FOCUS "YOUR OWN WORDS" Interview to ATHENA JOY
Athena Joy is back and leaves nothing behind in her new dark-pop single exploring mental health and emotional breakdown. On rotation "Blame it on the brain'.
P.P.
9/23/20232 min read
Hi Athena. Welcome to AFX.
Can you describe your artistic project? Please, introduce your latest work.
My new single Blame it on the Brain. is kind of a dark-pop, rage infused track that encapsulates all of the heavy emotions of chronic pain but has packaged it up and made it somewhat fun and listenable. (Anyone with chronic pain will tell you, it's definitely the opposite of fun in real life) The song has a lot of dark elements and it's somewhat gritty but also it's somewhat tows the line between that and a clean mainstream pop sound.
What would you say is your greatest strength as a singer?
For me my emotions are really tied to are all the music I create and I always kind of hope that resonates with other people and they can connect to that.
What’s the best compliment someone could give you about your songwriting?
Anytime a stranger is crying to a song I wrote when I play it live I feel like is always the deepest compliment. It means someone is not only understanding what you have written but they are living it too, they are connected -They get it. Thats what's so beautiful about music to me. It can take the most isolating of feelings and present it in a way that actually can bring people together and make you feel less alone.
What is your preferred method of writing music, alone or in a team? Which artists can we refer to?
I like both, they each have perks. Writing solo can be very therapeutic but working with others gives you people to bounce off and I think it can be a lot more fun and fresh. I've worked a little bit with a band called Peptalk and another solo artist Hazel Mei. Its always so fun working with other people and it definitely opens the doors a bit creatively.
ATHENA JOY - Blame it on the Brain.
Is there a particular place where you feel most creative?
It's weird but I tend to write a little bit in the car. I find when I'm driving or doing something else sometimes the most random but fun ideas can come up. I feel super creative at a piano but truly sometimes the best ideas come when you have nothing but your phone to record it.
What are some of your favourite songs to play live?
I have a couple of unreleased songs that I'm loving playing live at the moment but in terms of what's already out there Blue is probably still one of my favourites. Everything from the meaning behind it to the reception it received when it was released, it has all been so positive so it always holds a special place in my heart.
Are you working on any new music or planning anything exciting that we can look forward to?
Absolutely, nothing to announce just yet but I was in the studio again a couple of weeks ago. The next bunch of songs I think are some of my favourites I've ever worked on. I feel like its the deepest I've gone as a writer and I'm very excited to show it all to other people.
