Chanel Yates’ UK country takeover: From ‘Big Girl Boots’ to ‘Colourblind

Saddle up and meet Chanel Yates, the UK country-pop star turning heads and proving you don’t have to be from across the pond to make waves in a genre dominated by the States. With a fast-growing global fanbase and support from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop, Yates’ honest, no-filter, girl-power songwriting has made her one of the most exciting new voices in country music.

Yates recently announced her first-ever solo headline show in London, which sold out in just two minutes and was immediately upgraded to a bigger venue. The show follows her empowering single Colourblind, viral hits Big Girl Boots and Shotgun Seat, festival appearances at C2C, Reading & Leeds, and tours with Caity Baser and Alexandra Kay.

The UK rising star tells Headliner about making it as a British country artist, reaching a million streams as an independent artist, and the real experiences that influence her songwriting.

First things first, congratulations are in order: your first-ever solo headline show in London sold out the pre-sale in two minutes. What was your reaction to the news?

It was a bit of a shock. Because it sold out in two minutes, we upgraded the venue to Colours in Hoxton. The tickets went on sale at 10 am, and I was just going about my daily things. Then I got a call at five past 10, and I was like, “Oh God, what’s happened?” 

I answered, and the team said, “You’ve sold out.” I always relate it to inviting people to your birthday party and wondering if they’re going to show up, and then everyone shows up. I’m so happy people are connecting with the things that I’m saying. So that’s the most fun part, knowing that you’re doing a good job and that people want to come and see the music. 

It’s going to be such a fun show. I’m already prepping for it now, and there’s going to be a whole band and lots of exciting parts of the show. It’s very theatrical.

Where did your love of country music come from?

My parents never listened to country music. It wasn’t a thing in our household. They loved pop; my mum’s a massive Take That fan, and so was my dad. The first albums that I got for Christmas were Black Eyed Peas and JLS. It was all very pop-related. Avril Lavigne, too – I had her on repeat. Let Go is one of the best albums ever. 

Then I found Alanis Morissette, who was set in the pop space and completely dominated the songwriting from that perspective, and then I discovered Kacey Musgraves. That’s when I realised I wanted to be a songwriter. Jon Bellion is one of my favourite artists of all time, and I was the biggest die-hard One Direction fan. I’ve carried that into my music now. It’s pop-country. Country music is the core of it, but there are a lot of very poppy hooks that I include and try to blend.

Country music is having a huge resurgence in the mainstream UK charts thanks to artists like Beyoncé, Morgan Wallen, and Post Malone. How has it been to see that rise in mainstream popularity over here?

It’s the best thing in the world, because there are just so many country artists coming to the UK now. I got to tour with Alexandra Kay, and that was the biggest dream ever – being able to do that with a US country artist. It’s so cool to see it all happening. Jessie Murph, Megan Moroney coming over here, and Zach Bryan at Hyde Park – it’s amazing.

People hear country music, and they likely think of American artists like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. What is it like representing country music as a UK artist?

I love to just say I’m a country artist, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from. My hometown is Sheffield. A lot of people say I’ve lost the Northern accent, and some people say it’s more American. Some people say it’s more British. But people don’t really know where I’m from. 

It’s fun that I’m British, and people find out and are like, “Oh, wait, she’s from the UK?” It’s a little surprise. Keith Urban is Australian, right? He’s an Aussie country artist, but he’s just a country artist. I think I bring something really fun to the genre, and the fans of country have been so accepting of me and really love my stuff.

Do you feel you need to sing in an American accent to sound “authentically” country?

A lot of people say it, and it’s not even inauthentic – it’s just the way pop songs are. In every pop song ever, everyone sounds American. If we start to sing with a really British accent, it’s a whole style change. Then you’re Lily Allen, you know? That’s her thing – she sings with a very British accent. 

For me, it’s just not authentic to do that, because otherwise it would sound really strange. Naturally, it just comes out that way, with the Ds instead of the Ts. I just use as many authentic references as possible. I still keep the reference in about my size fours, even though in America, a size four is ridiculously small – that’s a baby shoe. But I’m a UK size four, so I keep those subtle little references in there.

Your songwriting is based on your real experiences. Do you get used to revealing personal things about yourself through your music, especially if people you know can guess who the songs are written about?

I see music as therapy. All my songs are about something I’ve been through. People in my life go, “Oh, that’s about this person,” or “I know exactly who this song’s about.” People who don’t know you personally won’t know who it’s about, but they’ll know it’s about someone. 

It’s great to be able to write about real things and to write what you’re going through. People relate to it because your experience isn’t unique. Somebody else has experienced it. Somebody else has been cheated on. Somebody else has been lied to. Somebody else has had a really toxic partner, or a really great partner, or been so in love. Those experiences are so universal. Songwriting ties it all together, especially in this genre. Storytelling is the core of it.

Colourblind is a post-breakup anthem celebrating confidence, self-worth, and growth. What were you thinking about when you wrote this song?

I just got back from Nashville, and I did a lot of sessions out there. I came back feeling really inspired and needed a song to follow Shotgun Seat. I wanted it to be a big anthem. We wrote this in the studio, and we all got goosebumps listening to it. 

When you get that feeling, it’s very rare, so I just ran with it and created Colourblind. To me, the lyrics – “If you’re thinking that the grass is greener on the other side, baby, you’re colourblind – just made sense. The grass isn’t actually greener; it just looks different from what it is.

Big Girl Boots was a rage girl anthem; walking away from someone, putting on your big girl boots. Shotgun Seat was about setting fire to a car. 

With Colourblind, I wanted something a bit more nonchalant. I wanted it to be like, “Yeah, well, you left me – joke’s on you, I’m the better person.” So to me, it’s that sassy, nonchalant big-sister energy in the song. It’s about someone thinking they’re better off without you, but really, they’re wrong.

Some of the most iconic country songs celebrate female rage. Were you inspired by any of the classics?

Of course, Carrie Underwood. And Beyoncé with Lemonade, when she was smashing the car – we all wanted to destroy our ex’s car because he loved it more than us! So I just thought, why not write a song about destroying it?

Does that particular example have any basis in reality, or did you use some creative license?

We'll leave that interpretation [laughs]. He loved his car more than me, so I hated that car.

Big Girl Boots hit a million streams, and all as an independent artist: no manager, no label. What has it been like navigating this and achieving this milestone as an independent artist?

Hitting a million streams feels incredible. It might be a small number to some people, or a huge number to others, but for me, that was always a dream – just to hit one million. As an artist, your first million is a huge milestone, and it’s amazing to see that people are connecting with your music. 

I’m independent and do tours on my own. I don’t always feel independent, though, because I’ve got so many amazing friends, band members, videographers, and talented people around me. I’m finding those people now, building my pool, and I’m very lucky to have some really great people around me.

What can you reveal about any upcoming new music?

What I can tell you is there’s a lot of new music on the way. 2026 is definitely going to be full of new stuff, and I’m really excited to put it out. Hopefully it connects – fingers crossed.

Away from music, what do you like to do?

My life is completely consumed by music; I don’t even know what I do outside of it. I play golf. It’s a nice time because you’re off your phone, just hitting balls. It’s really good for getting anger out, too. Honestly, if you’re angry, go to the golf course, smash some balls, and probably get even more frustrated because they don’t go where you want them to [laughs]. But I love that. 

The gym is super important to me as well. I love to be strong. When you’re on the road, you need to be able to carry stuff, and of course, you need to be fit to run around on stage for an hour. So yeah, the gym and golf are my two little pastimes.

Chanel Yates’ first headline show is at Colours Hoxton in London on February 12th.