Written during a period where the outside world felt loud and broken, Chantal’s Rainbow Warrior follows Eye of the Storm with a different kind of fire. The South Africa-based artist frames the record around resilience, sovereignty, compassion, and the courage it takes to keep your voice steady when the world would rather you stayed quiet.
Rainbow Warrior was released on 27 May 2025, and it carries that “inward and outward” tension Chantal talks about, the darkness in front of us, and the inner work it takes to not become it. There’s orchestral weight, long-form emotion, and a centrepiece in “Run,” a song she refused to cut down even when the length felt like a risk.
We spoke about what changed between albums, what the “Rainbow Warrior” idea means in a South African context, why lyrics remain her anchor, and what she’s building next.
“Rainbow Warriors stand for truth and freedom, and fight for these values to prevail, even when the world tries to silence us.”
Rainbow Warrior came out on 27 May 2025. What did you want this record to capture that you couldn’t get across on Eye of the Storm?
Eye of the Storm and Rainbow Warrior came from completely different places. Eye of the Storm was written during the pandemic, when the world was locked down and isolated. I spent my days writing, and the intention behind that album was to take listeners on a journey from darkness to light.
There was so much death, suffering, and fear on every level. I’m very aware of the darker forces in our world that operate in the shadows and quietly pull the strings behind the scenes. Much of that album confronts that darkness, not to glorify it, but to acknowledge it and find a way to make peace with it, because it isn’t going away. The message is about finding light, strength, and peace within ourselves amidst the chaos of our world.
Rainbow Warrior, on the other hand, was written in 2023 and recorded in 2024, and it looks both inward and outward. It focuses on the outer world of darkness, as well as the inner qualities of resilience and strength in the human spirit, and our ability to transcend that darkness.
It is about sovereignty, self-awareness, compassion, and connectedness. It is about standing in our truth even when the world doesn’t want to accept that truth, living from the heart, and choosing intuition over logic. Intuition is connected to the soul. It’s a higher knowing. Living from the heart and intuition requires a deep level of trust. I made a conscious decision several years ago to live that way.
A simple example was leaving my corporate career to pursue music. It wasn’t a logical choice, but it felt right on a soul level. Rainbow Warrior reflects this way of living, by becoming the change we want to see in the world. Changing the world starts with self-awareness and change in ourselves. We cannot create a world filled with compassion, integrity, and justice if how we live is not aligned with those values.
Rainbow Warriors stand for truth and freedom, and fight for these values to prevail, even when the world tries to silence us.
“In the context of South Africa, we speak of being a Rainbow Nation, yet that ideal is under serious threat.”
Where did the title Rainbow Warrior come from, and what does it mean inside your world?
With everything happening in the world, it often feels as though we are living in end times. The title Rainbow Warrior is inspired by an old legend that speaks of a group of people who will rise to heal the earth. They operate from a place of inner wholeness and live through compassion: compassion for themselves, for others, for animals, and for the planet, which I believe is a living, breathing being.
Compassion is something our civilisation is sorely lacking. We are constantly bombarded with stories of greed, corruption, violence, war, and suffering. In the context of South Africa, we speak of being a Rainbow Nation, yet that ideal is under serious threat. Corruption and greed exist at the highest levels, and those who try to expose the truth often pay with their lives.
We need more rainbow warriors: people willing to stand up for truth, freedom, integrity, and justice. In that sense, Rainbow Warrior could be seen as an anthem for our Rainbow Nation. It takes immense courage to raise your voice against the evil that threatens our society, but evil can only prevail when good men stand by and do nothing.
Rainbow warriors, where are you? Your voice matters, otherwise they would not try to suppress it.
What was happening in your life during the writing phase that made its way into the songs, even when you weren’t trying to “write about it”?
If you want to know me, listen to my songs. They all carry personal truths in one way or another. I can only write from experience: things I have seen, heard, or lived through that made me feel deeply, question myself, my beliefs, or the world around me.
In 2019, I made the decision to go vegan, and I am vegan for the animals. I learned more from following animal activists online, and I saw footage of what truly happens in the animal agriculture industry. I wish I could unsee it all. Those images haunt me, and probably always will. At the same time, there is a part of me that is glad I have seen it, because no one could ever try to convince me that what happens is humane. It is anything but.
That experience has deeply influenced my worldview, and in turn, my writing.
The second verse of “Rainbow Warrior” reflects this very clearly:
“When we learn how to see and hear in a sacred manner
When humans and animals live in harmony with nature
When we live as one with our planet and each other
War, sickness and hunger will be gone forever and ever”
That verse is deeply personal. It reflects how I choose to live and what I believe at my core: compassion for humanity, for animals, and for the planet. I believe animals have souls, and that belief shapes both my life and my music.
