Embodying Artistry: Amena’s Perspective on Creativity and Self-Love

In this episode of the Aligned Podcast, Amena El-Kindy joins host Rachael to discuss the nature of creativity and how it transcends being a mere activity to becoming a part of who we are. The conversation delves into the challenges and environments that impact creativity, the courage required to persist, and the importance of being one's own greatest supporter.

Amena talks about her journey with creativity throughout her career, her experiences as Eponine in the West End production of Les Misérables, and how she navigates fear and uncertainty. The episode concludes with a voice warmup exercise and a live song performance by Amena. Together, they explore the essence of living a creative life rooted in self-love and authenticity.

If you want to connect with Amena you can find her on Instagram Amena_music

If you want to connect with Rachael and learn more about her offerings such as her Aligned Membership you can find her here: Rachael Hall - Aligned 

We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Aligned Podcast, don’t forget to subscribe and keep an eye out for the next episode.

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Welcome back to the Aligned Podcast.
In this episode, we explore creativity, not just something that we do, but something that we are.
We talk about what inhibits it, the environments where it flourishes, and the tender courage it takes to begin again and again.
We explore what it means to be your own biggest fan and how to find your voice even when it shakes.

(00:26):
This conversation is both grounding and expansive, and it ends with a beautiful voice warmup and live song from Amina that I know will land deeply in your body.
I'm so glad that you're here.
And today we have a very special guest, Amina l Kindy, who is someone that is very dear to me and a very dear friend, and I'm really honored that she's spending time with us today.

(00:52):
Amina is perhaps best known for her role as Eponine in Le miserable in the West End.
But what moves me most about her is the way that she fiercely protects her inner creative flame.
She's a storyteller in the truest sense through voice, movement, music, and truth.

(01:12):
And today she's joining us for a soulful conversation about creativity, identity, and self-love.
Welcome, Amina.
Hello, Rachel.
Hello my love.
Thank you so much for being here.
And my first question is how are you, how are you arriving today, today? I'm arriving with no idea what is to come in this conversation in my future, and that's okay.

(01:48):
I feel content with the unknowing today, and I think it's from this place where I am, I'm most creative, so I think it's a good place to be.
Yeah, and it's so, this is something that I really love about you.
This, it feels like a real courage and a real bravery to step into the unknown because actually it's all unknown, isn't it? But, but we like to have a hold over what's happening, or at least control what we think we can control.

(02:22):
But I'm interested to hear you say that phrase of this is where I'm most creative.
In that kind of space between that letting go and I think this is where our conversation is, is really gonna go today.
I know you're in a particular season of creativity at the moment.
Would you be able to share a little bit about that with us? Yes.

(02:43):
So as you've said, I have been in le miserable for two years and I will be staying with Le miserable until January 31st 2026.
But there is the 40th anniversary celebrations happening at the moment and the company have decided it would be rather exciting to bring in some ex lamers, the alumni to play the leads in the show, which meant that they asked me if I would be willing to take.

(03:18):
Eight weeks off playing Eponine for another actress KO to step in.
And of course I said, hell yeah.
I love my job, but this was an opportunity that you get once in a lifetime.
So for this eight weeks, I'm just on standby in case I need to go on instead of her.

(03:40):
So I'm using this time to do all of the creative things that I haven't been able to do.
I started a writing course and I'm it's called How to Write Better.
It's run by the founder of the Minimalists.
I am also writing my own music.
And last weekend I did my first studio session recording a song that I'd actually written when I was 19.

(04:07):
And now I've got a.
A plethora of music that is just in notebooks ready to be taken to the studio.
I am also auditioning because the end of my contract is coming up.
I've actually got an audition today.
So that feeling of unknown and fear is very present.

(04:29):
And you know, I even said to my, my partner the other day, oh, I'm not sure if I want to go to this audition, but I'm going to go anyway because it's an opportunity to be vulnerable and be creative and let the universe decide whether this job is right for me or not, or.

(04:53):
You know, and I've got all of this time to explore new material and yeah, work on myself.
It's really, really a wonderful time for me right now.
It's, it's an amazing time for you.
How do you navigate that unknown? You know, I love how you just said let the universe decide for me.
Is it easy for you to let go and to trust, or is that something that you have to work on? Absolutely.

(05:22):
It's scary.
I'm human, you know.
I do find the unknown is the most unnerving thing and it's something that I've had to work on for sure.
I have a therapist.

(05:42):
I've been working with her for nearly two years and she has helped me a lot in learning to let go.
But I also think, yes, it is something that I've innately got.
And I think it stems back to me being a child and training to be an athlete because I was part of a lot of sports.

(06:07):
And at the end of a game, you, even if your team loses, you shake hands with the other team and say, good game.
And you go back to your.
Your pitch or your, your club and you train harder for the next one.
It's not a, oh, we've lost the game, therefore my career is over.

(06:31):
Mm-hmm.
It's an opportunity to reflect and come back stronger.
Mm-hmm.
And I think when coming into auditions especially I have this mindset of there are no failures, only lessons.
It's not something that is just going to be for nothing ever.
You know, I've had quite a lot of rejection in the last few weeks as I've been, you know, opening myself up to opportunities of rejection, but it's opportunities to learn.

(07:03):
Mm-hmm.
And I think that's the real value in doing the scary thing.
Then once that audition has happened, I let it go as if it's never happened.
That's as if I'm shaking hands with the team and going back to my pitch to train.
That's how I, I really release that.

(07:26):
Yeah, that's really beautiful.
So it's actually almost a detachment to it.
So you're there in the moment.
You're fully invested, you're putting everything into it.
And I guess in that sense, you are in your creative flow, you are playing your part with the universe as opposed to, I'm not gonna do it, I'm not gonna put myself out there, I'll just stay at home.
So you are showing up and then it's kind of the universe discerning this isn't right.

(07:48):
This is right.
You know, maybe you'll get through to the next round, but it's, it's all still moving forwards, isn't it? Rather than mm-hmm.
Rather than not moving forwards.
But I love that kind of art of detachment of the outcome.
You know, auditioning and doing the scary thing is not something that I have to do.
It's something that I want to do.

(08:09):
And as soon as I let go of that need for the next job.
It's not a job anymore, it's a passion.
And I think, I'm very, very lucky in that I've been able to cross those worlds of working in a field that I love.

(08:30):
And that's how I'm able to discern whether I am doing something for the right reasons.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I'm really digesting so much of what you said there.
Just, going back to when I was a dancer, I would have moments of that feeling of that absolute trust in getting a role or getting a job or getting into a school.

(08:54):
And then there was also that underlying, and it was almost the culture of, of the world, and then choosing to tune out from that because you'd almost feel the vibration of everybody else having this kind of nervousness around.
You know, getting these five places and they're, you know, 500 people auditioning and there's only five places.

(09:16):
But I think this really is what brings it back to your authentic creativity and why we do things in the first place, which is what you've said.
We don't just do it for the job, we don't just do it for the money.
And because you're such a creative being, it feels like you are a portal and this creativity is really coming through you.

(09:36):
Yeah.
I mean, I dunno that I'm articulating it that well, but I'm just really getting a sense of you being this wellspring of creativity and then you can really see it's a different sense of attraction of things coming to you as opposed to you trying to fit into the boxes of, I should be like this, I should be like this.
You are just living your creative life.

(09:56):
And for me then it feels like, yeah, I can really see that's a different energy and that's a different vibe.
To living in that nervousness of, am I good enough? Am I gonna fit into this? Could talk a little bit about creativity, because I really love watching you in, in all of your authentic creative endeavors and how you start new things as well.

