Chinchilla Sets Berlin Ablaze at Sold-Out Headline Show at Badehaus
Written and Captured By | Anne Einecke
UK artist Chinchilla, sold out her first headline show in Berlin at Badehaus on Monday. The alt-pop singer brought an energy to the cozy, colorful venue that left the crowd speechless.
Fans arrived wearing cowboy hats, and the small concert room quickly filled up. The audience waited patiently for the performance to begin, vibing to a female power-pop pre-show playlist.
Without the need for a support act, Chinchilla took the stage about 20 minutes after showtime, joking, “I was told you were late.” She immediately impressed the crowd with her bold look — a black latex top with Spitting Venom painted on it, one of her big cowboy hats, Vivienne Westwood earrings, beige flowing pants, black boots, and fingerless leather gloves.
Grabbing the mic and showing off her signature claws, she instantly proved her extraordinary vocal power with MF Diamond, the show’s opening track. Even the mic stand couldn’t handle her energy and fell during her performance. After several empowering songs, including Fingers and Trigger, Chinchilla revealed her vulnerable side with 1:5, a song about unbalanced love and the painful longing that comes with it.
Despite its somber tone, the setlist stayed well-balanced as the British artist followed up with CAPS LOCK. Introducing the song, she explained she once wanted to get “I’m not finished” tattooed on her palm to shut down people in the music industry who kept interrupting her in meetings when she talked about her dreams and goals — cheekily adding, “It could also be used during sex.” She later reflected on her past experiences in that environment, recalling that the last time she played in Berlin (supporting the Texas duo MISSIO in 2020), she ended up signing a record deal that has since expired. Now, she’s proudly breaking free from yet another one, choosing full independence and creative control.
Once again proving her versatility, Chinchilla performed the heartfelt ballad Cold Water right after the sex-positive anthem One Time. She shared a fun chemistry with her guitarist, letting her shine with an incredible solo during Bounce Back while dancing and twerking beside her.
With the recent release of Ok As I Am: The Trilogy in September, the 28-year-old spoke about how these are the most honest songs she’s ever written, describing the process as both terrifying and liberating. Talking about Avoidance, the first track of the trilogy, she said she wrote it in just 40 minutes during an anxiety attack, joking that songwriting sessions can feel like therapy: “I feel so awful,” and someone says, “Yes, let’s get into that!” — which earned a big laugh from the crowd.
Chinchilla didn’t take herself too seriously either, poking fun at sweating in her latex top: “I wondered if anyone here ever wore one, but then remembered: we’re in Berlin.”
With her authenticity and humor, she completely won over the audience. During her powerful cover of Break the Chain, she harmonized with her fans and later invited a girl wearing her merch on stage to show her appreciation. For her final and most famous track, Little Girl Gone, she stepped off the stage and into the crowd, walking through the center of the room while singing her lungs out.
After the show, Chinchilla took the time to meet everyone at the merch table, signing tickets and shirts and listening to fans’ stories of empowerment — including two young women who shared how her music helped them through a tough time after a divorce. The singer’s compassion, realness, and ability to make a small stage feel enormous with her presence and incredible vocal range made this a show to remember.