I would love for more research funds to be allocated for metastatic breast cancer research. Over the years since I was diagnosed and with a lot of advocacy by breast cancer patients, we are getting more dollars into this specific research. If we can tackle metastatic cancers then patients can live longer, more fulfilling lives. Our concert brings hope to these women, and we donate our earnings directly to metastatic research funding.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Burns.
Rachel Burns truly is a Wonder Woman, figuratively and literally. The cancer-surviving mother of two has been an outspoken activist both on the streets, where for years she dressed in a Wonder Woman costume protesting the Trump administration, and in her music — using her voice as a beacon of positivity and a vessel for change. Her sophomore EP, ‘What a Nasty Woman,’ blends soul, pop, country, and more into a record of resilience and protesting the patriarchy while celebrating the power of feminism. In addition, she is the co-founder of the nonprofit, Cancer Culture, which helps patients tell their stories through the arts. Listen to ‘What a Nasty Woman’ at rachelburns.ffm.to/whatanastywoman and see rachelburnsmusic.com for more information.
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
I grew up in a musical family where music was a focus of our everyday lives. I sang around the house, and my folks always had music playing and music lessons going on in the home, so music was integral to my life growing up. I attended New England Conservatory and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Vocal Performance, however, instead of going into a music career at first, I pursued business for 25 years as a day job and sang in bands as a side gig. I always wanted to have music as my main focus, and when I was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago, I realized that if I wanted to follow my dreams, life was short, and I better start singing my heart out!
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
My biggest mistake early on was listening and believing negative feedback from mostly male teachers who may have had alternative motives. I was a pretty girl, was independent, and had a big personality and a big voice, and that was intimidating for people. I had to wade through years of thinking I was no good as a singer or artist because I believed the negative comments people made in order to diminish me.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
Go for it. Live big. Follow your dreams. Don’t apologize for who you are, and be your authentic self. Don’t mask your talent to fit into someone else’s box. If you have a vision of yourself as an artist, stay true to yourself and your vision.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
I had a teacher, Lucy Shelton, at New England Conservatory, who turned off my performance anxiety with some simple advice, and since that day, my debilitating stage fright left me for good. She gave me the advice that, as performers, our job is not to get the notes right or to sing a perfect line. Our job is to transform the audience and listeners from their mundane everyday lives and transport them beyond their everyday experiences into the ethereal with our performance. She told me the audience didn’t want to see a scared, timid, or shy performer and feel bad if they make a mistake -that is what we all do every day in our lives. They instead want to free themselves from their anxiety by witnessing us performing fearlessly and becoming part of the music. From that day on, I pushed my ego aside as a performer and focused more on becoming part of the music and bringing my open, big energy to every performance, and never holding back. I love witnessing the transformation that audiences experience watching live music that just takes them away from the everyday. That’s when music is magic.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
I have many non-profits I help out with that are music or empowerment-based, but my pet project is a nonprofit, Cancer Culture. We host fashion shows (this year at NY Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week) with breast cancer survivors who are embracing their bodies after cancer and walking the runway — scars and all. We are also hosting our annual breast cancer concert with my band, What a Nasty Woman band in DC this October, where we will be supporting breast cancer patients from all over the US who want to sing with a live band on stage, and we will perform with them and produce an album of them singing in the studio. Singing and breathwork are so important for health, and singing in front of friends and family with a live band is an awesome experience to give to these women.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
When I was going through chemo and couldn’t breathe very well, I brought out my old opera repertoire and realized that singing deeply was extremely therapeutic for my healing and regaining health during my treatment. Also, seeing women live their dream and face their fears with boldness and grace on stage is remarkable and inspiring.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
The other co-founder of Cancer Culture and my close friend, Beth Fairchild, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer nine years ago. I was one of the first breast cancer friends she had made that was her same age. When she found out I sang with a band, she told me her bucket list item was to sing with a band. The first concert was magic when she took the stage — she had the audience transfixed, and she blossomed on stage into a performer. She has since become one of the leaders in advocacy for metastatic breast cancer in America and has outlived the time the doctors predicted at diagnosis. She has sung at every concert since and lights up the room every time, and brings tears to everyone’s eyes with her authentic voice.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
I would love for more research funds to be allocated for metastatic breast cancer research. Over the years since I was diagnosed and with a lot of advocacy by breast cancer patients, we are getting more dollars into this specific research. If we can tackle metastatic cancers then patients can live longer, more fulfilling lives. Our concert brings hope to these women, and we donate our earnings directly to metastatic research funding.
Why do you think music in particular has the power to create social change and create a positive impact on humanity?
Music makes us dance, laugh, sing, and feel. It brings us out of our ego and back to our inner child. Music uplifts and connects us to one another.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”?
- If you can see it, be it.
- Ignore the doubters
- Trust your instincts
- You know more than you think you do
- Authenticity is more important than perfection
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Singing for health. People overlook the power of breath and the release of tension in the body that singing can create. Singing is so therapeutic — it vibrates you from the insides, fills your body with breath, and is a release of tension and emotion. It connects others to you and creates community. It cuts through sadness and creates a higher vibration for us all to heal. Singing for health is so important to me. I believe it was and is instrumental to my survival from cancer.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
I have so many from my life with cancer. But one of my favorite ones in regards to music, and really, life is: Don’t think, just play. Of course, with music and in life, you must think while you are learning the fundamentals, but releasing our thoughts once we have mastered the fundamentals and moving into flow and play, is when magic appears in life and art.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Dolly Parton. I believe we would have a great laugh and could do some great things for women together.
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Rachel Burns Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.