(10:17):
You know, you, you don't just do the things that you are naturally fabulous at you.
You've said that creativity is our natural state and that we don't have to be artists to create, which I love.
Exactly.
So if there's anything you want to say about that, but I also have a question.
.03962264You know, where did your creative journey begin before the stage? We can go right, right back. 102 00:10:43,340.03962264 --> 00:10:53,0.03962264 And my grandparents and my parents say that they remember me as a baby. 103 00:10:54,425.03962264 --> 00:10:58,415.03962264 Barely walking or talking on their knee. 104 00:10:58,655.03962264 --> 00:11:04,535.03962264 And when music started playing, I would bop in time to the music. 105 00:11:05,255.03962264 --> 00:11:12,65.03962264 You know, music is something that has always set me alive, you know. 106 00:11:13,445.03962264 --> 00:11:31,205.03962264 But I think my interest in theater and music started early around primary school, just the occasional music lessons that I would get to do. 107 00:11:32,495.03962264 --> 00:11:36,995.03962264 I, I felt so free in those lessons. 108 00:11:37,55.03962264 --> 00:11:39,65.03962264 I didn't really enjoy school. 109 00:11:39,665.03962264 --> 00:11:44,465.03962264 I didn't feel very academic. 110 00:11:45,5.03962264 --> 00:11:57,95.03962264 I struggled to keep up with the other kids, but when it came to my creative classes, my art and music and drama I really felt free. 111 00:11:57,755.03962264 --> 00:12:01,115.03962264 I felt like I was achieving something. 112 00:12:02,195.03962264 --> 00:12:10,55.03962264 And yet in our education system, our isn't valued at the top. 113 00:12:11,105.03962264 --> 00:12:17,795.03962264 And when I went to secondary school I had a couple of very close friends. 114 00:12:18,495.03962264 --> 00:12:26,895.03962264 We weren't particularly cool, but we would, you know, skulk away to the music rooms in our lunch breaks and write terrible songs. 115 00:12:27,105.03962264 --> 00:12:31,845.03962264 We had a little band we called ourselves Memory Lane, which I just think is so funny. 116 00:12:33,75.03962264 --> 00:12:33,705.03962264 And. 117 00:12:34,110.03962264 --> 00:12:42,570.03962264 Eventually my parents and teachers started to notice that I enjoyed it and I had a little bit of talent for it. 118 00:12:43,110.03962264 --> 00:12:48,610.03962264 So I started singing lessons with my wonderful teacher, Sophie Cares Lake. 119 00:12:49,270.03962264 --> 00:13:01,340.03962264 And she encouraged me to eventually join up with one of her students Sophie, another Sophie. 120 00:13:02,630.03962264 --> 00:13:12,650.03962264 And we started doing gigs together and I learnt to play ukulele and we would play little gigs at the local pubs and restaurants. 121 00:13:13,130.03962264 --> 00:13:26,310.03962264 And when Sophie went off to uni I started carrying on doing the gigging by myself, singing at weddings and like bigger events. 122 00:13:27,240.03962264 --> 00:13:39,660.03962264 And then eventually I got to, you know, the end of school and I, I was deciding what I wanted to do at college and I said to my parents, I want to do performing arts at college. 123 00:13:40,320.03962264 --> 00:13:44,250.03962264 And they said, no, what? You're crazy. 124 00:13:47,130.03962264 --> 00:13:51,930.03962264 So I picked four A levels and I think a couple of them were creative. 125 00:13:51,930.03962264 --> 00:13:55,410.03962264 It might have been like music, drama, English, something else. 126 00:13:56,970.03962264 --> 00:14:00,30.03962264 And I got a call from the uni, the, the college in the summer. 127 00:14:00,480.03962264 --> 00:14:05,210.03962264 And they said we're sorry, Amina, you've picked too many creative subjects and they're clashing. 128 00:14:05,510.03962264 --> 00:14:11,660.03962264 Can you change one or you can do the full-time performing arts course. 129 00:14:12,230.03962264 --> 00:14:15,800.03962264 And I said, I'll do the full-time performing arts course, thanks, bye. 130 00:14:15,890.03962264 --> 00:14:17,180.03962264 And didn't tell my parents. 131 00:14:18,650.03962264 --> 00:14:20,210.03962264 I just didn't tell them. 132 00:14:21,530.03962264 --> 00:14:21,980.03962264 But. 133 00:14:22,355.03962264 --> 00:14:37,175.03962264 It all worked out for the best because I absolutely adored every day I got to go to college and sing dance act and I, I was really learning from scratch. 134 00:14:37,235.03962264 --> 00:14:54,215.03962264 The reason my root into this is so unconventional is 'cause by the time I got to university, I was, I realized I was so behind, you know, I was working with kids, well, young adults who had been doing baby ballet since the age of three. 135 00:14:54,395.03962264 --> 00:14:54,545.03962264 Mm-hmm. 136 00:14:54,785.03962264 --> 00:14:57,905.03962264 You know, and I'd never had a ballet class. 137 00:14:57,935.03962264 --> 00:15:05,15.03962264 I'd not been, I didn't even know what drama school was until I was at a uni doing a drama school course. 138 00:15:05,135.03962264 --> 00:15:15,125.03962264 And I remember we did our first day where they split us off into sets and I was like, oh my goodness, I'm gonna be in the bottom set for everything. 139 00:15:15,125.03962264 --> 00:15:16,415.03962264 I'm so behind. 140 00:15:17,385.03962264 --> 00:15:20,355.03962264 And I cried my eyes out all day and then I said to myself. 141 00:15:21,300.03962264 --> 00:15:24,660.03962264 I'm going to graduate with a first, whatever it takes. 142 00:15:25,560.03962264 --> 00:15:29,580.03962264 And fast forward three years. 143 00:15:29,640.03962264 --> 00:15:31,230.03962264 I graduated with a first. 144 00:15:31,235.03962264 --> 00:15:31,485.03962264 Mm-hmm. 145 00:15:33,450.03962264 --> 00:15:40,380.03962264 I had a year and a half of nothing because as I graduated, COVID hit Oh yeah, of course. 146 00:15:41,460.03962264 --> 00:15:52,980.03962264 And then I had three jobs coming back into the industry doing actor musician stuff, which was an industry I didn't even know existed. 147 00:15:52,980.03962264 --> 00:15:54,480.03962264 Like, it's not something I trained at. 148 00:15:55,130.03962264 --> 00:16:02,750.03962264 Uni it's, it's something that I fell into because I had all this skill in being a musician to pay for uni. 149 00:16:02,750.03962264 --> 00:16:05,480.03962264 I paid for uni with, you know, wedding gigs. 150 00:16:05,480.03962264 --> 00:16:08,50.03962264 And then and then eventually I landed miserable. 151 00:16:09,55.03962264 --> 00:16:25,495.03962264 And to have gone from being a little kid in Devon who had never seen a West End musical before, who had never heard of drama school until the year before I went to drama school, to now being where I am. 152 00:16:25,645.03962264 --> 00:16:31,675.03962264 It proves to me, I suppose that my creative potential is limitless. 153 00:16:31,705.03962264 --> 00:16:31,975.03962264 Yeah. 154 00:16:32,125.03962264 --> 00:16:38,555.03962264 You know? And I want to tell others that. 155 00:16:39,275.03962264 --> 00:16:40,325.0396226 So is yours. 156 00:16:40,865.0396226 --> 00:16:47,405.0396226 You don't have to identify yourself as a creative person to do creative things. 157 00:16:47,405.0396226 --> 00:16:49,745.0396226 We are all creative as people. 158 00:16:50,105.0396226 --> 00:17:01,235.0396226 You know, we, if you are a, if you're a scientist, you are problem solving. 159 00:17:01,655.0396226 --> 00:17:05,225.0396226 If you are, a teacher, you are a communicator. 160 00:17:05,225.0396226 --> 00:17:08,555.0396226 It's all, it's all creative. 161 00:17:08,645.0396226 --> 00:17:11,15.0396226 Even just speaking to each other. 162 00:17:11,15.0396226 --> 00:17:12,935.0396226 Now we are being creative. 163 00:17:12,935.0396226 --> 00:17:19,895.0396226 We are using our creative minds to, to think and explore ideas. 164 00:17:20,45.0396226 --> 00:17:22,325.0396226 You don't have to be a tortured artist. 165 00:17:22,325.0396226 --> 00:17:26,295.0396226 You don't, have to have a talent for singing. 166 00:17:26,955.0396226 --> 00:17:29,85.0396226 You just have to have curiosity. 167 00:17:30,285.0396226 --> 00:17:30,705.0396226 Right. 