Where are you based, and how long have you been there?

 I am based once again in Athens, Greece, my birthtown. [I have been here] since 2018, after having lived ten years in Paris and four years in Crete.

 Is it home? And if not, where is?

Yes, it is home. But home is everywhere I lived and this is reflected to my music. I carry all these places inside me. 

How would you describe the current atmosphere where you live?

The current atmosphere in Greece is that of political change. There is a big movement of the great majority of the greek society, which started after a terrible train accident (Tempi) that has cost the lives of many people and justice has not been attributed to those who are responsible for it. Actually, I perceive it as a revolt against corruption. 

What’s the general feeling? What’s the music scene like there?

The musical scene in Athens is beautiful and creative. Concerning the world music of eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans in which I have been working for the last 20 years, it is a rich source of inspiration. But sometimes it is a bit conservative for creating new music from these ancestral musical sources, compared to Paris where I lived and created for 10 years. My work, as an interpreter and as a composer, is to create modern music from these ancient traditions. So my life is somewhere between the modern cities and the traditional societies, close to nature. 

How supportive are the local government/authorities to music and musicians?

Not really supportive I would say. When I used to live in France, we had the status of 'intermittent du spectacle', a kind of salary for musicians as well as significantly more funding for musical creation, tours etc. In Greece there is very little funding for musicians. One [source] is that of the Greek Ministry of Culture and the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which we obtained for this album, Riζituals, as it is unique.

Who are the local music heroes? Who does everyone look up to?

There are many and different musical heroes in Greece. Concerning Greek music, there are different styles and scenes: rebetiko and laïka are quite popular, entekhno is a creative form of Greek songs with traditional and also western instruments and there is also traditional music. We also have a lot of 'import' from the global scene concerning rock, pop and jazz music. Some Greek artists, known internationally for using Greek musical elements in rock, pop or jazz music respectively, are Villagers of Ioannina City, Marina Satti and Mode Plagal.

Who are the local musicians that you’re most excited about?

Someone who has inspired me a lot is the Irish Crete-based musician and composer Ross Daly. I also love the voices of the singers Eleftheria Arvanitaki and Savina Yannatou as well as Mode Plagal. Additionally, I enjoy listening to Greek traditional music, particularly the regions of Epirus, Macedonia and Crete. 

When you’re not making music what do you do there?

I am working on music therapy. I did my thesis on 'Music and Psychoanalysis' at Sorbonne Paris 7 University and I also teach music therapy there, as well as at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. I introduced the music therapy protocol 'Analytical musicodrama' which combines musical listening and instrument playing, drawing, writing and role-playing in group psychotherapy. This is my second identity. Actually I think that my music as a composer is very much influenced by this part of my personality, as all my works are concerned about a deep understanding of the human soul… I am also a mother of two beautiful children!

Where do you go?

I go to Greek nature. I swim and climb mountains as much as I can in the middle of my busy urban schedule and I feel very blessed to be living in Greece! It is a little paradise.

Is there anything else we should know about the place? What do you love and/or hate about it?

I love the nature, the people, the music. I hate the corruption and disorganization.

Lastly, is there anywhere else you’d rather be? 

I would like to spend some more time in the nature of Epirus, Crete and the Greek island of Samothraki that I adore. And I love travelling to the whole world giving concerts, workshops, conferences and also feeding from other artists' work!