At the start of his career, he was shrouded in mystery, preferring to focus attention on his music and letting the man behind the sound take a backseat for a short while. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and based in London, he grew up listening to his mother's records, learned guitar at nine, and started songwriting as a teenager. His first vocals appeared on songs by Bastille and Jakwob. It wasn't until 2015 that he would release his debut solo track, "Fast Lane." Little by little, Rationale revealed himself through music videos, which showcased his soulful, genre-bending style. He received support from U.K. radio, which led to live shows and a deal with Warner Bros. His four-song EP, Fuel to the Fire, was released in 2015, and included the slow jam "Re.Up" featuring Zena Kitt on vocals. ~ Neil Z. Yeung