168 00:17:31,485.0396226 --> 00:17:35,265.0396226 Well, this is it, and I'm hearing two, two threads really with this. 169 00:17:35,265.0396226 --> 00:17:44,655.0396226 So I'm hearing your, but I don't think it's too strong a word, but your tenacity, you know, your vision, maybe that's the better word. 170 00:17:44,655.0396226 --> 00:17:48,745.0396226 Your vision for and your pull, like your deep inner pull of. 171 00:17:49,515.0396226 --> 00:17:50,655.0396226 This feels really true. 172 00:17:50,655.0396226 --> 00:17:51,855.0396226 This is lighting me up. 173 00:17:51,975.0396226 --> 00:17:55,815.0396226 There is something in this, I'm going here, I'm doing this. 174 00:17:56,235.0396226 --> 00:18:06,795.0396226 And, but it also seems that perhaps you let go of, not necessarily the outcome, but all the details in between of how to get from there to there. 175 00:18:08,85.0396226 --> 00:18:17,925.0396226 And so rather than just getting so head up on, I need to be there and, you know, getting stressed about that or feeling like a failure if it didn't quite work out. 176 00:18:18,765.0396226 --> 00:18:24,135.0396226 You know, I love how you speak about, you know, following that curiosity with your creativity. 177 00:18:24,135.0396226 --> 00:18:31,275.0396226 Could you speak a little bit about that? So almost letting go of outcomes and just being more in that flow of curiosity. 178 00:18:33,175.0396226 --> 00:18:39,865.0396226 I wholeheartedly believe the how you do something doesn't matter. 179 00:18:40,15.0396226 --> 00:18:41,245.0396226 Forget the how. 180 00:18:42,235.0396226 --> 00:18:43,525.0396226 Think about the why. 181 00:18:43,855.0396226 --> 00:18:48,715.0396226 Why do I want to do this? And the how will sort itself out. 182 00:18:49,15.0396226 --> 00:19:09,595.0396226 I feel like that is what has got me to where I am now, is I've been very aligned with why I followed this path of creativity I worked countless jobs to save up to go to uni. 183 00:19:10,375.0396226 --> 00:19:18,465.0396226 And I feel like those little sacrifices that I was making made me appreciate even more how. 184 00:19:19,80.0396226 --> 00:19:24,420.0396226 Dream like this, this future could be for me and working in a creative industry. 185 00:19:24,960.0396226 --> 00:19:31,840.0396226 I also knew that when I was on stage every time I got on stage, I was scared. 186 00:19:32,350.0396226 --> 00:19:35,800.0396226 In fact, I used to be so nervous to get on stage. 187 00:19:35,800.0396226 --> 00:19:44,500.0396226 I used to think that I was gonna wet myself every time I sang, and I would put my hands in front of myself and sort of shyly lean into the microphone. 188 00:19:45,280.0396226 --> 00:19:47,830.0396226 But I always felt better after. 189 00:19:48,610.0396226 --> 00:20:01,940.0396226 I always, relaxed as I was singing, it was like my body and my nervous system and my mind felt nourished every time I got on stage. 190 00:20:02,510.0396226 --> 00:20:05,660.0396226 It was always the before that was this terrifying part. 191 00:20:05,660.0396226 --> 00:20:14,270.0396226 And even still to this day, in some cases, getting on stage, if I know it's a bigger audience or any kind of. 192 00:20:15,80.0396226 --> 00:20:17,750.0396226 Feeling of, oh, I'm not quite prepared for this. 193 00:20:17,780.0396226 --> 00:20:20,990.0396226 I get nervous, but I always feel better afterwards. 194 00:20:21,20.0396226 --> 00:20:29,0.0396226 And it was that that helped me understand, yes, this is why I am doing it. 195 00:20:29,50.0396226 --> 00:20:30,250.0396226 Yeah, absolutely. 196 00:20:30,940.0396226 --> 00:20:33,190.0396226 Thank you for sharing that. 197 00:20:33,760.0396226 --> 00:20:40,90.0396226 I'd like to ask about, you know, so you've performed on some beautiful big stages. 198 00:20:40,570.0396226 --> 00:20:47,680.0396226 Can you remind me, was, was it earlier this year? Was it last year when you did the Lairs Live? Was that Andrew? Andrew Father's wear? Yes. 199 00:20:48,800.0396226 --> 00:20:51,410.0396226 So I did it, I've done it two years in a row now. 200 00:20:51,980.0396226 --> 00:20:53,600.0396226 It's called West End Live. 201 00:20:53,810.0396226 --> 00:20:55,70.0396226 It's where. 202 00:20:55,670.0396226 --> 00:21:02,100.0396226 All of the West End shows are set up on a big stage, not all at the same time. 203 00:21:02,430.0396226 --> 00:21:09,900.0396226 Each show takes a turn to present their show, the best, you know, three or four songs. 204 00:21:10,620.0396226 --> 00:21:20,640.0396226 And in my first cheer at Les MI was asked to sing my solo on my own to represent Le Marab. 205 00:21:21,600.0396226 --> 00:21:41,220.0396226 And I was shocked and honored and terrified to be given this opportunity because not only is it in front of 20,000 fans at Trafalgar Square, it's also broadcast live. 206 00:21:41,460.0396226 --> 00:21:45,810.0396226 And you know, hundreds of thousands of people can see it on YouTube. 207 00:21:45,810.0396226 --> 00:21:46,500.0396226 Mm-hmm. 208 00:21:47,155.0396226 --> 00:21:58,495.0396226 The day before, I had a total panic attack at the soundcheck, but doing that performance was one of the proudest moments of my life. 209 00:21:58,945.0396226 --> 00:22:06,925.0396226 I mean, it wasn't perfect, but it was my absolute best that I could give on that day. 210 00:22:07,375.0396226 --> 00:22:07,885.0396226 And. 211 00:22:09,190.0396226 --> 00:22:10,690.0396226 Yeah, I'll forever treasure that. 212 00:22:10,810.0396226 --> 00:22:16,360.0396226 And this is it, you know, before we hit record, we were talking about, you know, this ridiculous word. 213 00:22:16,420.0396226 --> 00:22:33,990.0396226 Perfect because actually it probably was perfect, you know, even if it wasn't, you know, pitch perfect or, you know, even I don't, I'm sure it was very perfect, but it's what is perfect and it just, that was that your creative flow coming out of you in that moment. 214 00:22:34,560.0396226 --> 00:22:45,420.0396226 And I'm also hearing about, I mean, I think probably for people listening, it is quite encouraging to hear that you still get terrified about things and, but that's where the growth happens. 215 00:22:45,930.0396226 --> 00:22:46,20.0396226 Mm-hmm. 216 00:22:46,260.0396226 --> 00:22:58,860.0396226 And there's a different type of terrify isn't there? When you think, no, I shouldn't be doing this, I should not be doing this to, I know I've got to do this, but this is making me grow into the next version of myself so that I can hold the space for this. 217 00:22:59,250.0396226 --> 00:23:00,210.0396226 And once you've done it, you're like. 218 00:23:00,615.0396226 --> 00:23:01,365.0396226 Well, I've done that. 219 00:23:01,365.0396226 --> 00:23:04,695.0396226 And then of course the next thing will come that you have to grow for. 220 00:23:05,415.0396226 --> 00:23:06,195.0396226 Exactly. 221 00:23:06,195.0396226 --> 00:23:11,685.0396226 Because there are things now that don't scare me at all, that would surprise people. 222 00:23:12,495.0396226 --> 00:23:18,795.0396226 Like getting on stage in front of 1200 people eight times a week. 223 00:23:19,395.0396226 --> 00:23:20,925.0396226 It's a walk in the park for me now. 224 00:23:21,255.0396226 --> 00:23:37,10.0396226 In fact, I feel so comfortable in the theater now that I feel more nervous when I come off stage and I have to talk to people when you go outside who wants your autograph? Yeah. 225 00:23:37,665.0396226 --> 00:23:43,605.0396226 Or even just, you know, talking to work colleagues, talking to strangers. 226 00:23:43,665.0396226 --> 00:23:43,785.0396226 Mm-hmm. 227 00:23:44,85.0396226 --> 00:23:50,625.0396226 That's as a meaner because when I'm on stage, I'm so comfortable with this character. 228 00:23:51,245.0396226 --> 00:23:58,25.0396226 I can escape into her, you know, and what or audiences. 229 00:23:58,910.0396226 --> 00:24:03,500.0396226 Probably don't know is how much of myself I'm actually putting on stage. 230 00:24:03,560.0396226 --> 00:24:03,650.0396226 Mm-hmm. 231 00:24:04,190.0396226 --> 00:24:08,660.0396226 I, like most people do struggle with vulnerability sometimes. 232 00:24:09,80.0396226 --> 00:24:12,440.0396226 I cry a lot, but very rarely in front of people. 233 00:24:13,160.0396226 --> 00:24:18,50.0396226 And playing a character like Eponine, it's very emotionally charged. 234 00:24:18,80.0396226 --> 00:24:22,490.0396226 It gives me an opportunity to pour whatever is on my heart that day in show. 235 00:24:23,690.0396226 --> 00:24:34,190.0396226 And I don't cry on stage every day, but on the days that I do cry, the audience is seeing a meanest tears as well as eponine. 236 00:24:34,350.0396226 --> 00:24:34,700.0396226 Beautiful. 