Midweek Motivator - 29th March 2023
Memoirs and meditation with Nina Kehagia, and I share the story of the women who forced her way into the first marathon.
Hello and welcome to this space which includes my weekly creative recommendations via ‘Five Good Things’, as well as business smarts, timeless philosophy, and insights from being a woman in music. I also share regular interviews with female musicians. This is made possible by paid subscribers. Consider upgrading your subscription xoxo
This motivator is designed to pull you out of the midweek slump, and share inspiration and entertainment from women crafting away at their dreams. This week presenting Nina Kehagia (ninakeh / Groove Inspired) - a creative, record collector and Video Essayist who’s also behind marketing and content for shesaid.so - one of the most impactful and long running communities for women & minorities in the music industries.
Lex: If you could be an intern to anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
Nina: Debbie Harry or Grace Jones (both?). I am a total sucker for both of them; I love everything about them - from their style to their vocals and their art. They are both kick-ass survivors and top queens. I highly recommend reading ‘Face It: A Memoir’ by Harry and ‘I'll Never Write My Memoirs’ by Jones.
Lex: Is there a piece of art (including design, music, film) which has had a significant impact on you?
Nina: Blue Monday by New Order opened up many roads to discovering new(old) music. I can’t remember who first explained to me all the musical references within the song: Donna Summer's Our Love from the Bad Girls album. Hook's bassline derived from Ennio Morricone's soundtrack, For a Few Dollars More (from La Resa Dei Conti). Dirty Talk by Klein & M.B.O, the synthesized bassline from Sylvester's You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) and Kraftwerk’s Uranium. I just love breaking down songs!
Lex: If you could relive any singular day of your life, just once more, which day would it be?
Nina: I’d love to return to Sonar 2008 - Barcelona is in my top 3 favourite cities in Europe, and Sonar is like a family reunion. There were lots of laughs, dancing and carefree fun with friends, memorable live performances by Goldfrapp, and M.I.A., a set by Frankie Knuckles and a most excellent closing set by Ricardo Villalobos.
Lex: What would you like to say to 16year old you?
Nina:
Don't be afraid to take risks and try new things. You will have a lot of opportunities to explore different interests and discover what you're passionate about.
Don't worry too much about what other people think of you. It's important to be kind and considerate to others, but ultimately you need to live your life in a way that makes you happy.
Always remember to take care of your physical and mental health.
Don't forget to have fun! Life can be challenging sometimes, but it's also full of beautiful experiences and opportunities. Make sure to enjoy the journey and remember to be grateful for the moments that make you happy.
Life can be challenging sometimes, but it's also full of beautiful experiences and opportunities. Make sure to enjoy the journey and remember to be grateful for the moments that make you happy.
Lex: When things don’t go your way, what self-talk helps you move forward?
Nina: Meditation is a big saviour for me during a challenging time. Sometimes things can’t be immediately fixed, but it’s important to acknowledge “I am making progress": Even small steps forward can be progress. I also try to recognise my own inner strength and resilience and say things like "I have the strength to get through this".
You can connect with Nina and follow her musical guides via YouTube and Instagram
I also recommend checking out her collaboration with Scottish artist CLAIR called GEAR HEADS. 20% of any profits goes to rescue dogs and cats Nina is taking care of with volunteer friends in Central Greece 🐾
Hungry Woman: Bobbi Gibb
This week, I want to tell you about one of my favourite athletes. Her name was Bobbi Gibb, and in 1966 aged 23, she became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon. Her journey to victory wasn’t without hurdles. The likelihood of most of us running a marathon is pretty slim, but for Bobbi, the odds were even more extreme. A few months prior to the race, Bobbi had received a letter which disqualified her from the race, stating that women are “not physiologically able to run a marathon.” The organisers of the race didn’t want to “take the liability” of having a woman run.
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