NextGen Spotlight: Athena Aperta

Your new song, ‘Facing the Sun’ is about overcoming negative thoughts of low self-worth, anxiety, and depression. It’s a story of triumph and growth; an inspiring anthem for anyone seeking positivity in their lives. It’s your first music released for two years – what made this the right single to come back with? And what do you hope people will take away from it?

This single means so much to me and is such a metaphor for the personal journey I’ve been on in these last two years. I have a long history with mental health struggles ever since age 13/14 and within the last 2 years after getting sober and leaving London I was truly faced with the decision of who I wanted to continue being. Through the accessibility funding I’ve been working with a coach who has also further enhanced my healing journey and my knowledge around being in relationship with others. This song is such a reflection of this feeling, with lyrics like “loving myself, treating me better with kindness”, through the coaching and through maturing I’ve come to the realisation that you can only accept the love you think you deserve. Many of my past relationships (friendships included) had a certain level of disrespect in them as I had continuously disrespected myself. “So weird to realise you were your own enemy and only you can set you free.” This song is a nod to the calm, secure and stable mental state that I’m in now. We go through things, we experience trauma, but we are not meant to stay in that pain. I used to identify with the trauma that I had experienced, with the pain, which served me when it needed to but it doesn’t serve us in the long run. To continue coming back to those experiences lead to trauma-bonding with ex’s, developing unhealthy coping mechanisms and also such a mentality and energy of being a victim, of continuing to be small.

It may take time, and you will have even more experiences that will be painful, but overall, as humans we are here to fully experience joy and to love, it’s up to us to strengthen the love within ourselves so we can withstand and thrive in anything. “We are all love.” If everyone tried to do at least one thing a day that was with the intention of fully loving themselves, and another with the intention of showing love to another, our world will look very different. There is love everywhere, from the smiles of a stranger to the boil of the kettle, from sharing the Operation Olive Branch document to people you know, to writing letters of solidarity to prisoners.

My hope with this single is that people will give themselves the chance to fully connect with themselves, to dance to this song and to realise that they are so so worthy of love.

You’ve flowed between making music across punk, folk, jazz and neo-soul. How have you arrived at your current sound?

My current sound is one of fluidity but I’m currently really interested in collaborating more with folk (global traditions), D&B, House, Pop and Jazz producers and musicians. I have such a talent to write many genres and to be able to work with different sounds, that I think it would be a disservice to myself to put myself into one category or box as an artist, songwriter and producer. I was a bit afraid to come to this conclusion with the idea that I may be seen as unprofessional or that I haven’t spent enough time trying to find ‘my’ sound. Instead, I hope to continue writing and releasing songs of multi-genres, with the string attaching them all being a message of hope, love and connection.

I’ve had the honour to collaborate and work with so many musicians over the years, from supporting Petrol Girls to playing at Boomtown Festival and then even in Norway at the world’s largest songwriting camp. I think the journey of my sound really reflects my personal journey, but I love that I’ve been able to explore and express who I am through different styles. I’m excited to continue releasing lots of music, have fun with other creators and also allowing myself to pivot when I deem it necessary. A goal of mine is to support Laura Marling one day with my folk set and invite my sister backstage to meet her (she was the one that introduced me to her music).

You create music to help others heal. How has the act of making music healed you? How do these themes influence your music, and what message do you hope to convey through your work?

