well, what can I tell you...?

It was all an accident really. I started out as a fashion designer. I did OK really well back in the 80's and had a shop selling my clothes and I traveled the world doing fashion shows and all that. Then my friend Leigh Bowery got me to play his club Taboo more for a laugh, I think, than because he expected me to be any good, but also because I had a big record collection!

I carried on doing the fashion thing and playing some clubs now and then, until the early 90's when Wayne Shires got me to play as resident at his club Superstar at what was known then as Bar Industria - a tiny club just off Regent Street in London. Other budding new dj's resident there were Sister Bliss (later of Faithless) and Jon Pleased Wimmin!!!

Sister Bliss introduced me to John Truelove who gave me his decks and got me to teach myself to mix (I'd got away without mixing until then!!!)

A further residency at the fabulous but short-lived club night Sex (at Café De Paris with Martin Confusion and Smokin Jo) followed and then an invitation to play at React's legendary weekly friday session 'Garage' at Heaven nightclub in London. That's where I really cut my teeth as a DJ, and learnt to mix properly and really work a crowd.

Around the same time I went into the studio with John Truelove and did my first tracks and remixes. Tricks No Tricks - "OK Alright", and Interactive - "Koma" (Love and Sex Remix). I made two further singles as 'Love and Sex' with John (geddit? I was the sex!) one of which was released on TeC and the other, "Boyfriend", featuring the bitch vocals of my friend Dareena, was released on the now defunct Swank label. (see my DISCOGRAPHY for more info)

A young Irish lad called Paul Masterson (now famous for being Wand & Yomanda), was just starting to make a name for himself as a producer, and used to come to Garage at Heaven nightclub in London in 1994. He asked me to come into the studio with him. Our first track together, "Fee Fi Fo Fum" was signed by Virgin Records and came out under the name Candy Girls. To my delight it went to no 23 in the UK charts. The follow-up “Wham Bam” hit no.20 and then “I Want Candy” , which was released on Feverpitch (EMI), got to no.30 . Woah! It was so exciting. Most of the tracks were also released as singles or on compilations in other countries around the world.

So, suddenly it's 1995, and I am shocked to find myself both an international dj and a charting record producer. Frankly I couldn't quite believe it. It just seemed incredible!!!! And since then it's just got better and better. I had the opportunity to travel to countries I never dreamed I'd ever visit, let alone as a DJ!!!
In 1998 I was the first ever western female dj to play China; in August 2000 I played to 17,000 people in Johannesburg South Africa, on the same bill as Leftfield and Orbital (!); I've played Australia, Canada, Brazil, USA, Japan, Israel, all over Europe, Ireland, and of course up and down those UK motorways...

In December 1999 I got voted into the DJ magazine top 100 Dj's (no.35) and the following year no.71, and I am very grateful to all who voted for me [CLICK HERE FOR MORe]

I have really enjoyed the creative freedom of running RA, my own record label and, with over twenty releases, I've got a good catalogue to show for it. I have no intention of slowing down on the releases or the Dj-ing. I love them both equally.

In fact I love it all (most of the time!) but I also like to be at home with my son, and to do yoga, and I like to shop (well, I am a girl!)

Thanks for checking out my website, and please drop me an email at RACHEL@TRUELOVE.CO.UK if you want to say hi. I read all of them, and I try to reply, though I'm travelling so often, and I'm not very computer literate, so I find it quite hard to get back to everyone. Please don't be upset if I don't reply, or somone else replies on my behalf, and please be sure that I really appreciate reading every single one I receive.

Rachel
xoxoxoxo