Staying Consistent when Life Gets Hard: An Interview with Rachael Anson
VOICE OF THE MONTH: January Cover’s Star, Rachael Anson
The energy of DJ, Rachael Anson is infectious. She’s someone who makes you want to be bold in life. But, her journey from supermarket worker to DJing the biggest venues and events across the UK, is not by chance. It’s taken discipline and hours of practice. Here, she shares exactly how she took her passion full-time, and how her faith keeps her spirited when the challenges of life, and the responsibilities of work, collide.
Fact Finder:
Rachael is a DJ based in London
Since pursuing her passion for DJing, she has opened for Stormzy on tour and played at festivals around the world
She is also passionate about elevating Black stories and talent
THE POWER OF CONSISTENCY
Consistency is easy to keep when life is going well, but how do you stay disciplined when it’s difficult?
Last year was probably one of the toughest years emotionally, which affected the behind-the-scenes of my career, like not wanting to do certain things, or be at certain places. I know how much I want to practice, but real life happens and it's hard to keep consistency when you’re going through it. However, I understand the power of pushing through and doing what you need to do. That's why I always say, do the right thing for the future you, even if it’s not what you want to do right now.
‘Do the right thing for the future you, even if it’s not what you want to do right now.’
Practically then, how do you allow grace for what you’re facing and still show up professionally?
That's a frequent conversation with friends because no one is harder on me than me. But I have friends that remind me it's okay to feel what you feel, just don't dwell on it. It’s hard, but there are practical things we can do to honour how we feel and still get up. I'm being a bit of a hypocrite because I need to do it myself, but writing down affirmations and things you know you struggle with to remind yourself 'it's okay to feel this way' can be so helpful.
Just because we’re consistent, mess-ups still happen. How do you ensure mistakes don’t define you?
I feel like that's something I've mastered recently. I can do a set, mess up, and I don't care. But before, it would sit with me and really affect me. One of my friends reminded me that even though I know I've made a mistake, the majority of people have no idea.
How has being consistent in your craft helped you shift your mindset around mess-ups?
If I make a mistake now, I can laugh at myself, because I know I’ve put in the 10,000 hours to get here. So it's like, ‘Rachael, you're not awful because of one mistake, keep moving.’ Practically, I always try to get as much information about what I'm being booked to do so I can come prepared.
Coat by MAGDA BUTRYM. Jeans by MAGDA BUTRYM. Tank by SKIMS. Boots by THE ATTICO. Sunglasses by BOTTEGA VENETA.
TURNING A 5-9 INTO A 9-5
Where does your love for music stem from?
Growing up, my Uncle had this sound system which was my introduction to music. I remember vividly, ‘Murder She Wrote’ and ‘Everyday People’. As I got older, my cousins lived in Brixton, where there’s a big Jamaican culture, so I'd hear a lot of dancehall or reggae. I'd go home, burn the songs onto a CD, and bring it to school to let everyone know this is what’s popping.
What was your journey to becoming a DJ?
Back then, in UK Universities, there was a lot of DJing, so when I visited my friends, one of them had ‘VirtualDJ’ on his laptop and I just wanted to learn about it. So I got it and just practised. That elevated to investing more and practising, practising, practising more, which opened doors for me.
How did you gain experience in DJing?
My first paid booking was for an 80th birthday party. I got paid peanuts, but at the time, I was grateful. I got a lot of bookings from friends and family, so I was building my confidence. From there, it grew by word of mouth.
At what point did you know you wanted to take DJing full-time?
I was working at Sainsbury’s [supermarket] when I first started to DJ, and I realised the money I made there in a month, I could make in a weekend DJing. So that pushed me to hand in my resignation. They asked me to come back, which I did because, a few years prior, I was too zealous and prematurely quit my job so I ended up on job seekers.
How did you find confirmation that this time around, it was the right decision to leave Sainsbury’s?
On my first shift, after I resigned, I walked onto the shop floor, and I swear to you, I didn't make it to my department. My whole being was saying, ‘you're not supposed to be here'. I think that's the first time I heard from God clearly. I turned around and walked out. Two weeks after that, I ended up on tour with Stormzy which I couldn’t have done if I had gone back to Sainsbury's.
Often, we hear about the success of someone quitting their 9-5 job to follow their passion, but what was the reality of having no backup?
The biggest thing was thinking, ‘Okay, I can leave my job, but how will I pay my bills?’ But when we take risks, if we’re grounded in our faith by reading the Bible, going to church and worshipping, there's no time for fearful thoughts. Once negative thoughts enter, you start asking, am I sure God told me this or is this something I want to do? Because we always want to push what we want forward, but no matter how much we try, God will always nudge us to go where we're supposed to. I think I found favour in that, which led me to where I am.
‘The biggest thing was thinking ‘okay, I can leave my job, but how am I going to pay my bills?’’
Coat by DIESEL. Trousers by ZARA. Loafers by ALEXANDER MCQUEEN. Sunglasses by PERSOL.
A PRACTICAL FAITH
How has your faith grown for you to be able to use it to guide you through life’s decisions?
Growing up, I was a little rascal, I'll tell you that! But in terms of faith, my mum is the reason I'm so grounded. There’s a verse which says, ‘teach a child the way they should go and, even if they depart, they'll know how to get back’. I did depart for a while, but because of my upbringing, I was able to find my way back. I've still got a lot more growing to do but without God, I'd be in a lot of trouble.
You have such a joyful attitude towards work, where has that come from?
That goes back to the foundation of my faith. When I rededicated my life to God, those first years were mentally, emotionally, and spiritually great. I felt so much joy and love. People could be rude to me, but I responded with love. Today, that might not be the case guys, so don't try it, God's still working on me!
How have you seen that outlook develop over the years?
Something my old manager at Sainsbury’s used to say was, ‘even if I'm not there, I still expect you to do a good job’. That sat with me, and I took it spiritually as well. I understood that when God puts us in certain places and around certain people, He wants us to act in a manner to show who He is. That's my thing in the workplace; I try my best wherever I go and treat everyone with respect. I know that attitude has opened doors for me in my work.
How has your faith helped you when work has been challenging?
I'm self-employed, so sometimes things go quiet, and I’ve worried about how I’m going to eat. I thank God because business is booming now, but it’s been hard. I've probably been depressed a lot of times in the last five years, but I think what I've learned is that it's seasonal. My favourite scripture is, ‘count it a good thing when you face trials and tribulations because it's the testing of your faith’. When you’re in it, it's easier said than done to count it as joy, but I understand [being able to count it as joy] comes with spiritual growth.
What has it been like balancing the hard work and preparation with trusting that God will open the right doors?
Sometimes I try to work too hard, and I have to ask, where am I leaving room for God to do what He needs to? So, don't replace trust in God with working too much. I'm still working on getting the balance of letting God do His thing. But, always, once I get through something and talk to God, we just laugh because He’s like, ‘look, how many times am I going show you that I've got you?’
‘Sometimes I try to work too hard, and I have to ask, where am I leaving room for God?
AS TOLD TO Ellie Dalton
CREATIVE DIRECTION BY Ruth Yimika Afolabi
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Amanda Akokhia
STYLING BY Moriayo Ogunsan
MAKEUP BY Zakiya Shani
HAIR BY Gina Nipah
Keep up to date with Rachael here.
Voice of the Month is a monthly digital series where Magnify spotlights a woman of faith excelling in their industry. We share their journey, practical advice and how their faith anchors them through the highs and lows of life.