RACHEL SOMERSET

About

I may not be the best person to paint a picture of my musical and personal life, but let me try.

I am a British Brazilian violinist and multi instrumentalist.

I grew up in a quaint little town called Paradise in Southern Brazil.

With a passion for music which runs deep in my veins I started my musical path at the age of 4, and my first instrument was the piano. I was taught privately and soon started playing in front of family members and small audiences.

A few years later I started ballet and drama training. 

At the age of 7 I developed my great passion for the violin and a long 2 year journey to save enough money to be able to buy my first instrument started, as my parents didn't take me seriously when I said I wanted to play it. They thought it was just a temporary obsession. Once I finally manage to buy my instrument, my wonderfully talented aunt then helps me with the costs of lessons, and what I had to do was sell her beautiful paintings to anyone who would buy them, in our local park. It was a relatively easy job being able to sell her paintings as she was already pretty well established in the area as a talented artist, and I had my very first hands-on experience in sales and negotiation. My classical violin training then involved weekly lessons with various masters of the violin.

At the age of 12, I was, I would say, quite lucky to have a violin tutor develop severe nerve issues and he suddenly needed cover for 3 weddings he was booked to perform. He asked me to cover for him and under his caring and experienced guidance that's how my own personal journey into the Wedding World began. I didn't choose it, it chose me.

In later years, I started to study the Irish Fiddle and was absorbed in Celtic Music, as well as Classical Music. That's when I also started my Celtic Harp studies.

Drawing inspiration from my diverse cultural background and personal events that have occurred in my life, I bring a unique blend of influences to my performances, whether I am covering another artist's songs or performing my own material.

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I am deeply committed to using music as a means of connecting with people, spreading joy and healing hearts and souls.

When I found myself facing a number of personal challenges after losing my loving husband in 2020 and being left alone with a 4 month old baby girl, in the middle of a pandemic, I was unsure of what direction to go in. I needed my music more than I had ever needed anything in my life before, and I can certainly say that music saved me. It helped me cry, it helped me laugh, it helped me through my anger and my despair, and it helped me through my countless sleepless nights. In the evening, sometimes, I would leave my baby alone in her sleep and I would sit by my harp and gently touch its strings and feel their gentle vibrations reverberating though my chest, through my entire body, and it used to feel as if my harp was hugging me back. Today I know that it was indeed embracing me. Music was caressing every cell in my body, renewing my spirit and healing my heart.

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Now, with my sore heart eased and my faith in life restored I am on a path of rediscovery. I am learning to live fully and unapologetically.

My life has been filled with music and magic and I am deeply interested in the connection between music and our earthly and spiritual selves, and the power that music has to completely transform, heal and guide us through life's tribulations.

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Beyond music, I am a mother and home-educator, I am a daughter,  I am a sister, I am an aunt, I am a best friend.

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Poetry and beauty are my chink in one's armour. I have a huge tendency to romanticise life. I can easily spend hours reading and meditating on a single poem, trying to feel the author's pain or ecstasy.

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Below are some of the things I strive for in my daily life and I would love to share them with you:

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• Love above anything.

• Say no when your body, mind or heart asks for it.

• Have courage and faith.

• Look up to your elders and learn from them.

• Be diligent with everything.

• Be passionate without reservation.

• Be aware of your limitations.

• Assume nothing and take nothing for granted.

• Be empathetic.

• Think inclusively.

• Help the less fortunate around you.

• Allow time for solitude.

• Indulge in your curiosity.

• Cherish and look after your body.

• Give support to those around you.

• Ask and accept help from others.

• Be your unique, beautiful and loving self.

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