Christina Athena, raising the vibration of this planet through sound, light and love. Christina is a poet, singer, songwriter and guitarist. She is inspired by her "dreams, life experiences and the vibration of musical notes". Her music is lyrical, soothing, and reflective.
Christina's childhood education included both Art and the Performing Arts. She began playing the piano at the age of three and by ten performed her first piano recital. She loved to sing and play her piano but whenever she was asked to entertain, she always declined. She found performing in front of people difficult. When Christina turned thirty one, she went through a life altering event that left her visually impaired. Everything changed. She became depressed and quit playing the piano.
Twenty two years later, at a toning workshop, Christina Karamesines met poet, singer, songwriter, Richard Fammeree who is responsible for her stage name "Christina Athena". The next morning, Christina woke up with the chords and lyrics to "Journey". She contacted Richard and asked him to teach her how to play the song on a guitar and off she went to buy one.
In less then a year, Christina began performing. She did trauma therapy to get over her stage fright "It really helped". Now she performs in Coffee Houses, Cafes and various venues along the shores of Lake Michigan . Whatever the venue, Christina Karamesines, performing as Christina Athena, draws attention as she picks up her guitar "Baby Blue" and begins to perform. Her sultry voice, intermingling with the gentle strength of the guitar music, takes her listeners on a beautiful smooth listening experience. Her music is "fun, sexy and haunting" full of "heat and soul".
The song, “I’m wearing Champagne”, from Christina's debut CD "Christina Athena Live" was motivated by actual events that took place one summer at a boat party, where composer Brian Chatton spilled champagne on Christina. That event, alone, manifested a friendship that has endured and a song that is timeless.
Even though Christina was writing her own music and performing, she desired inspiration from another female artist. For her birthday, one of her girlfriends took her to hear Jenna Mammina perform at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan. It was all she needed. Jenna inspired Christina to begin recording "Christina Athena Live", and the CD was released in 2006. Since then, they have become friends and Jenna is singing "I'm Wearing Champagne".
In the Fall of 2005, Christina met Aaron Flynn, a situational, observational poet, who later gifted her one of his poems. In return, she made it a song, named her next CD after it, and dedicated the CD to him. "These Stone Flowers" is Christina's second CD. The songs are receiving 5 star reviews from ITunes listeners. "Transitions", track 7 of "These Stone Flowers", is now number four on Trade Bits Top 40 Pop Jazz chart. She is currently working on her third CD, "We Fly So High", which will be released in 2009.
Christina Karamesines, "Christina Athena" goes right to the sources Cat Power, Fleetwood Mack, Nick Drake, and has created her own unique style. She is a balladeer who explores realms of the senses and our spirit natures with tastes of jazz, R and B, rock and folk music genres. Her laid-back vocal style takes you to different spaces, places, and dreamlike memories.
Read more...