Alicia Esambe: POWER UP Industry Professional
Short Bio: Alicia Esambe is a music industry professional, creative strategist, and mental health advocate with over a decade of experience across artist development, music management, and tech innovation. Formerly known as Alicia Raye, she made her mark as a charting independent artist before transitioning behind the scenes to support emerging talent and champion sustainable careers in music. As the founder of Alayex, a female-led management and consultancy company, Alicia works closely with artists to develop their creative vision while prioritising wellbeing. She is also the founder and CEO of HYMN (Harmonising Yield for Music Nurturing) – an AI-powered mental health platform designed specifically for the music industry. HYMN aims to create a mentally resilient music ecosystem through accessible assessments, support tools, and therapy bookings.
Alicia’s work sits at the intersection of music, mental health, and innovation. Her personal experience living with a chronic illness, alongside a background in healthcare and nursing, informs her deep commitment to care-led leadership. She is a past participant in Women in Business NI’s Tech Spark 2025 cohort and continues to collaborate with grassroots organisations, festivals, and international music bodies to advocate for inclusive infrastructure that empowers underrepresented voices. Through Power Up, she seeks to scale HYMN’s impact, build community-rooted partnerships, and develop new pathways for wellness in the creative sector.
Concise Description of activity: Scaling HYMN, our AI-powered mental health platform, while building strategic partnerships and accessing mentorship to drive equity, well being, and innovation across the music industry.