The name Athanasia derives from the Ancient Greek term for eternal life. And ATHANASIA - the rising Sydney-based indie star - has music to fit the title: it is timeless and lush, somehow retro and modern.
Blending neo-soul, disco, and pop into her own unique sound has gotten her noticed by the right people, as ATHANASIA was recently announced as the first artist to be selected for Ground Floor, UNIFIED Music Group’s new accelerator program, which is powered by the Community Music ecosystem and focused on empowering independent Australian artists who are “ready to take the next step in their careers.”
“It’s been such an honour, because I’ve been an admirer of UNIFIED for so long,” ATHANASIA confides over a Zoom call regarding her serendipitous selection. “So, to be actually selected by them was beyond words. It truly was so magical for me.”
“I feel very supported and guided. Being an independent artist, I don’t usually have those sorts of connections or teams. So to finally have that with UNIFIED has been very special.”
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The program entails months of mentoring support and guidance, ATHANASIA explains, which has been crucial in the lead-up to the release of her latest single, The Usual. The program has allowed her to bounce ideas off professionals and receive invaluable insight.
“For example, I’ll show them options for cover art and ask them what they think,” she says. “I will try to refine my artistic vision, tell them what I am trying to emulate, and ask them whether I’m achieving it.
“The conversations have also revolved around a lot of the things in the music industry that are important but that I’ve always found difficult, like talking with publishers and talking about artist rights and the business side of things.”
The release of The Usual has rendered this period a whirlwind time for ATHANASIA. “I’ve got so many things happening, so I’m frazzled, but in the best way,” she admits.
The Usual - a silky, sassy bop - is the first song ATHANASIA has ever created with performance explicitly in mind. “I’m usually more studio-based or recording-based. But recently, I’ve been very into the live scene. I’m performing a lot more than I was.
“When I perform with my band, we do a lot of old-school disco anthems. As soon as you play the intro to something like Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight), the crowd loves it, and it’s a beautiful moment we all share. And with The Usual, I created the song to try to emulate that energy.”
The single is confident and sexy: listening to it is spiritually on par with strutting into a bar in a mini skirt and leather boots. “It’s very authentic me, with a bit more sass,” she laughs. “The Usual is very much a product of how I feel right now.
“The song was inspired by that feeling of when you’re home alone a lot, or you’re working a lot or studying, and you’re craving going out and being with your friends: that feeling of being back in your favourite place with your favourite song playing, and you feel really confident, and you’re having a great time.”
It’s true that The Usual would be perfectly placed in a disco club. “It’s a manifestation of a beautiful night. It’s trying to emulate that fun, uplifting energy of a night out.”
Releasing music - an act that can be so easily prone to criticism or harsh feedback - is not always an easy task, which is why ATHANASIA chooses to “detach” herself slightly once her music is out in the world. “It becomes everyone else’s,” she says. “For the most part, I just believe in what I’m releasing. Whatever I have chosen to release, I’m releasing it because it resonates with me.”
She is very excited to perform The Usual onstage, again and again, and to continue to embrace performance in general. “I always used to view myself as only a recording artist, just a songwriter, not a performer. Now, since performing with my band the last few years, I find the best part about music is writing it and then being able to perform it. Performing for me is now the highlight.”
Though ATHANASIA appears to be effervescently positive, she is open and honest about the struggles of being a working indie musician.
“In the past, it’s been hard to know what my artist rights are, or what I should know,” she says. “But I feel like with social media - and therefore having access to lots of different conversations - it's a lot easier to advocate for myself than it would have been.” In this capacity, Ground Floor has, of course, been a major remedy.
ATHANASIA touches on a salient point: the fact that social media is not ubiquitous in the world of being a musician.
“It is definitely a change in the industry,” she says. “I think content creation takes a very dominant role in music, but I view it as a skill or a tool that you can choose to strengthen however much you want.”
Unlike some, she finds the social media aspect of her career enjoyable. “I was on iMovie my whole childhood making content, so it’s kind of like me reliving my childhood self. But on the other hand, sometimes I kind of just want to prioritise my music. It can be a bit distracting to have to focus on socials. So it often is hard to find that balance where you’re not burnt out or overdoing it.”
She goes on to divulge her thoughts about the state of the music industry in Australia right now.
“Australia is one of those places where we really do have the best opportunity to have a beautiful music nightlife: we have beautiful music, beautiful venues, and we have people who crave community. So, you would think that Australia would be the best place for a growing music career.”
ATHANASIA pauses to think, and then continues, “But I think also, we’re so far away from the rest of the world, and we also cannot compete with the resources that other countries have. We don't have as much funding or as many opportunities as places like America or the UK.
“I think there needs to be a little shift as well in Australian culture. I think we all work so hard and lead very busy lives, so often people don’t prioritise going to gigs. Most people aren’t going out to see live music like they once were. I don’t blame anyone, but it would be great to see a shift in that.”
ATHANASIA has a grand 2026 ahead (which will hopefully also include a shift in Australian engagement with live music). “Lots of music coming out, an EP at some point, hopefully in the middle of the year. I’m hoping to do a lot more shows and bring as much soul and disco energy as I can.”
At this point, with a fulfilling and exciting indie music career, ATHANASIA is right where she belongs.
“From the age of six or seven - I don’t know if it’s delusion, I don’t know if it’s a divine feeling - I always knew that I would be a musician. I never ever thought about another industry or career.”
She laughs, knowing that, so far, delusion and talent have been the perfect recipe for her success. “It’s a magical kind of delusion, I suppose.”
The Usual is out now. You can find out more about UNIFIED Music Group’s Ground Floor program here.
