A balancing act

Go for a wander at ACU’s Strathfield Campus and you might rub shoulders with the next Billie Eilish. If, that is, you’re there during the window in singer-songwriter Azure’s schedule when she’s in Australia, not performing or in the studio, and in between lectures.

Azure, or Ashley-June Waterman, started her Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) in 2022 and is studying it alongside her music career thanks to ACU’s Elite Athlete and Performer Program (EAPP), which gives high achievers the support they need to thrive academically while pursuing their passion.

In the years since, Ashley has only become more deeply immersed in both worlds. Her music career has continued to soar, with sold-out shows, charting singles and headline events – all while she pushed forward in her psychology studies.

In 2025, she’s preparing to launch Azure’s Aviary, a one-night-only live event in Sydney that combines music, mental health advocacy and storytelling. The event coincides with the release of her latest single, Sleep Through Dinner, a raw and theatrical track about recovery and coming home to yourself after an eating disorder. Backed by more than 10 major brands including Rimmel London and Heaps Normal – and even gaining support from local parliament – the project reflects Ashley’s growing impact as both an artist and mental health advocate.

Psychology and performance, hand in hand

Ashley’s decision to study psychology was driven by a long-standing curiosity and a desire to connect more deeply with the human experience.

“I’d always been really interested in psychology but nervous to do it because of my workload in music – it’s an around-the-clock thing,” she said back in 2022. “But I love psychology, and I really want to learn, so I said, ‘I’m just going to do it!’”

That passion has only intensified. Now in her honours year, Ashley is completing a thesis on how schema therapy might support people struggling with addiction while also undertaking additional mental health training through institutions like Johns Hopkins and Harvard.

“Studying psychology has completely changed the way I write and perform,” she said. 

“It’s helped me tell more honest stories – not just from my own experience, but with empathy for what other people might be going through.”

Living the dream – on stage and in the clinic

Ashley’s music is known for its emotional depth and fearless honesty, shaped by her lived experiences and growing knowledge of mental health. She dreams of one day becoming both an internationally recognised artist and a clinical child psychologist – and she’s not waiting to choose between them.

“Music gave me a voice when I didn’t know how to speak my pain. Psychology gave me the tools to understand it,” she said. 

“Whether it’s through a lyric or a listening ear, I want my work to remind people that they’re not alone.”

That vision is as ambitious as it is clear: to perform, to listen, to heal – and to create spaces where young people can feel seen.

Support that makes it possible

Ashley credits much of her ability to balance both worlds to ACU’s Elite Athlete and Performer Program.

“They didn’t ask me to say this I just genuinely love them that much,” she said. 

“They’ve backed me every step of the way, believed in my vision, and moved mountains to help me pursue both music and psychology at a high level.”

Juggling international music opportunities with university deadlines hasn’t been easy. She’s written thesis drafts in green rooms, edited references backstage and colour-coded her calendar “within an inch of its life”. But her love for both her creative and academic work keeps her going.

“It’s a lot of work and I work really hard, but I love it. It’s the love of my life.”

Looking ahead

With her honours year nearing completion, Ashley is applying for postgraduate clinical psychology programs and considering studying overseas to broaden her perspective and training. 

Meanwhile, she’s working on a new EP and dreaming up more events like Azure’s Aviary, blending music with meaningful conversations about mental health.

“There’s a lot ahead, but I’m excited to grow into it.”

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