237 00:24:34,840.0396226 --> 00:24:49,945.0396226 You know, if I'd gone through a breakup or I'd had an argument with a friend or maybe I didn't get an audition, all of that will be playing in my head side by side with the character that I'm also playing. 238 00:24:50,335.0396226 --> 00:24:54,55.0396226 And I feel this release. 239 00:24:54,565.0396226 --> 00:25:06,955.0396226 As I'm singing, and it's also the practice of singing as well, because it connects to your vagus nerve and relaxes your nervous system and all of these things, it's all just like flooding out of me. 240 00:25:06,955.0396226 --> 00:25:08,395.0396226 And, and I love it. 241 00:25:08,785.0396226 --> 00:25:10,405.0396226 I absolutely love it. 242 00:25:11,65.0396226 --> 00:25:15,115.0396226 Do will you miss Eponine? You know, come January 31st. 243 00:25:15,115.0396226 --> 00:25:20,935.0396226 Do you, will it be, will you think? Do you know what? I have had the most amazing few years with you. 244 00:25:21,205.0396226 --> 00:25:22,825.0396226 That was such an amazing chapter. 245 00:25:23,365.0396226 --> 00:25:44,755.0396226 And I'm sure you'll feel that, but, you know, will you miss her or does it, will it feel like it's time to thank you so much? And next thing, I will miss Eponine as a character, but interestingly, I feel like I've outgrown her now. 246 00:25:46,855.0396226 --> 00:25:53,185.0396226 When I started, I felt as though. 247 00:25:54,40.0396226 --> 00:25:58,780.0396226 Eponine and I were practically the same person. 248 00:25:58,900.0396226 --> 00:26:10,960.0396226 And there was obviously something about me as a person that the directors and casting directors noticed that aligned me with Eponine. 249 00:26:12,250.0396226 --> 00:26:28,510.0396226 You know, she's this young girl who is pining for this, you know, guy that she can't have, but she loves him so much that she would give him away and would die for him and all of this. 250 00:26:28,570.0396226 --> 00:26:34,810.0396226 Whereas now I've had lots of therapy and I've been playing the role for a long time. 251 00:26:35,570.0396226 --> 00:26:38,690.0396226 I feel like I've gone from girl to woman mm-hmm. 252 00:26:39,20.0396226 --> 00:26:50,480.0396226 Throughout the course of this show, and I'm ready to step into a role that aligns with who I am now or even. 253 00:26:50,825.0396226 --> 00:26:52,595.0396226 Who I might be in the future. 254 00:26:53,135.0396226 --> 00:27:04,75.0396226 Because when I started this role, I felt so out of my depth, I felt like, you know, my toes were just bouncing off the top of the top bottom of the pool. 255 00:27:04,75.0396226 --> 00:27:14,575.0396226 And I was like, you know, oh, am I gonna be able to swim here? And now it's like, oh, this is what I do best. 256 00:27:14,635.0396226 --> 00:27:18,895.0396226 I'm ready to throw myself into the deep end of the pool again. 257 00:27:19,105.0396226 --> 00:27:19,525.0396226 Mm-hmm. 258 00:27:20,515.0396226 --> 00:27:21,355.0396226 I love that. 259 00:27:21,355.0396226 --> 00:27:34,65.0396226 You know, what was really coming through was you know, how you as a, as an artist brings yourself to eponine or to any character, but actually how they bring their, their self to you and how you can learn from their journey. 260 00:27:34,665.0396226 --> 00:27:40,245.0396226 I just think that's such a beautiful meeting, isn't it? Of, of two artists coming together. 261 00:27:41,5.0396226 --> 00:27:46,75.0396226 On days when I don't feel strong, I. 262 00:27:46,495.0396226 --> 00:27:48,325.0396226 Ask Eponine for her strength. 263 00:27:49,250.0396226 --> 00:27:50,310.0396226 That's so beautiful. 264 00:27:51,970.0396226 --> 00:27:53,215.0396226 That's so beautiful. 265 00:27:54,265.0396226 --> 00:28:09,665.0396226 I want to ask is, so you are at the moment, Eponine in the West end, so you could almost just see yourself as I'm a West End actress, now actor. 266 00:28:09,845.0396226 --> 00:28:11,165.0396226 I'm, I'm in the West End. 267 00:28:11,225.0396226 --> 00:28:12,215.0396226 This is my thing. 268 00:28:12,785.0396226 --> 00:28:16,505.0396226 But what I know about you, you know, as a friend, is that. 269 00:28:17,0.0396226 --> 00:28:20,720.0396226 You don't seem to attach yourself to those labels. 270 00:28:21,240.0396226 --> 00:28:23,640.0396226 And I'm curious just to hear you talk about that. 271 00:28:23,640.0396226 --> 00:28:25,560.0396226 I dunno if I formulated that question very well. 272 00:28:25,560.0396226 --> 00:28:36,150.0396226 But, you know, for me, for example, I was a ballet dancer and I'm not gonna go and do that 'cause I'm a ballet dancer and I'm not gonna do that 'cause I'm a ballet dancer and actually it's quite restrictive. 273 00:28:36,660.0396226 --> 00:28:49,20.0396226 So I'm interested, I, you know, I find that really curious about you because it could just be, I am, I'm a West End actor, but I know that there's so much else that's going on that you are exploring at the moment. 274 00:28:50,280.0396226 --> 00:28:52,800.0396226 So would you mind sharing, I suppose two things. 275 00:28:52,800.0396226 --> 00:29:00,450.0396226 Can you share the things that you are exploring and why you don't get so attached to the labels of Well this is who I am now. 276 00:29:02,700.0396226 --> 00:29:03,300.0396226 Yes. 277 00:29:07,650.0396226 --> 00:29:12,180.0396226 So a, a couple weeks before. 278 00:29:13,650.0396226 --> 00:29:21,510.0396226 I started this sabbatical period, let's call it, of Es. 279 00:29:22,410.0396226 --> 00:29:24,660.0396226 I started this writing course. 280 00:29:26,100.0396226 --> 00:29:31,710.0396226 I, I've been writing every day for the last few years, but just journaling. 281 00:29:32,280.0396226 --> 00:29:36,665.0396226 But in school writing didn't feel like something I was good at. 282 00:29:37,175.0396226 --> 00:29:40,865.0396226 I had all these negative beliefs around it. 283 00:29:41,145.0396226 --> 00:29:46,635.0396226 Self-limiting beliefs about me not being a good writer or whatever. 284 00:29:46,665.0396226 --> 00:29:52,215.0396226 But as an adult, I started to discover that I loved doing it for myself. 285 00:29:53,85.0396226 --> 00:30:07,185.0396226 So I thought, why not do this writing course and learn from scratch and make it mine, right? And it will help me go into this. 286 00:30:07,770.0396226 --> 00:30:16,950.0396226 Period of pause and give me some focus so that I don't feel freaked out when I don't have the theater to fall back on. 287 00:30:18,480.0396226 --> 00:30:29,550.0396226 And it's really expanded me in such a short time and my views on myself and what I'm capable of. 288 00:30:30,210.0396226 --> 00:30:38,160.0396226 Just a week or so ago, I was thinking about who I am. 289 00:30:38,160.0396226 --> 00:30:54,600.0396226 If I were to write a bio about who I am, even when you asked me to write a bio for today, I don't think actor, musician, singer, writer, artist quite does it justice. 290 00:30:54,600.0396226 --> 00:30:58,530.0396226 But I think the thread that pulls all of these things together is storyteller. 291 00:31:00,240.0396226 --> 00:31:00,810.0396226 I. 292 00:31:02,520.0396226 --> 00:31:05,160.0396226 I am writing, telling stories. 293 00:31:05,190.0396226 --> 00:31:07,680.0396226 I tell stories through my body when I'm acting. 294 00:31:08,250.0396226 --> 00:31:13,890.0396226 I tell a story when I'm dancing, when I am painting, when I'm singing. 295 00:31:14,850.0396226 --> 00:31:26,430.0396226 But even that label, I don't want to hold onto it too tightly because I know that I as a human have so much potential. 296 00:31:27,240.0396226 --> 00:31:35,430.0396226 You know, I can be a good communicator, I can be a good parent, friend, lover. 297 00:31:35,460.0396226 --> 00:31:37,620.0396226 All of these different archetypes. 298 00:31:37,620.0396226 --> 00:31:40,260.0396226 You know, you talk a lot about archetypes, right? Mm-hmm. 299 00:31:40,500.0396226 --> 00:31:43,200.0396226 And how we can fall into different ones. 300 00:31:43,650.0396226 --> 00:32:00,840.0396226 I think I have my core archetypes, but I think we can all fall into many of them, you know? I think what I, what comes through for me, and it is a feeling and it, it is often, it's beyond words, isn't it? It's, it's beyond words. 301 00:32:00,870.0396226 --> 00:32:02,370.0396226 'cause it's just an embodiment. 