The Nook: Inside the Unique Bedroom of Musician Rainbow Chan

Welcome to The Nook, our weekly series chronicling the dreamy bedrooms of our favourite people on Instagram. For this instalment, we take you inside the unique bedroom of vocalist, producer and multi-disciplinary music artist Rainbow Chan.

Rainbow Chan is one of Australia's most innovative musicians. She makes deeply personal, wildly idiosyncratic pop music that speaks to the full spectrum of growing up, falling in and out of love, and identity.  

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Sydney, Rainbow is a performer who can go from catchy melodies to ambient soundscapes almost in one breath. As a producer, her DIY spirit drives her to create unique music made from found sounds and field-recordings. Lyrically, she writes pop songs that are deeply personal and wholly universal, covering themes of love and loss as well as her own lived diasporic experiences.

In addition to making music and performing at some of the world's most renowned venues and festivals in Australia including the Sydney Opera House, Vivid and MONA FOMA, Rainbow is also a passionate mentor to emerging artists, teaching composition and production at the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium.

Following her 2019 album, Pillar, her upcoming third album, The Bridal Lament, will explore her Weitou heritage and reimagine the traditional folk music performed by village women in Hong Kong.

Until its release, we invite you to tour her lofty bedroom with us. In her sleep sanctuary, Rainbow surrounds herself with personal treasures, tools of the trade (guitar, note book), and Terracotta and Pink Clay linen on her bed. Take the tour and get to know her now in our interview.

Shop Rainbow's look with the Build-Your-Own Bundle in Terracotta and Pink Clay.

Hi Rainbow! Thank you for letting us (virtually) visit your bedroom. How does your bedroom reflect your personality? 

In my bedroom, you'll find secondhand items that have interesting backstories and/or rare objects that have been crafted by people from culturally diverse backgrounds. You could say that my room reflects my love for learning about the world.

How do you go about styling your space?

I like to punctuate my spaces with sentimental knick-knacks. These objects range from things I've bought while travelling or touring, special cultural relics that remind me of my birthplace, Hong Kong, and handmade gifts from close friends. I also love greenery, most of which has been cut and propagated from my mum's garden.

Shop Rainbow's look with the Build-Your-Own Bundle in Terracotta and Pink Clay.

What's on your bedside table?

I have an old lamp, which I found at Camberwell markets, a ceramic mooncake made by art collective Slippage, and a papier-mâché snake figurine from a temple in Kyoto. I always have a book on hand, too. I'm currently reading Glimpses of Utopia by Jess Scully. 

What does having a comfortable and inviting bedroom mean to you?

Sleeping well is incredibly important to looking after one's mental health. I've been making more of an effort to turn my bedroom into a sanctuary by reducing clutter and only putting my most important belongings on display.

Shop Rainbow's look with the Build-Your-Own Bundle in Terracotta and Pink Clay.

What does your bedtime routine look like? 

I like to wind down by lighting incense and listening to ambient music such as Satoshi Ashikawa, Midori Takada and Brian Eno. I turned 30 this year and have started to take better care of my face, so I exfoliate, tone, moisturise and finish the routine off with face oil. Creating a nightly ritual allows my body and mind to recognise it's time to go to sleep.

When did your passion for music begin?

I started writing music in high school as a way to deal with the intensity of teenage heartbreak. My passion grew as I became more technically apt at song-writing and production, but I would say the seed was planted much earlier on. During my childhood, music was always around in our house as my older sisters played piano and my parents listened to a mixture of golden oldies and Cantopop.

Shop Rainbow's look with the Build-Your-Own Bundle in Terracotta and Pink Clay.

What is a day in the life of Rainbow Chan like?

My day-to-day always looks different as I juggle teaching, performing, composing, producing and collaborating with others throughout the week. When I am not making new works, I am always reading or researching for my next creative project. I spend a lot of time journaling and reflecting on cultural issues. To recharge, I see my loved ones and hang out with my cat, Frosty.

Shop Frosty's look with the Build-Your-Own Bundle in Terracotta and Pink Clay.

This series about our favourite people on Instagram, and you are one of them! Can you tell us your top three favourite accounts to follow on Instagram, and why you love them?

1. @chinese_plating: A visually arresting account which documents 20th century Chinese food design.
2. @natgeo: Can't go past some wholesome and educational nature content.
3. @thekyliehistorian: My outfit inspiration account.

For more from Rainbow, follow her at @chunyinrainbowchan.

Loved this bedroom? Discover more inspiring sanctuaries in our weekly series, The Nook.

Inspired by this bedroom tour? Here is how to style your own 100% French Flax Linen sheets.