Athena In The Rocket Launcher
 Photo: Ian Anderson |
I would ask the Greek singer Eleni Vitali who has one of the most amazing and rich voices in the world as well as being an incredible interpreter of songs; Alkinoos Ioannidis because he has such a moving voice, is a fantastic songwriter and a beautiful human being; Lhasa because she is a great storyteller and really takes you on a journey; Aïcha Redouane for the way I heard her use her voice at a workshop, imitating nature, the variety in colours and the sheer power of a woman in the desert calling you; and then I would ask Paco de Lucia and his brother Pepe de Lucia or El Pele & Vicente Amigo who also make a great guitar-voice duo, as the tragedy in the music and the singing sends shivers down my spine. Oh and of course Stan Getz and Kenny Barron to perform First Song (For Ruth) and Keith Jarrett to take our breath away with another Köln Concert. And then I would also put my dream band together and ask musicians like Vangelis Karipis to join me on percussion and Haris Lambrakis on ney amongst others and perform all together with the artists above!
Which totally obscure record do you most treasure and would like more people to know about?
There are so many but if I have to pick one I would say Hyacinth by the great Greek wind player Manos Achalinotopoulos; great compositions, beautiful use of instruments and the voice, absolutely gorgeous.
What was the best live gig you ever saw?
I go to a lot of live gigs and I've been to some incredible ones over the years but the one that comes immediately to mind is Huun-Huur-Tu and the Bulgarian voices Angelite performing together at the QEH in London a few years ago. They blended so well together, it was magical, and actually it was the first time I’d heard throat singing and that’s what inspired me to learn how to do it myself! Also I have to say I’ve been to some great festivals in obscure little villages in Greece – it’s so moving to hear where your roots come from. Some of these, especially the ones in the island of Samothrace and in the mountains of Epirus, have been life-changing experiences.
And what was the worst?
I don’t have a worst one as I always receive something positive from a gig. I walked out halfway through a movie once but never out of a gig!
What was your own best ever gig?
Every gig gives me so much, the audience is always different, their energy and our communication inform the experience, as much as good sound and performing with great musicians do. So I’ve loved most of them for different reasons. But I have to admit that there is one special ‘gig’ I perform every year in Greece and that’s in my father’s house in the small hamam which has the best acoustic. I close my eyes and go to the most sacred place.
And what was your worst?
The worst gigs are when you can’t hear yourself. Once I had trouble hearing as something had gone wrong with the equipment and at one point I could feel my mouth moving but no sound was coming out! That was really scary.
What’s the professional achievement you’re most proud of?
Working with such fantastic collaborators, musicians and co-writers who have made my life richer. I am blessed to be working with such incredible people.
What’s the most embarrassing thing you ever did in public?
Once I forgot my lyrics halfway through a song. And for some reason no words whatsoever came to me, so I started making up nonsense words, complete gibberish, until some real words came back to me! It was really embarrassing.
Which song or piece of music would you most like to have written yourself?
For All We Know by JF Coots & SM Lewis as performed by Nina Simone is magnificent. It’s a classic in every sense. I love how it says that we are ripples in a stream; part of a great whole which is the stream and we a unique ripple, but still a ripple that will come and then go, so we should grab this beautiful moment we’ve been given and live deeply and passionately in it, ‘cause we don’t know what will happen tomorrow.
Who was the first musician or singer you were inspired to emulate?
It’s funny but there was no one. I always felt I sounded different and when I was younger I was even slightly embarrassed by it, as I’d open my mouth and this voice would come out, unlike any I’d heard. But I was also fascinated by it. An untamed horse being released! I always knew this is what I wanted to do and that there was something special there. My instinct told me anyway, as there was no one else to tell me or encourage me at first.
Who was the last-but-one musician or singer you lusted after?
Oh that’s a tough one… Is Ralph Fiennes in a band? But Johnny Depp is, right?
If you had a rocket launcher, who or what would be the target, and why?
There are many things I wish weren’t happening in the world today that make me really sad and frustrated at times but I don’t believe in using violence to solve them. But if I had to target something it would be drills! All the drills in the never-ending flat refurbishments that drive us mad when we are trying to write music and sing.
London-based Greek singer and songwriter Athena embarked on her first national tour in January 2006, and released her first CD EP Snapshot to coincide with it.