Mindfully Exponential: Kiki Athanassoulias

"Mindfully Exponential." Kiki Athanassoulias, Toronto, ON, Canada, 14 April 2018.

"Since I associate cooking with an old-school domesticated practice, I like to really tune into that with the music I play — anything from classical (there’s this super lame and oddly enjoyable playlist on Spotify called ‘Instrumental Study’ and it’s essentially my go-to as I spiralize cucumbers), to jazz (again, I pick a playlist that screams elevator music and hit go), or I’ll put on my greatest fallback, CBC Radio 2, and see what musical goodness they have in store for me."

IT ALL STARTED WHEN...

I met Kiki this February when we both joined a group of over thirty women to gather in a beautiful cabin overlooking Northern Ontario's Big Rideau Lake for the Winter Reunion, a wellness and Wisdomshare retreat.

We connected over some of the most incredible meals I've ever enjoyed (including the one dreamed up by Kiki herself), spent our days learning and expanding our minds through Wisdomshare skills exchanges from loom weaving to Pysanky, to sound baths to pasta-making and improv, took long walks through the fresh snowfall in the woods surrounding the lake, and thawed ourselves out at night in the hot tub under the stars. Over the course of the weekend, I learned so much about Kiki's love for food, and her personal passion project, Mindfully Edible, that has since transformed into an even larger initiative, Mindfully Exponential. 

Kiki took some time out from her busy schedule seeking out the latest in health, wellness, mindfulness, and technology, to share a bit about the role that music plays in her life. Enjoy!

What's your passion/hustle/profession?

Passion: health and wellness done beautifully and joyfully! My hustle is building the Mindfully Exponential brand into being the thought-leader in all things mindfulness meets tech (still figuring out the exact ‘vision’ but I’m enjoying the process nonetheless!). My profession is Director at Meal Garden, a meal-planning platform for nutritional practitioners — an app I’ve poured blood, sweat, and tears into these past two years, and things are finally looking up (wahoo user GROWTH is finally in the pipeline!).

What kind of music helps you focus at work?

Something I can easily tune out but still brings a somewhat delightful melancholiness to tasks — right now that’s basically anything by Ruby Haunt.

When you’re winding down?

Rhye. There is nothing sexier or more soothing than his weirdly female sounding voice.

Working out?

This is where my inner ‘hood comes out and I support my local Torontonian R&B artists like dvsn, Roy Woods, The Weeknd, and good old Drake.

Cooking?

Oh my goodness, this is an exciting question! Lately I have been putting wayyyyy more time and energy into artfully crafting each and every one of my meals from absolute scratch (I’m currently on a "28-day Healing Cleanse," which consists solely of raw fruits and vegetables — so there’s really no other way around this one!). Anyway, a proper soundtrack to these glorious prep moments is essential!

Since I somewhat associate cooking with an old-school domesticated practice, I like to really tune into that with the music I play — anything from classical (there’s this super lame and oddly enjoyable playlist on Spotify called "Instrumental Study" and it’s essentially my go-to as I spiralize cucumbers), to jazz (again, I pick a playlist that screams elevator music and hit go), or I’ll put on my greatest fallback, CBC Radio 2, and see what musical goodness they have in store for me.

Kickin’ it with friends?

My friend, Melanie, created this fabulous playlist, "That Good Stuff," and it serves me well for whenever I’m hosting a tea date at mine, or if my friends and I need music for a potluck or meal prep party (yes, those are things and they will change your life).

What’s your most memorable musical moment? This could be a live show or festival that really stuck with you, meeting a music icon, etc.

Okay, I could pretend to be cool here and list off some of the amazing bands I’ve been lucky enough to see...but I’m going to be painfully honest and share what first came to me as you asked this question: Hilary Duff. Is she even a music icon? Well, she was when I was thirteen years old.

Long story short, my cousin ended up getting a small role in The Perfect Man and invited me on set. I still remember being on the super silent set, watching the scene, and then HILARY HERSELF walked straight up to me and said, "Hi, how are you?" 

All that could come out of my mouth was this awkwardly stretched out "Heeyyyyyyy."

That’s what I call a life highlight.

Favourite love song? Slow jam? Between the sheets track?

"Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby" by Cigarettes After Sex meets all of the above.

You need to hype up the crowd at a house party real quick. What do you put on next?

HA! Thank god that is never my responsibility. People know not to trust me with such a task. Last time I accidentally fell into that role, I put on "Obvs" by Jamie xx, and, funnily enough, I was the only one hyped up.

If you were stranded on a desert island with only one album, which would it be?

Teen Dream by Beach House.

Best format? Cassette tape, CD, iPod, Vinyl, etc.

Music snobs will turn their noses up at me here...but like, Spotify? Is that a format?

What’s the most prized album/mixtape/musical memento you own? Your home is on fire and this is the only thing you can grab before it all burns down. (Sorry, that one’s grim.)

Once again I’m a worthless interviewee of your fantastic music blog, but I’ve got to say it: my phone...

Dinner with any artist, dead or alive. They're paying. Whom do you choose? 

Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince of The Kills. God, they are so interesting, so depressing, so cool.

What's your go-to karaoke jam?

Anything by Lionel Richie (sad but true).

Merçi, Kiki!

"Mindfully Exponential" Track Listing

1. Rhye. "Taste." Blood, Loma Vista Recordings., Distributed by Concord Music Group, Inc., 2018.
2. Beach House. "Silver Soul." Teen Dream, Sub Pop Records, 2010.
3. Alt-J. "Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me In Its Spotlight)." Spotify Singles, Spotify Recordings, 2014.
4. Alvvays. "Dreams Tonite." Antisocialites, Polyvinyl Record Co., 2017.
5. Beacon. "Bring You Back." The Ways We Separate, Ghostly International, 2013.
6. Bleanavon. "Lonely Side." That's Your Lot, Atlantic, 2017. 
7. Ruby Haunt. "Crave." Crush, Ruby Haunt, 2016.
8. Cigarettes After Sex. "Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby." I., Cigarettes After Sex, 2012.
9. Air, Gordon Tracks. "Playground Love." The Virgin Suicides (Deluxe Version - 15th Anniversary), Aircheology and Parlophone / Warner Music France, a Warner Music Group Company, 2000 and 2015.
10. Drake, Jhené Aiko. "From Time." Nothing Was The Same (Deluxe Version), Cash Money Records Inc., 2013.
11. dvsn. "Too Deep." SEPT 5TH, OVO Sound/Warner Bros. Records Inc., 2016.
12. The weeknd. "What You Need." Trilogy, XO&co., Inc., 2012.
13. Lionel Richie. "Hello." Can't Slow Down, Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc., 1983.

For more Kiki, check out the Mindfully Exponential website, and follow the latest content on Instagram @mindfullyexponential, on Facebook, and listen to more jams on Spotify.