302 00:32:03,250.0396226 --> 00:32:10,360.0396226 And what I really feel is that creative life force coming through you and that doesn't need to have a label to it. 303 00:32:11,320.0396226 --> 00:32:13,690.0396226 And it changes every day. 304 00:32:13,900.0396226 --> 00:32:16,420.0396226 You know, like, like nature changes every day. 305 00:32:16,420.0396226 --> 00:32:19,990.0396226 Like we cycle through our monthly cycles. 306 00:32:19,990.0396226 --> 00:32:22,150.0396226 Like we cycle through our yearly, through our life. 307 00:32:22,660.0396226 --> 00:32:23,950.0396226 It's always changing. 308 00:32:23,950.0396226 --> 00:32:29,290.0396226 And where I see that power in you is that you feel very open. 309 00:32:29,845.0396226 --> 00:32:39,25.0396226 To that it feels like you don't have this hold on it, you know, you are not like, I need to produce this album. 310 00:32:39,235.0396226 --> 00:32:40,855.0396226 I need to write this book. 311 00:32:40,885.0396226 --> 00:32:42,325.0396226 I need to you. 312 00:32:42,325.0396226 --> 00:32:43,315.0396226 Exactly. 313 00:32:43,435.0396226 --> 00:32:44,125.0396226 Curiosity. 314 00:32:44,125.0396226 --> 00:32:52,795.0396226 Again, you know, it's the curiosity of what is coming through me and how can I be a vessel and a portal for this creativity to come through me. 315 00:32:53,435.0396226 --> 00:32:57,5.0396226 I think you've just captured the essence of what I was trying to get to. 316 00:32:57,5.0396226 --> 00:32:57,65.0396226 Yeah. 317 00:32:57,95.0396226 --> 00:33:04,955.0396226 Which is that especially in this period of my life, the outcomes are less important. 318 00:33:06,395.0396226 --> 00:33:13,805.0396226 You know, like when I was at university, I was tied to this idea of getting a first mm-hmm. 319 00:33:14,45.0396226 --> 00:33:15,695.0396226 Or becoming a leading lady. 320 00:33:16,895.0396226 --> 00:33:24,950.0396226 Now I feel like the growth, that growth has expanded into, I get to play because I want to play. 321 00:33:25,925.0396226 --> 00:33:36,545.0396226 I get to create because I want to create, and the only outcome I'm interested in is whether I'm enjoying it in the moment, right? Yeah. 322 00:33:36,755.0396226 --> 00:34:06,615.0396226 If it feels good to me right now, and you don't have to be on a sabbatical to access that, it can be as simple as when I wake up in the morning and I have 10 minutes to myself, how am I gonna choose to spend this 10 minutes? It's about choosing to really drop into yourself and go, this feels fun. 323 00:34:06,705.0396226 --> 00:34:10,5.0396226 This feels great in my body, in my mind. 324 00:34:10,215.0396226 --> 00:34:36,955.0396226 You know, and it's, you know, life is art, isn't it? And it's again, remembering that and tuning into that and being an advocate for that because it's not what we witness on the news and on the radio, and it's not what we hear people talking on the tube about, you know, isn't life beautiful? It's not what we hear, we hear so much horror, which of course does exist and so much negativity and so much fear. 325 00:34:37,645.0396226 --> 00:34:43,705.0396226 And also what exists is this breath and this freedom and this beauty and this choice. 326 00:34:44,455.0396226 --> 00:34:45,535.0396226 Um mm-hmm. 327 00:34:45,655.0396226 --> 00:34:47,275.0396226 So that's what I'm hearing from you. 328 00:34:47,345.0396226 --> 00:34:56,675.0396226 I'm sensing is then it opens you up to endless possibilities and endless potential and opportunities, which is scary. 329 00:34:56,675.0396226 --> 00:35:06,275.0396226 So you could just choose, I'm just gonna stay here because, well, at least this fuels and feeds this need for stability and, you know, X, Y, and Z. 330 00:35:07,895.0396226 --> 00:35:13,355.0396226 So it, it requires bravery as well as the curiosity, and it requires trust. 331 00:35:13,595.0396226 --> 00:35:21,335.0396226 But in my own experience of when I'm really trusting my life, I have to be doing the work. 332 00:35:21,575.0396226 --> 00:35:34,625.0396226 You know, I have to be, whether I'm meditating every day, whether I'm chanting and my various creative process, I have to be in the flow of it because as soon as I feel like I'm outta the flow of it, while I'm out of the flow, and it's, it feels really clunk. 333 00:35:36,380.0396226 --> 00:35:41,960.0396226 But what I see for you, and it, I just feel like it's so beautiful to witness because you are 26. 334 00:35:41,960.0396226 --> 00:35:45,710.0396226 You're not realizing this at 56 and thinking, oh, I wish I'd done it differently. 335 00:35:46,190.0396226 --> 00:35:50,360.0396226 You know, what I love about you is you are 26 and you embody this. 336 00:35:50,390.0396226 --> 00:35:56,660.0396226 And I know it takes work to continue to embody it, but it's, it feels like you are holding a field. 337 00:35:56,720.0396226 --> 00:36:04,70.0396226 You are, you are in a particular field of reality, you're choosing a reality and it's not the reality of everybody else. 338 00:36:04,140.0396226 --> 00:36:13,710.0396226 I mean, there's so much noise and, and we said before we hit record, it's, it's quite devastating that there's so much noise around Who do you think you are, you know, putting yourself out there for that. 339 00:36:13,710.0396226 --> 00:36:27,45.0396226 Who does she think she is wearing that? Who does she think she is speaking up, putting herself forward for, for a job, for a role? Who, you know, who does she think she is? And we've spoken a bit about cringe, haven't we? And it's quite devastating to think like. 340 00:36:27,715.0396226 --> 00:36:36,85.0396226 What are we doing? Why are we blocking this flow of creativity? Which is all life, isn't it? All life is abundant creativity. 341 00:36:36,565.0396226 --> 00:36:45,895.0396226 And yeah, the feeling, and I dunno if I'm articulating it that clearly, but the feeling is you feel like you are in the flow of that abundant creativity at the moment. 342 00:36:45,895.0396226 --> 00:36:45,985.0396226 Mm-hmm. 343 00:36:46,225.0396226 --> 00:37:00,385.0396226 And especially when you let go of outcomes, you might have a desire or a dream, but if you are with the why, I mean, if you're with the curiosity and if you are in embodying your creativity, you can just trust because you know that you're unfolding. 344 00:37:01,355.0396226 --> 00:37:11,585.0396226 It just made me think the other day, Florence given, posted on her Instagram, she was in this beautiful red dress dancing in her living room. 345 00:37:11,585.0396226 --> 00:37:11,915.0396226 I saw that. 346 00:37:11,915.0396226 --> 00:37:13,235.0396226 And the caption was. 347 00:37:14,840.0396226 --> 00:37:19,520.0396226 If people aren't saying, who does she think she is, you're not going hard enough. 348 00:37:20,300.0396226 --> 00:37:37,780.0396226 You know? And I think I've lived a lot of my life with a fear of looking back and saying, what if, you know, a lot of people look at all these threads of like, sort of realities that they could go down. 349 00:37:37,930.0396226 --> 00:37:46,90.0396226 You know, I think even me with, oh, are you a writer or are you a singer? Or are you an actor? It can be overwhelming. 350 00:37:46,90.0396226 --> 00:37:53,740.0396226 And you think if you go down one path, you'll leave the other behind, but that's just not how creative potential works. 351 00:37:54,430.0396226 --> 00:37:57,910.0396226 You go down a path and let it take you. 352 00:37:58,780.0396226 --> 00:38:02,415.0396226 And if it's not for you, you are still living and breathing. 353 00:38:02,415.0396226 --> 00:38:03,885.0396226 You have the option. 354 00:38:04,560.0396226 --> 00:38:07,680.0396226 To go back and try another thing and try another thing. 355 00:38:07,710.0396226 --> 00:38:13,260.0396226 And I think that's what I've been doing with my life is trying everything. 356 00:38:14,310.0396226 --> 00:38:23,880.0396226 You know, a lot of people say, oh, if you spread yourself too thin, you'll become a jack of all trades and you're not, you know, a consistent brand. 357 00:38:23,880.0396226 --> 00:38:28,650.0396226 Or Why aren't you sticking with the same genre of music on your album? All of these things. 358 00:38:28,650.0396226 --> 00:38:52,770.0396226 But yeah, I've managed to try all of these things to dip in and out and still get to a position where I'm at the top of my field in something and I will be able to let that go and move on if something more compelling to me in this moment in my life takes me. 359 00:38:53,610.0396226 --> 00:38:54,150.0396226 And that's it. 360 00:38:54,150.0396226 --> 00:38:55,650.0396226 You know, more compelling to you. 361 00:38:55,650.0396226 --> 00:38:59,790.0396226 And I, you know, I was thinking earlier, what a currency to be living. 