We were lucky to catch up with Annaly Mawire recently and have shared our conversation below.

Annaly, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Life is too valuable to allow yourself to remain in the same place your whole life. If you aren’t taking risks, are you really living?

Growing up as a pastor’s kids, I was introduced to music at a young age. I taught myself to play the guitar and piano and was thrust into the worship scene in my teens. As soon as I began leading worship, I knew in my heart this was what I was called to do.

I continued worship leading in college, traveling with a band during summers to camps as well as churches. My dream was and has always been to lead thousands into the presence of God, through my music, and allow Him to do His life changing work in their life; but of course life gets in the way.

I married and had two wonderful kids that kept me busy and at home for the majority of the time. I had made the conscious decision to put my dreams on hold and dedicate all of my time to them, as I knew once they started school I wouldn’t get that time back.

Kids started school and the pandemic hit. Extra time at home provided the perfect opportunity to pull out my guitar and get back into music. With so much fear in the air with Covid and quarantine, I had the choice to choose fear or faith. So I chose faith! I wrote my first original song inspired by Psalm 91. The perfect anecdote to combat fear. The irony though, as much I dreamt of producing it and launching my songwriting career, my fear of taking a risk kept it locked away until…

One year later, a Radio DJ hit me up on social media. He has seen some of my cover music on social media and was interested in featuring me on his program but he could only feature original music. I told him about my original song and my fears of taking the next step and getting it produced. He was so encouraging and gave me helpful tips on taking the next steps.

My fears of the unknown, of rejection, of feeling my time had passed, had to be completely ignored. How could I write a song about faith and let fear rule? So I took the risk, met some great producers, The Creatives Factory, and released my first ever single, “Under the Shadow” in October 2o21!

It was the best choice I could have ever made. The song is reaching thousands with its positive message of faith, in a time where fear of the unknown is gripping so many people’s lives.

The best thing I have learned from this is that things are never as scary as we make them out to be. Just a little faith goes a long way in living a fulfilled life full of beautiful moments that would never have been experienced if we never took the risk.

Today is the day to take that risk! Today is the day to experience something new and different! Today is the day to step out in faith and see the beauty God has laid out for us!

Annaly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a singer/songwriter, but most importantly a worship leader at heart.

Life brings pain and hardships. We bring our own defeat when we focus on our circumstances. Praise and worship does the opposite. It keeps you focused on God. My calling is to bring people to the place God resides, where He can set them free and break the all the bondage that has held them down.

Through creating profound worship encounters and power teachings, frustrated christians seeking more than religion, can encounter the God of power who can set them free, bring peace and healing to their life.

If you want to tackle your fear, check out my song, “Under the Shadow.”

“Under the Shadow” inspired by Psalm 91, is an echoing cry of King David, a mighty declaration against fear, a Biblical arrow shooting straight to the heart of what is, a call to strength and faith in an unsettling era of fear.

Produced by the Creatives Factory, Under the Shadow is intimate and profound, sonically adorned with gritty rhythms and soulful melodies against an empowering lyrical backdrop. Annaly’s truth-charged vocals, for which she has become known for, pierce through the vivid, dynamic soundscape that point perpetually towards Jesus.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There is nothing better than hearing someone say how much my song or teaching has helped them in their life. That is the greatest encouragement I can hear. It makes the hours of work and effort all worth it. To know someone has been changed by the same message that changed my life, the message of Jesus, is what it’s all about!!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn is that you have to have it all together before you start. Everyone has a starting point. The more you do, the more you learn. If you wait to have it all together before you start, you will never start. You grow throughout the process and that’s what makes the journey exciting.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.annalymawire.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaly.mawire/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnalyMawire/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZIB_JppTEFu32OlAOiUQg
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annaly.mawire

Image Credits
Beloved Marketing