Athena is one of those people who live and breathe and think and talk about music and she writes with the same sort of direct focus. During a Channel 5 / Sky Arts documentary made about her, legendary songwriter Chris Difford described Athena as someone who, “writes and sings from the heart. She doesn’t need to be packaged by anyone – she is simply and beautifully her.”She has the same sort of clear artistic vision that marks out Norah Jones or Tori Amos or Bjork and it’s matched with a fresh, limitless ambition. “Athena’s classic, with a twist…” noted Jamie Cullum recently.

Born in London to Greek parents, Athena’s mother would sing her to sleep. Despite all the music around the house, the young Athena was denied a piano until she was 16, and her businessman father insisted she study business so she headed to Bath University but continued performing. After securing a First Class Degree in Business Athena told her parents, quite directly she would be doing music full time and enrolled on a course at Trinity College, London.

Athena’s debut album, ‘Breathe With Me’, drew many excellent reviews, indeed The Guardian commenting that she was “Brave and original. A remarkably fine singer songwriter.” Since then she has headlined and sold out numerous UK tours, played at Glastonbury, had songs covered by other artists and seen her own music synced with TV, commercials and movies. All the while Athena has built a strong and sizeable following with the sort of word of mouth that can only come from connecting directly with the emotional heart of your audience.

‘Peeling Apples’ her new album was produced by Swedes Magnus Frykberg and Tobias Froberg (Ane Brun and Lisa Ekdahl), and co-writers on the record include Richard Causon (Ryan Adams, Ethan Johns, The Kings of Leon, Rufus Wainwright), and Jamie Hartman (Joss Stone, Anastacia) features on a duet. Further to headlining London Bush Hall in March 2012, her first single, Finding England featured on the cover album of Word magazine (May 2012) and was selected for the Visit England campaign to coincide with the London Olympics 2012. During Christmas 2012 Athena featured singing on the Save The Children TV ad campaign in the UK with her version of ‘Silent Night’ while her music is due to feature on the charity’s compilation CD in 2013 alongside artists such as Snow Patrol and Amy McDonald.