362 00:39:00,330.0396226 --> 00:39:20,350.0396226 In and with this currency of this feels really good, this feels really alive to me and not always be so interested in, but am I on brand? And actually, how restrictive is that? I know, you know, branding it can be wonderful 'cause it gives you a little bit of, or a lot of structure and some guidelines and some direction. 363 00:39:21,970.0396226 --> 00:39:30,160.0396226 But I love this idea of actually maybe popping that to one side and just being more interested in the why am I doing this and what is lighting me up. 364 00:39:30,160.0396226 --> 00:39:31,660.0396226 And I, I'm just gonna follow that. 365 00:39:33,40.0396226 --> 00:39:35,980.0396226 A quick note actually on what you've just said about structure. 366 00:39:36,940.0396226 --> 00:39:40,195.0396226 Freedom works well within boundaries. 367 00:39:41,985.0396226 --> 00:39:48,400.0396226 Imagine you've got a blank canvas and someone just gives you all the colors and all the media. 368 00:39:49,180.0396226 --> 00:39:50,320.0396226 You will be overwhelmed. 369 00:39:50,320.0396226 --> 00:39:51,730.0396226 You won't know where to start. 370 00:39:52,180.0396226 --> 00:39:53,770.0396226 I think giving yourself. 371 00:39:54,325.0396226 --> 00:39:55,975.0396226 A bit of framework. 372 00:39:56,185.0396226 --> 00:39:56,275.0396226 Mm-hmm. 373 00:39:56,515.0396226 --> 00:40:04,135.0396226 Before doing something creative, choosing one medium, okay, I have three colors and acrylic paint. 374 00:40:04,585.0396226 --> 00:40:12,415.0396226 Or if I'm gonna write today, I'm only gonna write for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, an hour. 375 00:40:12,625.0396226 --> 00:40:23,725.0396226 Pick the timeframe that feels easy for you, and then, and then reduce it even more so that you are being kind to yourself. 376 00:40:24,55.0396226 --> 00:40:24,625.0396226 Yeah, right. 377 00:40:25,15.0396226 --> 00:40:31,345.0396226 It's not something that should feel like, oh, I have to, you know, do all these things. 378 00:40:31,555.0396226 --> 00:40:37,765.0396226 It's just letting your curiosity take you a little bit of the way. 379 00:40:38,35.0396226 --> 00:40:38,155.0396226 Mm-hmm. 380 00:40:38,665.0396226 --> 00:40:43,465.0396226 And because it's always the first step of being creative that is the hardest. 381 00:40:43,975.0396226 --> 00:40:46,675.0396226 It's always stepping on stage for the first time. 382 00:40:46,675.0396226 --> 00:40:47,665.0396226 That is the scariest. 383 00:40:47,725.0396226 --> 00:40:53,65.0396226 It's always putting that first brush stroke or that first word on the page that is the scariest. 384 00:40:54,95.0396226 --> 00:41:02,765.0396226 But if you give yourself a reasonable and compassionate boundary in which to do so, you will begin to flourish. 385 00:41:03,95.0396226 --> 00:41:03,575.0396226 I love that. 386 00:41:03,575.0396226 --> 00:41:07,415.0396226 So it's not overwhelming, it's just this gentle boundary of, I'm just gonna start with this. 387 00:41:08,135.0396226 --> 00:41:08,765.0396226 Exactly. 388 00:41:09,35.0396226 --> 00:41:11,345.0396226 So you are learning bass guitar. 389 00:41:12,275.0396226 --> 00:41:13,145.0396226 Yes. 390 00:41:13,235.0396226 --> 00:41:13,870.0396226 Which is amazing. 391 00:41:14,405.0396226 --> 00:41:24,415.0396226 So I, I wanted to ask, how do you how are you approaching that and how are you finding joy in being a beginner again? Thank you. 392 00:41:24,415.0396226 --> 00:41:33,415.0396226 I love this question because bass guitar has been a massive exploration of myself. 393 00:41:34,105.0396226 --> 00:41:37,435.0396226 When I was on tour a few years ago, I was on a UK tour. 394 00:41:37,795.0396226 --> 00:41:43,195.0396226 I was working with a lot of actor musicians and I decided I wanna use this time to pick up a new instrument. 395 00:41:43,975.0396226 --> 00:41:45,325.0396226 And so I picked up the trumpet. 396 00:41:45,895.0396226 --> 00:41:50,695.0396226 And I tried to learn the trumpet for a few months and I was horrible. 397 00:41:52,375.0396226 --> 00:41:55,585.0396226 And then I sold my trumpet and I bought a bass guitar. 398 00:41:57,205.0396226 --> 00:42:16,75.0396226 And yeah, last year I started having lessons and I was confronted with the fact that how often do we as adults learn something new? I mean, when you're a child in school, you are learning new things every single day. 399 00:42:16,75.0396226 --> 00:42:20,185.0396226 You're constantly flexing that muscle of learning. 400 00:42:20,725.0396226 --> 00:42:32,65.0396226 And I'm someone, I like to be good at things I'm quite, I can pick stuff up quite quickly, but being bad, like being bad at trumpet annoyed me. 401 00:42:32,905.0396226 --> 00:42:37,795.0396226 But bass guitar was a slightly easier instrument that suited me and. 402 00:42:38,215.0396226 --> 00:42:45,625.0396226 Even though I had some natural groove for it, I was crap to begin with. 403 00:42:46,45.0396226 --> 00:42:48,235.0396226 As we all love when we start something new. 404 00:42:49,15.0396226 --> 00:42:53,35.0396226 And so I did what any normal person would do. 405 00:42:53,425.0396226 --> 00:43:06,625.0396226 Recorded myself on the first day of learning bass guitar, and I posted it on my Instagram and I said, here's me playing a bad cover of a song on bass. 406 00:43:07,915.0396226 --> 00:43:13,525.0396226 And now I get to look back at that and go, look how much I've grown. 407 00:43:14,185.0396226 --> 00:43:20,785.0396226 You know? And I found a lot of joy in showing people. 408 00:43:21,925.0396226 --> 00:43:45,95.0396226 My learning process, especially since being in this big role on the West End, I think it's easy for people to look at me and see this perfect person this, oh, you know, I've, I'm always posting my lovely headshots and my perfect singing or blah, blah, blah, but here's something I'm really bad at and I'm really trying to get good at and, and being vulnerable. 409 00:43:45,305.0396226 --> 00:43:46,325.0396226 And being vulnerable. 410 00:43:46,385.0396226 --> 00:43:46,775.0396226 Yeah. 411 00:43:47,285.0396226 --> 00:43:49,655.0396226 And I'm so glad I stuck with it. 412 00:43:50,15.0396226 --> 00:43:58,985.0396226 I'm also, I know myself, I'm not very good at keeping a routine, so I knew I need a bass guitar teacher to keep me on track. 413 00:43:59,555.0396226 --> 00:43:59,615.0396226 Yeah. 414 00:43:59,645.0396226 --> 00:44:02,285.0396226 And I could afford one every other week. 415 00:44:02,585.0396226 --> 00:44:04,85.0396226 So that's what I've done for the last year. 416 00:44:04,85.0396226 --> 00:44:07,295.0396226 I've had a bass lesson every other week for a year. 417 00:44:07,665.0396226 --> 00:44:15,795.0396226 During this time at the moment, I'm now having one on a weekly basis because I've got the time and I'm so excited to see. 418 00:44:16,365.0396226 --> 00:44:18,345.0396226 What my bass guitar looks like in a year. 419 00:44:18,795.0396226 --> 00:44:35,55.0396226 And I tell people very often, I'm so excited to hear what my voice sounds like when I'm 35, 45 because creativity and your body's capacity for those sorts of things, it never stops growing. 420 00:44:36,735.0396226 --> 00:44:41,145.0396226 I love this Amina, and it just, it also, I love that you're just not taking it too seriously. 421 00:44:41,325.0396226 --> 00:44:42,705.0396226 It's not like I need to be perfect at this. 422 00:44:42,705.0396226 --> 00:44:44,535.0396226 I need to be able to like, put out a record or I'm playing. 423 00:44:44,955.0396226 --> 00:44:47,235.0396226 It's just, I'm just gonna give it a go. 424 00:44:47,445.0396226 --> 00:44:59,685.0396226 And that is really what art is, isn't it? It doesn't have to be, we don't have to think about, you know, it being even received by anybody else or what money we could get from this in the future. 425 00:44:59,745.0396226 --> 00:45:02,175.0396226 It's, it's just for us actually. 426 00:45:02,565.0396226 --> 00:45:06,555.0396226 And what, yeah, I've not, I've not got on stage with a bass guitar. 427 00:45:06,555.0396226 --> 00:45:07,95.0396226 Hell no. 428 00:45:07,95.0396226 --> 00:45:08,115.0396226 Like, I'm terrified. 429 00:45:08,115.0396226 --> 00:45:08,925.0396226 I'm not that good. 430 00:45:09,45.0396226 --> 00:45:10,425.0396226 I'm just doing it for fun. 431 00:45:10,515.0396226 --> 00:45:12,855.0396226 And last winter it was. 432 00:45:14,70.0396226 --> 00:45:16,350.0396226 It was helping me so much with my mental health. 433 00:45:16,380.0396226 --> 00:45:21,330.0396226 You know, that seasonal depression kicks in and you're feeling really hopeless. 434 00:45:21,450.0396226 --> 00:45:28,80.0396226 And I would pick up the bass and feel those beautiful deep vibrations and it would just give my day a lift. 435 00:45:28,500.0396226 --> 00:45:36,210.0396226 You know, even having a guitar teacher to meet at a certain time of day, it meant, okay, I've gotta get up and shower today. 436 00:45:36,360.0396226 --> 00:45:36,480.0396226 Yeah. 437 00:45:36,480.0396226 --> 00:45:37,830.0396226 And do a base lesson. 438 00:45:37,830.0396226 --> 00:45:37,890.0396226 Yeah. 439 00:45:38,130.0396226 --> 00:45:39,180.0396226 And that was a win. 440 00:45:39,450.0396226 --> 00:45:45,600.0396226 'cause sometimes life can be hard, and just being able to get yourself out of bed is a win. 441 00:45:45,840.0396226 --> 00:45:47,730.0396226 Yeah, absolutely. 442 00:45:48,160.0396226 --> 00:46:03,560.0396226 I wanted to ask you about, we've, we've touched on it a little bit, but one of the things I, one of the many things I admire about you is your ability to cut through the noise seemingly, from the outside, how it appears, and to really protect your own creative. 443 00:46:03,620.0396226 --> 00:46:08,250.0396226 Of, life force energy and to not let the outside world drown it out. 444 00:46:08,250.0396226 --> 00:46:20,240.0396226 Which I think, very often it does want to, and that could even be, I'm not speaking for, for you, but colleagues peers, there can be so much noise and negativity at times. 445 00:46:20,660.0396226 --> 00:46:21,770.0396226 So I am interested. 446 00:46:21,770.0396226 --> 00:46:49,530.0396226 How do you create your, that kind of internal spaciousness or how do you, maybe there's another way that you'd want to answer this, what boundaries do you have in place to really protect your creative fire? As I've mentioned before, me deciding to do theater at a young age wasn't met with a hell yeah. 447 00:46:50,430.0396226 --> 00:46:55,230.0396226 You know, I had a lot of people telling me, oh, it's a competitive industry. 448 00:46:55,410.0396226 --> 00:47:00,420.0396226 Are you sure you want to do that? You know, take the responsible route. 449 00:47:01,530.0396226 --> 00:47:19,840.0396226 And initially that was just driven by my innate passion and need to do creative things and also my fear of the alternative, right? And both of those voices were very loud. 450 00:47:19,840.0396226 --> 00:47:31,870.0396226 If you've got like the angel and the devil on your shoulder, one's like you are terrified of, of this life, and I really wanna do this life, even if it's not reasonable. 451 00:47:31,870.0396226 --> 00:47:35,530.0396226 I let those things drive me, but with everyone. 452 00:47:37,120.0396226 --> 00:47:43,420.0396226 Telling me that it was a bad idea, I realized that I had to really surround myself with the right people. 453 00:47:45,340.0396226 --> 00:47:51,550.0396226 Being at drama school was wonderful because I was surrounded by people who had a shared goal as me. 454 00:47:53,170.0396226 --> 00:48:21,430.0396226 But then within that, you've also got other students who exhibit jealousy or teachers who maybe aren't as encouraging as others, and you really have to believe in yourself and believe that what you have inside is worth offering up and giving out. 455 00:48:22,30.0396226 --> 00:48:27,970.0396226 I, in the last year, I've really reassessed. 456 00:48:29,80.0396226 --> 00:48:30,700.0396226 Who I have in my life. 457 00:48:30,700.0396226 --> 00:48:35,110.0396226 My inner circle is very small, really. 458 00:48:35,860.0396226 --> 00:48:43,180.0396226 And I surround myself with people who love to see me doing well, and I love to see them doing well. 459 00:48:43,300.0396226 --> 00:49:10,621.7062893 Women who lift each other up, this society is built on a patriarchy that benefits from women, especially turning on each other so that we don't turn on the patriarchy, you know? And it's not just among women, but family and friends and everyone like and online I've had a lot of hate, right? Not. 460 00:49:12,46.7062893 --> 00:49:13,906.7062893 Directed necessarily at me. 461 00:49:13,906.7062893 --> 00:49:20,756.7062893 But for example, when the West End Live video went up, you get a lot of people in the comments going oh, I love Eponine. 462 00:49:20,756.7062893 --> 00:49:28,376.7062893 And then other, this Eponine, and then others saying, oh, I didn't think she was as good as this actress, or mm-hmm Oh, I think she's too shouty. 463 00:49:28,376.7062893 --> 00:49:34,976.7062893 Or, I think she's too this, too that, and they forget that, you know, I'm a person behind this character. 464 00:49:35,36.7062893 --> 00:49:48,806.7062893 I'm a person behind just being am Mina l kindy, the West End actress, which is another reason why I really detach myself from these labels. 465 00:49:48,836.7062893 --> 00:49:49,16.7062893 Yeah. 466 00:49:50,66.7062893 --> 00:49:58,256.7062893 And try and get back to who I am and who I want to be, and being this expansive, creative human. 467 00:49:58,766.7062893 --> 00:50:03,86.7062893 So it's about putting up those bound, like putting up those blinkers as you call it. 468 00:50:03,91.7062893 --> 00:50:03,191.7062893 Mm-hmm. 469 00:50:03,341.7062893 --> 00:50:08,36.7062893 It's essential for me, keeping that trust. 470 00:50:08,711.7062893 --> 00:50:15,431.7062893 And that love for myself, I really think it's okay to block people on Instagram. 471 00:50:15,701.7062893 --> 00:50:17,141.7062893 I'm just gonna put that out there. 472 00:50:17,471.7062893 --> 00:50:17,861.7062893 Thank you. 473 00:50:17,861.7062893 --> 00:50:18,251.7062893 Know. 474 00:50:18,401.7062893 --> 00:50:22,421.7062893 If someone comments something that you don't like on your page, delete it. 475 00:50:22,661.7062893 --> 00:50:23,981.7062893 Mm-hmm. 476 00:50:23,982.7062893 --> 00:50:24,2.7062893 Block them. 477 00:50:24,111.7062893 --> 00:50:33,261.7062893 If there's a person that you are perhaps mutual friends with, but every time you see their posts on Instagram, it makes you feel a bit rubbish about yourself. 478 00:50:33,801.7062893 --> 00:50:34,911.7062893 Just restrict them. 479 00:50:35,361.7062893 --> 00:50:37,221.7062893 Just, just unfollow them. 480 00:50:37,671.7062893 --> 00:50:45,681.7062893 You know, I've unfollowed and deleted a lot of people and it's not malicious. 481 00:50:45,681.7062893 --> 00:50:49,701.7062893 It's not like I'm not attached to it, like, oh, I don't like you. 482 00:50:49,701.7062893 --> 00:51:03,411.7062893 It's just I need to protect my energy because what I'm doing here for me is so much more important in keeping myself alive and keeping myself happy and content. 483 00:51:03,711.7062893 --> 00:51:04,101.7062893 Mm-hmm. 484 00:51:05,61.7062893 --> 00:51:05,631.7062893 Thank you. 485 00:51:06,291.7062893 --> 00:51:11,361.7062893 You have really kindly said that you would share some of your magic with us today. 486 00:51:11,961.7062893 --> 00:51:12,51.7062893 Mm-hmm. 487 00:51:12,291.7062893 --> 00:51:27,51.7062893 You were gonna share a little warmup because we know that Well, our voice is so powerful, Paul, for every human and particularly for us as women, to really connect to our voice. 488 00:51:27,891.7062893 --> 00:51:30,111.7062893 It's a, it's a deep connection to our power. 489 00:51:30,141.7062893 --> 00:51:33,771.7062893 It's a doorway to our soul and to our deep inner knowing. 490 00:51:34,581.7062893 --> 00:51:43,401.7062893 And I know you've, we've worked together before You offered a beautiful workshop on my aligned membership called Find Your Voice, which was just beautiful. 491 00:51:43,881.7062893 --> 00:51:47,601.7062893 And you've been a very special guest on a couple of our aligned retreats. 492 00:51:47,601.7062893 --> 00:51:52,851.7062893 And it just, it's always just so sacred and very ceremonial, actually. 493 00:51:53,421.7062893 --> 00:51:54,861.7062893 The voice is very primal too. 494 00:51:54,861.7062893 --> 00:52:09,441.7062893 And I know you, you, you mentioned about connecting to the vagus nerve, so I think it'd be lovely if you are happy to share just a little warmup and then I know that you've got a gorgeous song that, that we can take and sing along with you. 495 00:52:10,641.7062893 --> 00:52:11,601.7062893 Yeah, of course. 496 00:52:12,51.7062893 --> 00:52:17,391.7062893 I'm gonna start by getting myself in a slightly more comfortable seated position. 497 00:52:17,541.7062893 --> 00:52:41,91.7062893 I know some people listening to this podcast, it might be in the morning or in the evening, or you might be walking, but if you are able to join in make sure your spine is tall and your shoulders are relaxed and you've not got too many distractions from other people. 498 00:52:43,551.7062893 --> 00:52:44,631.7062893 I'm gonna start this. 499 00:52:45,306.7062893 --> 00:52:51,796.7062893 The way I would start my morning by saying hello to myself saying hello to my voice. 500 00:52:52,306.7062893 --> 00:53:01,486.7062893 And I just make some really nice fluffy sounds, you know, those kind of like, ah, like you've just got into the bath or Hmm. 501 00:53:06,586.7062893 --> 00:53:11,56.7062893 Those nice deep sounds that you can feel vibrating in your chest. 502 00:53:16,966.7062893 --> 00:53:19,306.7062893 Whatever sounds feel natural to you. 503 00:53:19,306.7062893 --> 00:53:20,566.7062893 There's no wrong answer. 504 00:53:20,566.7062893 --> 00:53:29,746.7062893 Just feel what it's like inside your throat to feel your larynx moving up and down to feel your chest vibrating. 505 00:53:30,586.7062893 --> 00:53:31,456.7062893 Hmm. 506 00:53:33,256.7062893 --> 00:53:42,631.7062893 And now what we're gonna do is we're gonna turn, is that sound into a circle? That's gonna slowly get bigger. 507 00:53:43,261.7062893 --> 00:53:44,641.7062893 We call this a siren. 508 00:53:45,571.7062893 --> 00:54:08,701.7062893 So like this? Mm mm mm mm mm Keep moving your voice around in a circle. 509 00:54:08,701.7062893 --> 00:54:12,391.7062893 In this way, don't push anything. 510 00:54:13,21.7062893 --> 00:54:21,91.7062893 You can hold your hand on your chest and feel how the vibration changes as your voice goes up and your voice goes down. 511 00:54:22,321.7062893 --> 00:54:23,911.7062893 Mm. 512 00:54:27,121.7062893 --> 00:54:31,651.7062893 There might be some little chinks in your voice still waking up. 513 00:54:38,11.7062893 --> 00:55:01,741.7062893 I am gonna, you can, if you want to progress this further, you can do this on a v sound or you can blow air through your lips, kind of like a horse, and you can do it on a, it's normally how I warm myself up for an audition. 514 00:55:03,751.7062893 --> 00:55:07,411.7062893 But now you've relaxed your voice. 515 00:55:07,561.7062893 --> 00:55:23,641.7062893 I'm going to sing a song for you, and if you feel like it resonates with you and you would like to move your voice, you can rewind this song and join in with me. 516 00:55:30,181.7062893 --> 00:56:03,166.7062893 What am I rushing for? What am I rushing to? What am I rushing for? What am I rushing to towards? Slow down. 517 00:56:05,876.7062893 --> 00:56:11,326.7062893 Slow down, and save. 518 00:56:17,116.7062893 --> 00:56:18,486.7062893 Slow down. 519 00:56:20,611.7062893 --> 00:56:36,601.7062893 Slow down and save absolute chills. 520 00:56:37,891.7062893 --> 00:56:43,171.7062893 And do you know what? I feel like those lyrics just perfectly encapsulate what we've been talking about. 521 00:56:45,271.7062893 --> 00:56:46,351.7062893 There's no rush. 522 00:56:47,341.7062893 --> 00:56:49,921.7062893 Just slow down, enjoy it. 523 00:56:50,851.7062893 --> 00:56:51,811.7062893 Just be with it. 524 00:56:53,221.7062893 --> 00:56:54,991.7062893 See what unfolds. 525 00:56:57,61.7062893 --> 00:56:57,931.7062893 Protect it. 526 00:56:58,261.7062893 --> 00:56:59,251.7062893 It's sacred. 527 00:57:01,741.7062893 --> 00:57:03,181.7062893 Thank you so much, Amina. 528 00:57:03,181.7062893 --> 00:57:04,951.7062893 I have one final question. 529 00:57:06,151.7062893 --> 00:57:13,891.7062893 Because you're a member of Aligned and you come to live classes, which you've been doing for many years, what. 530 00:57:14,956.7062893 --> 00:57:38,956.7062893 Does the word or even the sentiment or the embodiment of alignment or being aligned, mean to you? How would you describe it? What does it feel like? Alignment to me is making decisions that only I can make. 531 00:57:41,86.7062893 --> 00:57:47,656.7062893 Listening to my body and my mind, and letting it take me where I want to go. 532 00:57:49,156.7062893 --> 00:57:50,206.7062893 That's so beautiful. 533 00:57:52,6.7062893 --> 00:57:52,306.7062893 Yeah. 534 00:57:52,456.7062893 --> 00:57:54,436.7062893 Gave me chills and made me well up. 535 00:57:56,56.7062893 --> 00:58:04,646.7062893 So true, so simple and yeah, just that coming back to that empowered place that only I can make. 536 00:58:05,336.7062893 --> 00:58:05,576.7062893 Yeah. 537 00:58:05,576.7062893 --> 00:58:08,186.7062893 Something really powerful in how you, how you said that. 538 00:58:09,536.7062893 --> 00:58:10,526.7062893 Thank you so much. 539 00:58:10,526.7062893 --> 00:58:17,816.7062893 So if people want to find you, where can they find you, bearing in mind they could be, you know, listening to this in a couple of years time. 540 00:58:17,816.7062893 --> 00:58:23,486.7062893 So currently you are, you're in the West End until January 31st, 20. 541 00:58:23,486.7062893 --> 00:58:24,26.7062893 Yes. 542 00:58:24,86.7062893 --> 00:58:37,836.7062893 If you want to come and see Mir you can see me on the Sun Time Theater stage in London from the 3rd of November to the 31st of January. 543 00:58:39,576.7062893 --> 00:58:54,181.7062893 But if you are listening to this from another place or another time, you can find me on Instagram at Amina Music and, and you can. 544 00:58:55,11.7062893 --> 00:58:57,621.7062893 Contact me via the mycelial network. 545 00:58:57,951.7062893 --> 00:59:01,791.7062893 You know, I'll pick up. 546 00:59:04,791.7062893 --> 00:59:05,1.7062893 I love that. 547 00:59:06,166.7062893 --> 00:59:06,656.7062893 Totally. 548 00:59:07,221.7062893 --> 00:59:07,581.7062893 Yeah. 549 00:59:08,571.7062893 --> 00:59:11,811.7062893 And all the ways, just, just Google this gorgeous creature. 550 00:59:11,871.7062893 --> 00:59:14,181.7062893 I'm so fond isn't the right word. 551 00:59:14,241.7062893 --> 00:59:14,631.7062893 Lots. 552 00:59:14,631.7062893 --> 00:59:16,41.7062893 I'm so fond of you. 553 00:59:16,411.7062893 --> 00:59:18,31.7062893 I'm so in awe of you. 554 00:59:18,181.7062893 --> 00:59:19,771.7062893 I'm so grateful for you. 555 00:59:19,801.7062893 --> 00:59:21,421.7062893 I'm grateful for our connection. 556 00:59:22,511.7062893 --> 00:59:33,461.7062893 I'm really inspired by you and it's really beautiful to see how you live your life and your commitment to living your life, really from that place of artistry. 557 00:59:33,461.7062893 --> 00:59:40,91.7062893 I think it's really beautiful and so inspiring and such a blueprint for all of us, of all ages. 558 00:59:40,616.7062893 --> 00:59:44,546.7062893 And I'm hoping especially for young people to see, oh my gosh, yes. 559 00:59:44,636.7062893 --> 00:59:46,106.7062893 This is, this is the blueprint. 560 00:59:46,746.7062893 --> 00:59:47,736.7062893 I'm so grateful. 561 00:59:48,36.7062893 --> 00:59:49,146.7062893 I'm so, so grateful. 562 00:59:49,146.7062893 --> 00:59:59,256.7062893 And I hope if anyone takes anything from this, be your own biggest fan advocate for yourself. 563 01:00:01,416.7062893 --> 01:00:04,716.7062893 That's what I tell every young person who comes by stage door. 564 01:00:04,716.7062893 --> 01:00:27,821.7062893 They say, how do I, how do I do what you are doing? I just say, be your own biggest fan, because the world is full of reasons to stop you from doing what you want to do and living with alignment of who you want to be, And I'm so grateful for you and the way you spread your message of alignment. 565 01:00:28,341.7062893 --> 01:00:34,491.7062893 You've made me cry and so many times just from the way you teach your classes. 566 01:00:34,491.7062893 --> 01:00:45,721.7062893 And, and I, I still practice my Franklin method tapping every single day at work to bring me back into who I am. 567 01:00:46,721.7062893 --> 01:00:57,431.7062893 And yeah, it's this beautiful web of creativity and movement and sound that makes me who I am every day. 568 01:00:57,681.7062893 --> 01:01:00,971.7062893 Thank you Thank you so much for being here today. 569 01:01:01,31.7062893 --> 01:01:01,961.7062893 It's been a real honor. 570 01:01:02,821.7062893 --> 01:01:04,51.7062893 Thank you, Rachel. 571 01:01:04,201.7062893 --> 01:01:06,125.0396226 It's a pleasure as always speaking with