TRUST THE PROCESS
Annika Gabriel
DJ
Can you tell us about your background?
I am originally German, I have been living in Amsterdam for 12 years. I came here to study International Development and Globalization. When I was 18 years old I went on a trip to Ecuador and stayed there for 4 years volunteering in different projects. When I came back from the trip I wanted to find a way to create more equality in the world. I wanted to work in something that would allow me to travel and meet people from different countries.
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After 5 years of study I found a job at the NGO where I currently work, there we assess whether the products are fair trade before marketing them. At first I trained people who were going to evaluate the manufactures and now I am more at the back office where I am in charge of motivating companies to pay a fair price for products.
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What is your current situation?
I am leaving my current job. I have realized that I have been trying for some time to create an impact on a global level and the results have been few and very slow because there is something very big to fight against. I have been investing my energy in something I feel frustrated about.
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Now I want to invest my energy in something more dynamic, that brings me closer to people, I have realized the impact that can be made at a local level, community wise. I don't know exactly where I'm going but it's also something I'm enjoying.
I am already noticing the transformation that being dj brings me. I see how things move immediately: bodies, energy, emotions... If the people are touched by music, I can feel it too and it gratifies me.
On the other hand, I began to study the method Pantarei that combines massage, body work and conversation.
I feel that I really enjoy being part of the healing process of other people.
When did you start as a dj?
My dream was to play at Ecstatic Dance, even so I always saw it far away from my reach. I have been passionate about music and movement since I was little. During the pandemic I used to spend time with a friend who is a DJ and he encouraged me to do it. So we started mixing with his equipment. For my birthday my friends gave me a
controller and then I started practicing on my own in my living room, just for myself.
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Some people asked me if I wanted to play at their parties and events. Although I was feeling so shy and I was nervous, I forced myself to do it, it was my way of learning.
How were the first times?
The first time I prepared so well that I did it from memory, it went very well but I didn't feel anything, I think my own expectations and anxiety to do it well prevented me from enjoying it.
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And what about Ecstatic Dance?
I sent my recorded sessions to Amber, the person in charge of managing Odessa, the place where I used to go dancing and also volunteer. She shared it with the owner and they invited me to play there. When I used to dance at Ecstatic Dance my experience was very deep and I wanted to offer the same to other people, I felt a lot of pressure.
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My first time was on a Sunday morning, I remember it was magical, the sunlight came through the window of the boat, some friends came and everyone was very friendly.
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Today anxiety is no longer part of my experience, I enjoy it very much.
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Would you like to send a message to our readers?
When I started I thought that the key was hard work, somehow I was moving the paradigm of my work but it was because I didn't believe that I was going to fulfill my dream. Now I think that trusting the process is the key.