Who we are

The Open Wild is a London-based ambient alternative band, fusing an alternative sound with classically-inspired improvisation, using a core of live improvised strings.

We came together through an unexpected connection between neighbours Rachel Everall (vocals), a teacher and legal professional with a lifelong passion for singing and songwriting, and Gabriel John (piano), a poet and seasoned pianist.

A couple of months after Rachel moved into a new house in SW London, her new neighbour Gabriel knocked on her door offering piano lessons and, put simply, the rest is history…

After some initial jam sessions, a powerful musical chemistry and strong friendship formed between Rachel and Gabe. Their mission became clear - and The Open Wild was formed.

As their core musical sound began to develop, Rachel & Gabriel knew the natural next step would be to bring in classical string players - to complete the ambient alternative music they wanted to create.

And so, Rachel and Gabriel brought in Elliot Corner (viola, violin), and Melody Lin (cello).

Elliot and Melody are both local to SW London - both of them graduated from the Royal College of Music in 2017, subsequently setting up their own music teaching practices nearby to each other, staying in touch with each other over the years.

They both jumped at the opportunity to work in such a unique project, and joined The Open Wild.

Together, we aim to build a unified human connection with each other and our listeners, writing and improvising music as a universal language to help make sense of the world.

Our Vision

The Open Wild’s unique musical setup using live improvised strings gives us so much scope to explore.

We are currently pouring our energy into writing our debut EP, and we’re aiming for a release later this year - keep an eye out for our new single “Rose in the Universe, which was released on 22nd July 2025 before our performance at Latitude Festival later that month.

Join us as we venture into The Open Wild…

The Band

Rachel everall (vocals)

Rachel is lead vocalist of The Open Wild and an accomplished songwriter, with over 20 years of experience honing her craft as a singer. As a founding member of The Open Wild, she has played a key role in developing performance spaces for the band through their record label “The Peoples Ear”.

Rachel draws inspiration from a wide range of artists, including Carole King, Jeff Buckley, Alanis Morissette, Fleetwood Mac, Lauryn Hill, Annie Lennox and Amy Winehouse.

Rachel says: “Creating lyrics and melody is my way of navigating emotion, connecting with the natural world, and expressing my belief in the power of the Universe,”

Gabriel john (Piano/Vocals)

Bio TBC

Elliot Corner (Violin/Viola)

Elliot, a classically-trained graduate of the Royal College of Music, who spent many years busking and performing as part of the indie music scene in both Brighton and London, gaining extensive experience in the genres of indie, rockabilly, folk, punk, rock, ambient, jazz, and soul music, and performing all over the UK and Europe as a touring musician with several ensembles - both classical ensembles and with rock/pop groups.

Elliot brings their unique style of improvisation to the band, composing, improvising, and arranging multilayered string lines for The Open Wild’s Music. They draw inspiration from a very broad range of artists and composers but particularly from crossover violinists like Fiona Monbet, Didier Lockwood, and Pekka Kuusisto.

Website: www.elliotviola.co.uk

MElody Lin (Cello)

Melody Lin is a cellist specialising in the performance of both solo and chamber music. Her musical journey began early, leading her to performance training at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Boston. She earned a funded Bachelor degree from the Royal College of Music and a fully-funded scholarship for her MA degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire.

Melody's impressive performance record includes solo recitals at prestigious venues such as St-Martin-in-the-Fields, St. John Smith Square, and St James’s Piccadilly. She is a joint winner of the Vera Kantrovitch Competition and, with pianist Andrea Emanuele, won The Leonard Smith & Felicity Young Duo Competition. Her chamber projects include the Mellanie Piano Trio, supported by the Concordia Foundation, and the Melart Duo, which toured Poland. Melody was a member of the 2019 Southbank Sinfonia and currently freelances with professional orchestras including Bournemouth Symphony, Welsh National Opera, and The Hallé. She is also co-founder of Adamas Ensemble and a dedicated cello and piano teacher at several schools in in Southwest London.

Melody currently performs on a late 18th-century Klotz cello, generously supported by Professor Derek Aviss OBE. She brings her incredibly rich classical experience and background, and a unique touch of classical improvisation to the band, contributing live strings that enrich the ambient folk and live folk music sound of The Open Wild.

Elliot Corner, Rachel Everall, and Gabriel John of The Open Wild performing on a small, intimate stage decorated with string lights and lamps, audience seated in front.
Image depicts Rachel Everall and Gabriel John from The Open Wild, a smiling young man and woman standing outdoors back-to-back among plants and trees, in black and white.
Rachel Everall and Gabriel John from The Open Wild standing back-to-back outdoors with green foliage in the background. The Open Wild is an ambient alternative band from SW London.
A black and white photo of a young man and woman standing in a field of grass, with trees in the background under a cloudy sky. The people are Rachel Everall and Gabriel John from The Open Wild, an ambient alternative band from SW London.