full name rachel mai astorino professional name rachel astorino date of birth 22 november 1985 / 30 hometown london, england residence la / uk occupation musician status long live my feelings personality entj

Rachel Mai Astorino (born 22 November 1985), is an an English singer and songwriter. Her debut album, Devotion (2012) peaked at number 5 on the UK Album Charts. Her Sophomore album, Tough Love reached number 9 in the United Kingdom and produced the single "Say You Love Me". Astorino is also well known for her colloboration with Nicki Minaj, The Theory Of, and Alex Milligan. Her third album is slated for a mid-2016 release.

Astorino was born to Alfonso Barros and Constance Sheng of the design house of the same name. Sheng and Barros were engaged but never married, and their romance was short lived. After thirteen months, the couple split and Barros gave full custody to Sheng. She later remarried in 1989 to English-based lawyer Jeffrey Astorino, who officially addopted Rachel in 2002. In the next decade, Sheng and Astorino had three more children.

Astorino has mentioned in interviews that singing was never her first passion. After secondary school, Astorino attended the University of Westminster in hopes to pursue an undergraduate degree in nutrition. It was during her four years that she began singing in coffee houses and bars to make ends meet. She spent four months with Nuffield Health before leaving to pursue a career in music.

In pursuit of a musical career, Astorino spent several years singing back up vocals for acts Jack Peñate and Men Like War. Sampha, of SBTRKT fame, met her during a show and the duo eventually collaborated on Valentine, based on their individual expereinces with love. This collaboration led to a record deal with Island Records and put her in touch with The Theory Of, where she was featured on several songs with good friend Eva Luton

In 2013, Astorino released her debut album Devotion featuring fourteen tracks, including Wildest Moments, her most successful song on the album. In early 2013 an UK based tour started with several opening acts, followed by a European tour and then finally a tour in the United States. At the end of the US tour, Astorino played nearly a half dozen festivals and went on a second string of her US tour.

After the success of her debut album, Astorino's follow up album, Tough Love released in 2014. Early rumors suggested that Alex Milligan would collaborate on the single Say You Love Me and was later confirmed in an interview. Astorino has mentioned that Tough Love is the most cathardic album so far. In an interview Astorino has credited her love life (or struggle with love) as the main source of material saying, "Falling in love and out of love has made this album what it is. The passion, the heartache, the gnawing feeling you have after letting someone go. Writing about it is like shedding my skin and starting fresh."

Astorino's third album is rumored to be relased in 2016.

Astorino's love life has been as popular, if not more popular, than her music. Multiple tabloid magazines have linked Astorino to Lila O, Claude Amick, Dahlia Faye, and Zofia Allyne, amongst others. Astorino identifies as gay and has spoken out a number of times about the importance of coming out in support of those who don't feel like they're able. She has said, "If I can speak for someonew who doesn't feel like they have a voice then I'm going to. I'll love who I want to love and my music shows that it's no different of a love than if it was with a man. Women are beautiful."

Although she would "never follow in the footsteps" of her mother, Astorino has a love of fashion and actively updates her Instagram (@astorino) with Sheng-inspired OOTD posts featuring her two dogs, wine, and occasionally a beautiful background that lends itself to her love of travelling.