner Party bassist Georgia Davies said the costs meant it was becoming “increasingly impossible” for artists to tour.

Irish singer-songwriter CMAT said the costs made touring the states unprofitable.

“We’re never making money, it’s not a possibility,” she said.

Remi’s also being supported on her Big Ideas tour by Lava La Rue, a British-Jamaican musician from London.

Rachel told her US fans she’d be back as soon as she could be.

She’s due to perform at Reading and Leeds festival this weekend before a UK tour later this year.

BBC Newsbeat has contacted representatives for Rachel Chinouriri and Remi Wolf requesting further comment.

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