Project Description

Interview with
ATHENA JOY

(16th October 2020)

Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs

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Angelic vocals and immersive, vulnerable lyrics combine to create Athena Joy’s heartfelt sound. At 24 years of age this Gold Coast artist, captivates with a subtle pop tone and an emotional, moody edge.

Her debut EP made waves back in 2018 through stellar online reviews and premieres from online blogs such as Pilerats, Happy Mag and Plastic Mag in the UK, as well as receiving radio play from indie music lovers at 4ZZZ, triple J Unearthed as well as numerous online and college radio stations.

This in combination with Queensland and Gold Coast music award nominations, showcasing at local festivals as well as an East Coast Tour including locally loved venues The Zoo and Nightquarter.

Earlier this year Athena Joy dropped an angsty anthem called Just Like You gaining praise from the likes of Themusic.com.au, AMNplify, Women in Pop as well as radio interest from the Melbourne favourites at SYNFm to MMRadio in London. With the success of her single Rush, Joy announced it was apart of her upcoming EP Into The Wild.

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ATHENA JOY has all the traits to win fans” – Declan Byrne, Triple J.



When did your music journey start? Have you always written your own music?
I suppose it technically started when I was like 12 i sang at a talent quest at my school and was kind of like “yes this is it”
But yeah Ive been writing since I was like 6 or 7 years old my primary school bestie and I used to hang out and write songs to show eachother. I was a bit of a nerd that way I genuinely didn’t know all people didn’t enjoy creating.

For anyone who has yet to hear the sounds of Athena Joy, how would you describe the music you produce? What song or songs would you suggest they listen to first?
I would describe it as dark, dreamy and dramatic. The weekend is probably one of my faves in terms of production it was super satisfying and dreamy. Also the song Into the Wild is probably one other people have said they’re super into which I was a bit surprised by. I selfishly had so much fun pouring out my soul in such a way but I really didn’t think it would translate to others like it did I thought the ending would be a little too polarizing but I’m so glad its resonated with people can’t wait to play it live.

You have just dropped your hotly anticipated EP ‘Into The Wild’! It is available now on all download and streaming services and contains an ethereal six tracks. When did you start working on the EP and what was the creative process like?
Mid 2018 was when I wrote most of the songs and we started recording end of that year. I had some health stuff going on so the recording process took a lot longer than expected and things kind of kept pushing back the release so the creative process was a bit disheveled but I really feel like I poured my soul into these tracks. I feel like in a lot of ways they sonically represent me as a person particularly at that point in my life.

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Can you describe the creative concept behind this EP? What do you hope people will take away from the release?
The concept for this EP revolves around escapism and getting lost in the land of would be’s, could be’s whatever. Its about getting so lost in your imagination so much that you kind of lose touch with reality.
It goes through ups and downs and the track Sailin’ was kind of submitting to that idea like I’d rather this than not being able to imagine things getting better.
At the moment I just hope people can find the parts they relate to and feel comforted by that like, your not alone. When I wrote alot of these tracks I did feel alone because I feel like a lot of people say your early 20s are the best years of your life etc. Etc. For me its kind of been a lot of stumbling around and a lot of feeling lost or lonely. I know i cant be the only one so thats kind of my hope I guess.

How does it feel to have ‘Into the Wild’ released into the world for everyone to enjoy? What has the reception or feedback been like so far?
It feels strange. I think because the process has felt so drawn out like Ive had these songs in my head for 2 years so its weird for people to know they exist now and play them but definitely cool.
The feedback has been good I feel like a lot of the reviews Ive gotten have been super lovely and sweet.
It means a lot.

What was the first thing you did when the EP dropped?
Posted on instagram? How lame ahha
My housemate came out of her room screaming playing them so that was funny
Admittedly it was a bit of a weird release day not having  show or anything to look forward to so I was a bit down the following day bought myself some sunflowers and went through all the messages people had sent me which was heart warming.

