Get to Know Atheena, the Nigerian Artist Creating A Hybrid Sound

Powerful, greatly talented female artists have and continue to redefine the sound of the music industry all over the world, and the Nigerian music industry is no exception. Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Aśa, and Ayra Starr have continuously used their voices to reshape, transform, and pave a fresh path in the industry. As a result of this revolution, young female artists are empowered to harness their gifts and share them with the world, encouraging them to make their voices heard and unmissable. Anita Chidinma Uzoma, best known as Atheena, is one of those artists.

Atheena is a Nigerian independent artist known for her eccentric yet deeply captivating sound and songwriting. Although living in a country where making music seems like an incomprehensible dream, Atheena engraved her voice in the minds of her listeners with her first-ever single “Breathe.” She flipped the norm on its head with her incredible vocals, which are influenced by Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish; creating a new and authentic sound by incorporating her background and the style of her role models into her music.

Below, we caught up with the singer to discuss her artistry, and what she’s looking forward to in 2023. 

Who is Atheena?

Atheena is a singer-songwriter. She is an all-around creative, who pours out her heart into her music. In her songwriting, even when she writes for people, she puts bits and pieces of herself into it. Atheena is also a tomboy with a half-shaved head and a believer in God.

What is the meaning of your name?

Truth is, I wanted to go by my name but my friend convinced me to come up with something different and mysterious. Atheena is my name spelt backward. I just spelt it as pronounced because I think it adds finesse and a bit of mystery. Plus Atheena is the powerful Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war. Well, I don’t dig war (I am a sweetheart) but I like to think of myself as powerful.

What is a typical day in your life like?

Let’s say Friday. I wake up. I read my devotional (I’ve been trying to be consistent with that, by the way). Then shower, eat and watch YouTube videos. I’ve been crazy about watching YouTube videos. I watch videos by Jordan Peterson. There’s something about that man’s mind that just resonates with me. Then I post content on my YouTube channel: Life With Atheena and sometimes read a book. Yeah, that’s a typical Friday for me.

How did you know making music was a career for you?

When I was younger, I used to watch a musical show – Glee. And I remember this girl singing ‘pretty on pretty’ and I was like, “God, this is going to be in university.” I have always loved music, but when I watched that show, I knew that if there was anything I could see myself doing for the rest of my life, it had to be music. So far, every step that I have taken concerning music, whether it is writing it, recording or singing on stage, has always felt like the place for me. It has always felt like the place where I can truly find peace.

I find it cringy when I play my songs for people, but when I sit alone in my room and listen to my music, I truly can’t imagine myself doing anything else. I mean, what would I do with my life if not sing?

Which of your songs means the most to you?

That’s difficult to choose. But if I had to choose, it would be “Breathe.” Because it was the first song that I sat down and fully wrote by myself. It opened doors to features and management deals, it is insane! It is so dear to my heart because I wrote about a friend and myself and our fears, and how I calm myself when life is throwing woe after woe at me. That song was me reminding myself that I’m not the first person to walk the path that I’m on and the fact those people made it, means that I can make it. And even if no one has walked the path before, I can walk through it and be successful. I just have to take one step at a time and breathe.

What is the inspiration behind your sound, and how would you describe it?

My sound is raw, authentic, and heartfelt. Raw because when I got into music, I had no voice training; it was just me, uncut and unrefined, pure. Authentic because I made sure that I do not sound like the people that inspire me. I had to go find what I wanted to sound like, what I wanted my listeners to hear when they listen to my music. Heartfelt because when I sing, I like to sing from the sound within me. I like to connect with songs because if I can’t, then I shouldn’t be singing at all.

Although Beyonce, Rihanna, and Sia are legends and I adore them, I relate more to Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish. Their kind of music tends to ground me in the fundamentals of being human, and that’s why they are my inspiration.

What message do you hope to pass along when your listeners hear your music?

I’m going to be generic here. I hope to pass along the message of hope and peace and I want people to hear my music and just feel peace and hope and love because ‌this world would be nothing without those three things. Also, I hope to let people know they are never truly alone in any situation. I speak from experience here. We are never truly alone in difficult times and even though the pain of heartbreak and suffering can be so overwhelming that we don’t realise this. We are never truly alone and noticing that is comforting. 

Is any song dropping soon?

Yes, a song is dropping soon. I don’t have a specific date yet, but a song will drop soon. Not this year, though, but definitely within the first quarter of 2023. I just have to decide which one to drop.

“Breathe” by Atheena is out now.

Princewill Paul is a freelance content writer based in Lagos, Nigeria. He specialises in tech, business, finance, SaaS, and other customs jobs. He is also delving into the PR music space. You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter.