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Rachel Chiu Rediscovers Her Own Strength on “Torn”
Vancouver singer-songwriter Rachel Chiu turns an old song into a new chapter of healing on “Torn,” an intimate indie R&B release shaped by heartbreak, reflection, and the unexpected ways music can change alongside its creator.
Originally written around 2021 with New York artist and songwriter Ray Rubio, “Torn” remained unreleased for four years. Rachel Chiu eventually rediscovered the track while navigating one of her most difficult breakups. She found that lyrics written by an earlier version of herself suddenly carried an entirely different weight.
That history gives “Torn” a compelling emotional duality. Rather than romanticizing the instinct to keep fighting for a failing relationship, Rachel Chiu confronts the difficult realization that giving more of yourself cannot always repair what is already broken. That acceptance brings uncertainty, but also a growing awareness that walking away can sometimes be an act of self-preservation.
Rachel Chiu’s expressive vocals bring tenderness to that realization. Her classical training and later exploration of jazz show in the song’s thoughtful musicality, while its indie and bedroom R&B sensibilities keep the production intimate. Instead of overwhelming the story, the arrangement creates space for the emotional details to settle.
One of the track’s most distinctive elements is the guzheng, an instrument belonging to Rachel Chiu’s mother. After convincing her mother not to discard it as a teenager, Rachel Chiu began teaching herself jianpu notation and learning the instrument. Years later, its presence on “Torn” adds another personal layer to a song already shaped by memory.
What makes “Torn” especially resonant is how its meaning evolved without the lyrics changing. The song that Rachel Chiu wrote years earlier became something entirely different once life caught up with it.
“Torn” is as much about artistic growth as heartbreak. It proves that songs don't always reveal their full purpose when they are written. Sometimes, we have to become different people before we understand what our own words were trying to tell us.
You wrote “Torn” years before experiencing the breakup that ultimately gave the song new meaning. What was it like realizing your younger self had written words you suddenly needed to hear?
It's a very full-circle moment. It's refreshing to hear advice from our younger selves. Often, I assume that the older I get, the wiser I'll be. However, in this case, it's quite the opposite. For once, younger Rachel had something wise to say. It's as though my younger self was comforting the person that I've grown into.
“Torn” helped you accept that continuing to pour yourself into something broken does not necessarily save it. How has that realization changed the way you approach love and relationships now?
Lately, the lyrics "I know that there's better out there" have never been more true. I have already found so much better in my friendships, in my family, and in all aspects of my life. Once I stopped pouring myself into the unrequited, I got to channel that energy into people that gave it back ten fold. I have learned to love life itself. It takes a lot of patience and discipline, but it is so worth it.
The guzheng has such a personal history in your family. What made “Torn” the right song to bring that instrument into your own musical world?
I often listen to my music in different environments to broaden the listening experience of my own song. I was running outside while listening to an earlier version of "Torn," and I felt like something was missing. I remember looking up at the trees, seeing the sun, and hearing the birds. Somehow, that led me to the idea of adding the guzheng into the song. I ran home faster than I ever had before because I just had to try my idea out. It worked. Now I can't imagine the song without it.
You’ve said this experience encouraged you to write more honestly and be less judgmental of songs in their earliest stages. Has that changed the music you’re creating now?
This past year, I have written so many songs that I still haven't released. All of these songs are a result of me processing life and all that comes with it. This year has been so full of life that I had no choice but to write down all the lessons that came with it. If I didn't, I think I would have honestly gone crazy. I didn't know how to write more honestly before because I wasn't challenging myself enough. Once I had to overcome internal battles and face my mental obstacles, that's when all the writing material started to flow in.
Your background spans classical training, jazz, contemporary R&B, and traditional instrumentation. As your sound evolves beyond “Torn", which parts of your musical identity are you most interested in exploring further?
Love this question. Lately, I've found comfort in the solitude of sitting at my upright piano. Much of what I've been currently creating begins at the piano, which has definitely shifted the genre that I write in. I'd say it's been leaning into the folk and indie world. I find it fascinating how 88 keys can create an infinite number of songs, so I don't plan on ever staying in one genre forever. The piano has become my happy place more than ever before. My upcoming releases will definitely reflect this sentiment.