When you look at the tracklist now, which song still feels like the spine of the album, and why?
That’s a difficult question, because every song carries a different aspect of the album’s message. But if I had to choose, it would be “Rainbow Warrior.” It is the heart and essence of the album. “New Paradigm” or “Run” would be a close runner-up.
“Run” is the longest track on the record. What did you need that song to hold that the shorter tracks couldn’t?
“Run” is an epic song, and one of my personal favourites. I was initially concerned about its length, but I chose to leave it as it was written, because shortening it would have stripped away its essence and compromised the message in the song. I wasn’t sure how listeners would respond, so I’ve been incredibly grateful for the positive feedback it has received.
Of all the songs on the album, “Run” is the most deeply personal to me. On every album I release, there is one song that carries that level of personal weight. On Rainbow Warrior, it is “Run.” On Eye of the Storm, it is “I Forgive You.”
You worked again with Jo Ellis at Blue Room Studios, and the orchestration is credited to Poly Forge Media. What do those collaborations bring out in your songs?
I write the lyrics, melodies, and compositions on piano, and I record the piano parts as the foundation for each song. Everything else is built on top of that.
I’ve worked with Jo for many years, and he is an absolute pleasure to collaborate with: down to earth, a devoted family man, an animal lover (especially horses), and an incredibly talented music producer.
I was introduced to Poly Forge Media through Jo, as he has worked with them extensively and trusts them completely. I trust his judgement, and they delivered something truly exceptional on Rainbow Warrior. Both these collaborations bring my music to life, adding the soul, fire, and power that these songs need. Their work ethic is outstanding, and I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else. What we’ve created together feels very special to me.
“authenticity is my anchor. Being true to myself always comes first.”
Your sound sits in the symphonic metal/rock lane. What anchors the Chantal identity when you’re writing so it stays recognisable from track to track?
Each album comes from a different place, and I don’t want my albums to sound like variations of the same idea. Every album should stand on its own, but authenticity is my anchor. Being true to myself always comes first.
On Eye of the Storm, I pushed my vocal register quite hard. My voice allows for a wide range of dynamics and contrasts. On Rainbow Warrior, I intentionally explored more of my lower register, which I hadn’t really showcased before.
I’m drawn to music with contrast: different rhythms, dynamics, highs and lows, moments of power balanced with softness. If music is too uniform, I lose interest. That sense of contrast is a big part of my identity as an artist.
Lyrics are also central to who I am. I take great pride in them. The lyrics hit hard, and sometimes when I really listen or sing them back, I’m surprised that they came from me. There is a lot of depth and meaning in my writing, and that is definitely a defining part of my artistic voice. Don’t expect a song from me like “Oo, baby, baby”… that’s not going to happen. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it, just that it’s not me.
“I wrote ‘Love So Wild’ over 20 years ago for my husband. I originally intended to sing it at our wedding.”
“Love So Wild” landed a few months before the album. What role did that single play in clearing the path for Rainbow Warrior?
Every artist needs at least one love song in their repertoire. I wrote “Love So Wild” over 20 years ago for my husband. I originally intended to sing it at our wedding, but we ended up singing a duet instead, and the song was set aside. It sat there for almost two decades.
Finally, in 2021 I recorded it with Jo, and then again, it sat there quietly for a few more years. Releasing it on Valentine’s Day last year felt like the right moment, as I hoped it would help build anticipation and gently pave the way for Rainbow Warrior.
How do you decide when a vocal take is the one, especially on songs that depend on emotion more than technical flash?
That decision is really in Jo’s hands. As my producer, he knows what works and what doesn’t. My job is simply to sing my heart out.
What do you want the next release cycle to do differently from this one?
I want the next release to show a different side of me. I’m a complex, multi-faceted woman, and I don’t want people to expect what I have done before. I want to surprise them, pleasantly.
“I am currently writing my next album. it’s very different from anything I’ve done before”
Are you writing right now? If so, what’s pulling you forward creatively after Rainbow Warrior?
Yes, I am currently writing my next album. The lyrics are, for the most part, complete, and I’m now working on the compositions and melodies. This album is very different from anything I’ve done before, but I don’t want to give too much away just yet.
What I can say is that it has been a powerful journey. Creativity takes courage, and this new album has taken a lot out of me, but in a good way. I’m excited about what has been created so far, and for what is still in the process of unfolding.
Rainbow Warrior is out now as an independent release — produced by Jo Ellis at Blue Room Studios with orchestration by Poly Forge Media — and it’s available to order on Bandcamp.
Follow Chantal:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChantalsMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chantalsmusic
Bandcamp: https://chantalsmusic.bandcamp.com
