9+1 Q&A with livania

What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.

During my studies in 2021 in the Department of Social Work here in Komotini, I decided to start vocal lessons. Until that point, I always sang and loved listening to music, but never had training for it. However, I grew up with many musical stimuli and sounds: from Scorpions to Cindi Lauper to Nightwish and Norwegian black metal. So basically, I wanted to improve my singing. Back then, I didn’t know any musical instruments or theory, but still, I managed to get by. In 2022, when I stopped the lessons, I decided to impulsively buy a guitar, and that is how it all started.

Provide us with some info about your latest release…

My album is named Children of Tragedy, and it is a goodbye letter to my old self. It is also a representation of my trauma and struggles through life up until now. It is dedicated to all the black sheep, the underdogs, and people who feel excluded and are traumatized. I recorded it in my bedroom with a few effects and a DAW. It isn’t the first time I have released music: I have released EPs and “albums” in the past, but I deleted them because I never felt that they were good enough to be listened to. Now I am completely sure that this raw and unique atmosphere of the album conforms to my standards.

Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?

My influences, music-wise, are Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, Mazzy Star, and the mix of feelings I have about this world, which are mostly frustration with injustice and sadness about the suffering that exists. Non-music-wise, I would say that my faith in Jesus, my pet bird, and my mum’s daily struggle are the elements that keep me going.

In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?

I believe that my sound is a mix of multiple musical styles. Many people tell me that my use of reverb reminds them of goth music. Funnily enough, I used to be a goth, and I used to listen to lots of dark wave and post-punk music. Maybe these elements are inadvertently infused into my sound from my subconscious. I love the haunting yet rawness of my sound. I believe that it’s music could help anyone be vulnerable and show their true emotions. Vulnerability is very misunderstood in my opinion. It is seen as a bad idea by society to show softness and any type of sad emotion. I don’t believe in being fake, I prefer being genuine and honest with myself and anyone about how I feel and how I see the world.

Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…

This is a tough question, but if I could choose three albums I would like to take with me: Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers, Among My Swan by Mazzy Star, and Watching the Grass Grow by Ruby Haunt. My favourite books are: Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels, the Holy Bible, and all three of the musical theory books of Amarantidis. They are very helpful! As for movies, my favourites are: The Passion of Christ by Mel Gibson and The Fault in Our Stars!

Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

I would love to play live at some point, but I need an audience for that. So far, I am in my bedroom recording. I prefer to play live because it would help me face my fear of crowds, my social anxiety, and the fact that I mess up everything I do when people are watching. It’s all about facing your fears, really.

Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?

I bought my musical instruments because I tend to make impulsive purchases. My mum always tells me to save up money, but I can’t resist collecting items I love, especially musical and theological books and makeup products! That time in 2022, I wanted to buy something different that correlated with my love for music, so I bought a keyboard and then my trusty guitar.

Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?

The World Is My Grave is a song I made during a very difficult time in my life. I was at the library at the school where I did my final internship for my degree, and I was feeling empty. I felt like I was lost without a real purpose, so I picked up my pen and notebook and started writing about a morbid thought of mine: my beloved grandpa who died when I was 8 years old, the only pillar of empathy towards me during my childhood, died of old age and me on the other hand, thought that I would probably die young and I would be buried in the same plot as him. If some won’t understand: in Greece, we tend to have family graves where a family is buried in the same grave.

Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?

I plan to play live and make collaborations with any artist who is willing to accept one. I love being able to share my art and my thoughts about this life. When two or multiple minds work together harmoniously, wonders can happen. I really want to learn more about how to do teamwork since I have always preferred to work alone.

Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…

How did your degree in social work affect your musical journey?

Social Work, as a science of empathy and counseling, is linked to art therapy even by social scientists. When I was studying, I was feeling disconnected from this science, and I wanted to be an artist exclusively. I even said this to a professor of mine back then. Now I have changed my mind: I believe that these two fields can be a big part of my life. I can do both. I feel really happy that I can explain why I feel this way, thanks to psychology and social work, because I can improve as a person and see which behaviors I should stop or improve. I’m very lucky that I can study in this field, and currently, I am doing a master’s degree in social work in education and how it can integrate minorities. We also did courses on art therapy. I am very happy that I can connect my art with the field I am in.

Photo Credits: Minas Bontrotsos

Curated by: Christos Doukakis

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