Singing was and will always be my first love

Helloo, I’m Aggie… founder of Embodied Voice Melbourne.

This is a little of my journey with music, singing, performing, teaching and why I do the work I do.

I was born in Toronto, Canada, and even though I was only five when we moved to Melbourne, I still remember sitting on the stairs in our old house in Toronto, singing my little heart out; anything and everything, from TV jingles to pop songs. My mum was usually my one and only audience member, but that never stopped me.

Singing was one of my love languages.

As a child and teen, I’d spend hours locked away in my room practising and daydreaming about the stage, recording myself on cassette tapes (showing my age!), and putting on endless shows and performances for my parents and extended family.

I truly believe we know who we are as kids. Even if life takes us on a detour, we eventually find our way back to ourselves, and to what was always meant for us. 

The Not-So-Straight Path

So… I didn’t take the obvious path. I studied the very serious pursuit of engineering for a time, the “sensible” fallback, as my parents called it. I absolutely hated it- it wasn’t me. And needless to say, singing won out in the end!

From the moment I started formal vocal training- ahh, it felt like an exhale, like a coming home to myself. I literally practiced every day, rain, hail or shine. Complete and utter dedication! I learned from some incredible teachers and before long, with their encouragement, I started auditioning for bands, building a network and threw myself into the world of live performance. 

I still remember one of my very first official gigs- a restaurant in the now hip suburb of Northcote. I was absolutely terrified… and yet, it felt strangely and deeply right. Like I was meant to be there. 

A Life on Stage

That was many moons ago now, and since then, I’ve performed at and held residencies across countless inner city venues, including at Crown Casino. I’ve performed at hundreds of events in Melbourne, interstate and beyond, and on some iconic stages like The Palais, The Palladium, Federation Square- as well as at premier events like the Australian Open, Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup and the State Rose Garden Show. 

I’ve also had the absolute joy of sharing the stage with some of Australia’s most beloved artists- artists I hugely admire so much- both opening for them or joining them as a backing vocalist. Serious, pinch me, fangirl moments. 

I’ve also worked as a session singer on both independent and commercial releases. I love the recording process. 

While I’ve dabbled in songwriting, I’ve always felt my artistry expresses itself in interpretation; in telling the story of a song, making it my own, and connecting with an audience. I adore that connection. 

My writing often shows up in quieter ways, through reflection and storytelling, which you’ll of course find on my blog.

Two and a half decades on and counting… and I feel so lucky to still be performing regularly at venues and events across Melbourne- solo and with my close knit group of bandmates in duo and band settings. 

Reconnecting with My Roots

One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been reconnecting with Greek music, the soundtrack of my childhood. It was always blaring in our home, but like many young adults, I distanced myself from it for a long while- more than a decade to be precise. R’n’B was all the rage in my day and I was too cool for all that! Wasn’t I? (Ha!) 

Then one day, more than 15 years ago now, a favourite Greek song from my childhood came on in a friend’s car… and something in me ignited. And from that moment, I couldn’t get enough. I was being pulled in that direction. It was calling me. The first time I sang a Greek song in public, it felt like a missing puzzle piece had fallen into place.

It also feels beautifully fitting that my name, Agapi, means “Love” in Greek. Surely it was inevitable!  

Finding My Voice — On and Off Stage

As a young singer, I struggled so much with nerves and performance anxiety. I didn’t realise then that anxiety was something that was permeating other parts of my life too, but it definitely showed up loud and clear on stage and in how I used my voice! I know what it feels like to doubt yourself, to shrink yourself, to question your worth and enough-ness. 

In those early years, I often compared myself to the big voices; Aretha, Alicia, Whitney. It took time, and a lot of inner work, to realise that not sounding like them didn’t make me less- that was their sound and their expression. My voice is my very own, it’s sacred, it’s one of a kind. Just like yours is. 

The more of life I live, and the more I grow; the more I understand and appreciate just how deeply our inner stuff influences the way we show up to sing… and to life. I often say to my students, you can’t separate the voice from the person. And I believe that our voices are our mirrors in many ways. We bring all of us when we show up to sing. 

And because of that, a vocal session can be more than just music. It can bring up our insecurities, our old wounds, which is why it can be a powerful space for healing. That’s what excites me the most about this work – and the reason I created Embodied Voice. 

A space where people can come as they are, connect with their voice, and find their own expression, without judgement, without comparison, and hopefully with a growing sense of trust and self -acceptance. 

Beyond the Music

I’ve always been fascinated by what makes us human — our struggles, our patterns, our healing. I love digging deep and getting to heart of things. For me, there’s nothing more worthwhile than the inner work that brings us closer to who we truly are. 

I write to process, to connect, to make meaning of it all.

I have a deep respect for nature, the moon, the seasons. I love stillness and long walks in nature. 

I love to travel- it helps me stay curious and remember how big and beautiful the world is. 

And I try to live in a way that’s grounded, heart-led, and always evolving. For me, growth is everything.