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Title track ‘Into the Wild’ is a song that perfectly shows off your beautiful vocals, which seem to be filled with a longing and a bittersweetness. Was this how you intended the song to sound? Can you share the meaning behind this one?
Definitely an accurate description. It was written from a place of loneliness. I was thinking about how powerless I felt over my own life and how lonely I felt because even if theres this magical dream land that exists in my head of how things could be, or are to me, no one else will ever see that. People only really ever know or see of us what we tell them or let them see and even then it all still comes through a filtered lens of sorts. Initially Sailin’ was going to be called into the wild  part 2 because I feel like they come at the same emotion from different angles. Into the wild is the isolation and Sailin’ is relishing in the beauty of it all. I changed the name because I feel like it does still stand on its own but yeah I do feel like the songs are linked in my head.

You released the delightfully angsty track “Just Like You” earlier this year. What inspired you to write the song? How did you feel having it played on the radio as far as London station MMRadio?
I was feeling frustrated in amongst the health stuff honestly and ultimately was just feeling really sorry for myself.
I was sitting there looking at the last few years like “of course I’d end up here thats so characteristic of me” and decided to switch the narrative. Like its just like me to end up in this situation but it’s just like me to get out of it as well.
So cool! They’ve been super supportive which is lovely. Hopefully covid sorts itself out soon so I can go visit I’ve wanted to go to London my whole life. Its definitely so strange/cool having people hearing your music from places you’ve never been before. Definitely the coolest part of the internet.

There are some really beautiful instrumentals on this EP! Who works with you to create the instrumentals, and how did you incorporate that so well to complement your distinctive vocals?
Thankyou! Honestly its kind of a mixed bag some songs ill have a lot of the instrumentation with midi tracks and sounds done bring it to Jared Adlem and we’ll record some live stuff to it. Like take me away for example was written entirely on midi guitars and synths and so we took that and replaced the guitars with live ones. And then some like Sailin just started with one synth sound we built the entire song around that and the vocal.

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I really enjoyed your single “Rush”, a song that evokes feelings of restlessness and transiency. Did you find it easy to write the lyrics? How would you describe the song?
Thankyou! The lyrics kind of wrote themselves honestly one of those tracks that just came pouring out. I’d describe it as moody chaos, dancing between the real and the synthetic as well as the fast and slower paced drums. The production of this one was super satisfying, very representative of how things were feeling in my head.

“The Weekend” has lingering instrumentals and your vocals have an atmospheric breathy or wispy quality. It gives me slight vibes of Taylor Swift from her latest album. What was your intention or vision with this song? And is there anyone else you would you compare yourself to musically?
I wanted it to feel kind of strange and dreamy but also capture the darkness behind it all as well. I was super inspired by Lorde’s song Hard Feelings for this one. She’s probably someone I’d say that’s inspired my music a lot. Taylor Swift definitely as well. The band Daughter as well for this EP in particular.

Your debut EP, “The Blue EP”, was released by you back in 2018 and garnered loads of media attention and stellar reviews. How do you feel your sound has evolved, particularly on this latest release, since you released your debut?
I suppose there’s the obvious maturing as you get older that I think you can but I also think my confidence as a producer is growing a bit as well. Jared and I worked pretty hard as well to make sure it sounded like once cohesive project and sonically I do think each song conpliments the other.

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What is next for you in 2020? Do you have any plans for live gigs, or perhaps an Australian tour when that is possible?
I hope so, 2020 has impacted a lot of musicians in terms of work/life situations etc my band included. So a few restructuring things might have to happen to get the music into a live setting but we’re working on it. I hope soon, I miss playing live so much.

Who are your biggest music idols? If you could perform with any musician, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
Freddie Mercury definitely. His energy and everything on stage I dont even have to perform with him honestly just want to be in the same room. I love Queen so much.
Biggest music Idols I’d say Taylor, Lorde, Broods, Daughter bit of a mix stylistically.

Where do you hope to be in your music career in five years’ time? Do you have any long-term aspirations as a musician?
I Definitely do have long term aspirations but to be honest at the moment for the sake of sanity I’m trying think more short term. I’m just trying to get through this year hopefully plan some shows. One day I’d like to write and travel full time but focusing on that at the moment is a little depressing. We’ll get there.

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AMNPLIFY – DB