Honestly whenever I feel the need to write or play, I have to press record on my voice memos and let out whatever it is that needs to be let out. There’s been many times that I don’t even know what I’m feeling, and then some lyrics come out and I’m like ‘ohhh, that’s what I’ve been thinking’. It’s such a therapeutic process for me. Being in a room or studio with others and talking about the vulnerable emotions that you feel, sharing your work or your ideas and to have them connect to that? And add on their own experiences? It’s truly such a beautiful connection and healing moment. There’s so much research around humans being and healing in community, and music is no stranger to this. When I changed my musician name to Athena Aperta (I used to perform and write under my legal name), I had an opportunity to really think about what my objective is with my music. I was inspired from the Goddess Athena because I’ve been on a journey reconnecting to my feminine energy in recent months. I was inspired by how she represents wisdom, courage and war. I felt that with my music I wanted to come from a place of courage, with the wisdom I've learned through the internal wars within myself. Aperta is a latin word that has a few meanings but the words that I connected to the most were ‘uncovered/exposed/opened/to lay bare’. I thought, what a gorgeous sentiment, to fully allow myself to be exposed within my music, to fully uncover my whole self. This is when I came up with my tag line ‘helping others feel less alone, one song at a time.’

I hope that from my music, and especially when writing genres that are seen as more vapid, strangers connect to it because they feel it. They feel that there is no pretence, that there is no show and from that they feel that they too, can be fully themselves. The message I hope to convey through my music is one of hope, of connection, of helping others to remember that they don’t need to be anyone but them (and that it’s okay if that changes over time - heck! It’s something that is promised).

An aim of your work is to contribute to and enhance the conversation around mental health, gender and sobriety. How do you think the music industry needs to change to become more open and accepting of these issues?

I think it’s first important to point out that all industries are made up of people. If we expect these industries to change, we have to first change ourselves rather than always pointing the finger outwards. When I created ‘Queer Off’ it was purely because there were so many LGBTQ+ people in SE London but at the time of Queer Off’s creation there wasn’t really a platform to showcase multiple creative mediums in one space. From dancing to full bands, DJ’s and even art. I’m of that mindset still, if there’s something that doesn’t exist: create it yourself or find someone who will. I’m in the works of creating multiple online courses and workshops to pass on my knowledge. From songwriting, how to increase your confidence on stage, how to approach promoters and so much more. [Sign up to my mailing list to be the first to receive them as well as discounts for them].

I hope that we continue to create more sober spaces for creatives because there has been and continues to be such a culture of drugs and alcohol abuse within the industry. I always say this without judgement because it is so fun when you’re in it, but by enhancing the conversations around it, I hope to show that being sober truly isn’t boring. I’m probably the most fun I’ve ever been in my life and I put that down to finally going out and experiencing life (like skydiving, climbing mountains and travelling) instead of only experiencing life inside the walls of pubs and bars, continuously craving connection.  

Creative people, from my experience, are often people who feel their emotions really deeply and most likely have dealt with or continue to live with mental health disorders. I think it would be counterintuitive for a creative industry to not understand or embody this knowledge and make it accessible to those who currently live life or have experience with mental health disorders.

As well as making your own music, you’re a singing coach. How do your experiences as a neurodivergent musician influence your teaching methods, and what unique perspectives do you bring to your students?

My experiences as a neurodivergent musician really influences the way that I coach. I usually organise a phone call with prospective students in order to hear their experience so far in music and to hear what their needs are. I then go away and write a package specific to their needs. Whether that's to increase their technical vocal skills, to strengthen singing in a certain style, they're a beginner and have no idea where to start or if they've performed on many stages but want help enhancing their vocals and knowledge of studio recording. I'm someone who loves to know the reason 'why' behind a lot of things, I'm also someone who will ask many questions, and sometimes I'm someone who isn't focused and needs a break. There is absolutely no shame or judgement within my lessons, I accept all my students exactly as they show up. 

I also coach guitar as well as beginner production and mentoring. If anyone is new to music, needs advice from someone who has been performing live for over a decade, someone with a first class degree in music, someone who has years in the live sector being a promoter and events organiser, then I'm ya gal! Over the years I've helped others see the talent in themselves and believe in themselves to perform, collaborate or record!

My whole thing is to coach in a holistic way. As I have two diplomas in counselling skills (one in LGBTQ+ affirmative counselling) and one in Sound Therapy, I'm able to hold space for others in a professional yet friendly way. I'm not a practiced counsellor but the listening skills and ability to hold space is something I learned from these courses.