# Rachel Kitchlew

> Harpist and composer · London, UK. Jazz, ambient and experimental music for harp, built on texture, restraint and leaving things open-ended. Her debut album, Flirty Ghost, came out on Délicieuse Records in 2025.

Source: https://rachelkitchlew.com/ (official site). Last generated 2026-11-14.

## About
Rachel Kitchlew is a London harpist and composer. Her music sits between jazz, ambient and experimental music, and she usually records with drummers, bassists and producers rather than alone.

Her debut album, Flirty Ghost, came out on Délicieuse Records on 5 September 2025. She wrote and recorded it with SHOLTO and David Bardon in late-night sessions at SFJ Studios in London, with Alexis Taylor on Wurlitzer on two tracks. Since then she has released Tape Session, a fifteen-minute improvisation with Alice Boyd recorded straight to tape, and Spook, a single with DOUGH.

She has recorded harp for Vegyn and Alexis Taylor, toured Europe with Robohands and SHOLTO, and played the Montreux and Montreal jazz festivals and the Crow’s Nest at Glastonbury.

## Quick facts
- Based: London, UK
- Plays: Harp
- Sound: Jazz, ambient, experimental
- Label: Délicieuse Records

## Discography
### Spook (2026)
A driving, bass-led jazz single with DOUGH, built on upright bass and detailed drums, with the harp leading from the front.

- Released: 2026-04-24
- Page: https://rachelkitchlew.com/music/spook
- Single · with DOUGH · 24 Apr 2026
- Listen and buy: https://rachelkitchlew.bandcamp.com/album/spook

### Tape Session (Live at Shuta Shinoda’s Studio) (2025)
A fifteen-minute improvisation with Alice Boyd: harp with voice, synth and field recordings. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Shuta Shinoda on 27 October 2025 on a Studer A80 tape machine, with no overdubs.

- Released: 2025-11-05
- Page: https://rachelkitchlew.com/music/tape-session-live-at-shuta-shinoda-s-studio
- Live improvisation · with Alice Boyd · 5 Nov 2025
- Listen and buy: https://rachelkitchlew.bandcamp.com/track/tape-session-live-at-shuta-shinoda-s-studio

### Flirty Ghost (2025)
Her debut album, written and recorded with SHOLTO and David Bardon in late-night sessions at SFJ Studios in London and mastered by Rupert Clevaux. Alexis Taylor plays Wurlitzer on Truncate and Cyclical, Deanna Wilhelm plays trumpet on Panther Jam and Andy Baxter plays drums on Leopard Slug. The last four tracks are reworks by Patricia Wolf, Okvsho, Superpitcher and Slug Bag.

- Released: 2025-09-05
- Page: https://rachelkitchlew.com/music/flirty-ghost
- LP · with SHOLTO and David Bardon · 5 Sep 2025
- Label: Délicieuse Records · JAZZAL01
- Listen and buy: https://rachelkitchlew.bandcamp.com/album/flirty-ghost
- Tracklist:
  1. Mammone
  2. Panther Jam
  3. Heady
  4. Truncate
  5. Cyclical
  6. Opium Lounge
  7. Leopard Slug
  8. Heady (Reprise)
  9. Truncate (Patricia Wolf)
  10. Cyclical (Okvsho Remix)
  11. Opium Lounge (Superpitcher Remix)
  12. Mammone (Slug Bag Remix)

## Upcoming dates
- None listed right now.

## Festivals and stages
- Montreux Jazz Festival
- Montreal Jazz Festival
- Glastonbury · Crow’s Nest

## Recorded and played with
- SHOLTO
- David Bardon
- DOUGH
- Alice Boyd
- Alexis Taylor
- Robohands
- Vegyn
- Matthew Halsall

## Press
- [Week 843: “Heady” by Rachel Kitchlew](https://www.beautifulsongoftheweek.com/week-843-heady-by-rachel-kitchlew/) — feature · Beautiful Song of the Week
- [Flirty Ghost](https://shop.roughtrade.com/products/flirty-ghost) — shop notes · Rough Trade
- [Flirty Ghost (LP)](https://www.soundohm.com/product/flirty-ghost-lp) — shop notes · Soundohm
- [Rachel Kitchlew](https://forcedexposure.com/Artists/KITCHLEW.RACHEL.html) — artist page · Forced Exposure
- [Rachel Kitchlew](https://music.apple.com/artist/1769804590) — artist page and Q&A · Apple Music

## Questions and answers
### Who is Rachel Kitchlew?
Rachel Kitchlew is a harpist and composer based in London. Her work blends jazz, ambient and experimental music.

### What kind of music does Rachel Kitchlew play?
Jazz, ambient and experimental music led by the harp, usually recorded with drummers, bassists and producers.

### What is Flirty Ghost?
Flirty Ghost is her debut album, released on Délicieuse Records on 5 September 2025. It was written and recorded with SHOLTO and David Bardon at SFJ Studios in London.

### Where can I listen to Rachel Kitchlew?
Start with her Bandcamp page, where every release can be streamed and bought. The Listening section of this site loads the Bandcamp players.

### Who plays on Flirty Ghost?
Rachel Kitchlew on harp with SHOLTO (Oscar Sholto Robertson) and David Bardon, who also produced and mixed it with her. Alexis Taylor plays Wurlitzer on Truncate and Cyclical, Deanna Wilhelm plays trumpet on Panther Jam and Andy Baxter plays drums on Leopard Slug.

### Which label released Flirty Ghost?
Délicieuse Records released Flirty Ghost on 5 September 2025. The vinyl catalogue number is JAZZAL01.

### Who has Rachel Kitchlew worked with?
She has recorded harp for Vegyn and Alexis Taylor, toured Europe with Robohands and SHOLTO, and released music with DOUGH and Alice Boyd.

### How do I book Rachel Kitchlew?
Send a message through the contact link on her Bandcamp page, or on Instagram at @rachelhkharp.

## Official profiles
- [Bandcamp](https://rachelkitchlew.bandcamp.com/)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/rachelhkharp/)
- [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/artist/1769804590)

## Booking
For concerts, sessions and collaborations, get in touch directly.
- https://rachelkitchlew.bandcamp.com/contact?b=3002797322&n=Rachel%20Kitchlew

## Harp makers (independent links, no affiliation)
- [Lyon & Healy](https://www.lyonhealy.com/): Chicago, USA · since 1864
- [Salvi Harps](https://www.salviharps.com/): Piasco, Italy · since 1956
- [Camac Harps](https://www.camac-harps.com/): France · since 1972