Fresh off the release of her powerful new single ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, issued in support of Refuge, Cherie D’Avino is using her voice with clear intent. The North East-based singer-songwriter speaks to Aidan Bayles about her roots in the industry, the inspiration behind her blend of jazz, soul and hip-hop, and the lasting message behind her music.
As an artist from the North East, how would you say your background has shaped your music and journey in the industry?
I grew up in a musical family. My dad sings, and I’m half-Italian, so around the dinner table my grandfather would always start singing Neapolitan songs. I had that cultural inspiration around me, so it’s always been in the family, but it wasn’t something I was ever pushed into. One of my friends was auditioning for a music academy for underprivileged young people called WAC in Chalk Farm. I went along with her and saw a queue. I asked what it was for and they said it was a singing audition, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ I didn’t really know I could sing. Your parents always tell you that you can, but you never quite know if that’s just encouragement. I chose a simple song, ‘I’ll Be There’, and gave it a go. It was Mary Pearce who told me that if I wanted to build a career in music, I needed to start writing my own material. I was about 17 or 18 when I began songwriting, and everything developed from there.
Of course, we’re also here to talk about ‘Hell’s Kitchen’. It’s a charity single supporting Refuge. What inspired you to get involved with the cause?
I’ve carried certain stories with me for many years. I actually wrote ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ about 15 years ago and had planned to release it earlier, but I didn’t feel I could give it the time and care it needed. With everything happening now in the news around domestic abuse and misogyny, it felt like the right moment. I wanted to do something meaningful with it. I’ve set a goal of raising £1,000 through iTunes downloads, with all proceeds going directly to Refuge. There’s also a JustGiving page, so people who stream the track can still donate. I wanted to start conversations about domestic abuse and encourage people to seek help if they need it. The song is written from a child’s perspective, based on a story that was shared with me. She described hearing everything through the walls – how it always started in the kitchen, the heart of the home. That’s where the title came from. Experiences like that don’t leave you, even if you’re very young. The impact stays with you for years.
It’s a striking track – particularly the emotional depth and the spoken-word outro. What inspired that creative choice?
I’m glad you liked it – I was unsure about including it. It was actually a last-minute addition. I wanted to introduce a moment of defiance, something that said: ‘I’m not going to let you break us’, but it needed more weight. So I incorporated real statistics from Refuge’s website – figures about police call-outs and the number of women affected. It felt important to ground the song in reality as well as emotion.
And finally, what are you planning to work on next?
The campaign around ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ is far from over. Over the next four to eight weeks, I’ll be developing a follow-up campaign focused on women standing together in unity. I’m collaborating with a brilliant North East photographer, Jennifer Cheng, who is creating a mosaic of images featuring women from the region, including fellow singers. That artwork will be used on tote bags and make-up bags, with helpline numbers printed on the reverse so people can easily access support. We’re also planning a video to accompany the campaign, so the message continues to reach as many people as possible.
‘Hell’s Kitchen‘ is available now on the iTunes Store, with proceeds supporting Refuge, which provides safe housing and vital services for those affected by domestic abuse. For more information, visit Refuge’s website. Their 24/7 National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available on 0808 2000 247.
