Elleana Dumper

What was the journey to the ‘you of now’?

If I could speak very broadly at a big-picture, pattern level, I can describe my journey as one of continuous discovery. This process has looked like existing on one side of a spectrum, discovering an urge to break away from it, a messy middle of integration, and finally arriving at a dynamic, intentional harmony between my opposing dualities. It’s always been prompted by a refusal to settle and inner knowing that there is another freer and supportive way for me to operate.

I’ve seen this across the harnessing of my masculine and feminine energies, my spirituality and my groundedness, my striving and my presence, my sensitivity and my strength, and my wellness and my career which is what I love to teach about. 

Another prominent thread throughout my life has been reclaiming my voice and stepping into deeper conviction of what I believe I’m here to say. I’ve gone from feeling paralysed when asked for my opinion to delivering talks in front of crowds and I’m really proud of that.

I’m committed to my evolution above anything else, and that’s a posture that I will continue to carry with me as I step into the future “me’s”.

What is Sync Wellness and how did it come to be?

Sync Wellness is a creative health and performance community which helps musicians stay well while doing what they love.

It began from my own experience working in music events and touring. After a few years of late nights, the “always on” culture, and little time for self-care, I started to feel the impact on my health. I realised I didn’t enjoy the lifestyle I was building my career around, and asked myself, “Can I have a career in music without sacrificing my wellbeing?” I took a step back to reset and came to a clear answer — I didn’t want to walk away from the industry. I wanted to find a way to thrive in it and help others do the same.

From healthy green room setups, online coaching, and studying Performance Nutrition, I launched Sync Wellness in December 2023 with a workshop series that helps creatives align their energy to the changing creative seasons – building skills of energy management, self-leadership, and sustainable performance. Because it’s not just about being able to endure the high-energy, external seasons, but the quiet, unseen ones too. Wherever you are at in your process, Sync will meet you there, while also calling you forward to what’s next.

Who is Sync for and how can they join in?

Sync is for purpose-driven, growth-minded musicians that are ready to take back their agency, and build wellness-driven careers that don’t burn them out.

My seasonal events are the perfect gateway into this work — they’re a space to intentionally disrupt the burnout cycle, create a new reference point for how good your body and creativity can feel, and be surrounded by a community where prioritising sustainable creativity is the norm.

Then for those who are ready to dial in on those “peak” performance moments, I take on a small number of 1:1 clients throughout the year with a range of offerings within my Tour Support suite.

What's a special memory or moment from Sync?

It’s been the biggest privilege to witness the growth of the community — the energy of the room when we gather every season, the way people evolve across multiple events, and how the seasonal framework has become a part of our vocabulary as we talk and plan out our projects. It’s become embedded into all of our lives as a real way of being.

I have to mention that my amazing partner came into my life through Sync too, he’s been to every event since the start. He’s my best friend, we’re so aligned in how we live and lead and I love building out our visions together.

What are your favourite ways to cultivate creativity?

It’s becoming more and more important for me to lean on everything around the execution. My best ideas don’t come when I’m grinding nonstop, they come when I step away. I’ve built a level of trust in this process and now do it frequently and intentionally.

For me, it looks like carving out time for stillness, movement, nature, joy, energising conversations, float tanks. The space around the work is still the work, and seeing those things as part of the process has been a game changer.

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What is a current thread of inquiry you’re following? What are you learning?

There are a few, but currently I’m really leaning into resilience and how that looks, feels, and how I can infuse that into my work. You know when you read quotes or hear advice, and it doesn’t hit you until you’re actually in the thick of it? Well, let’s just say those have been especially hitting this past year…

I’ve always been one to find ease and alignment in terms of purpose, and honestly never really understood ‘hard work’ that’s required to build something great. But I’m learning that the real hard work is building the emotional capacity to be misunderstood or disliked, to show up with integrity and advocacy of my mission even if I’m going against the grain, and to uphold a level of neutrality as well. Resilience is a characteristic that defies circumstances and it can’t be taken away from you, so it’s one worth building.

Who is someone who has been influential in your life?

I find pieces of inspiration in many people depending on which areas I want to grow in. However one person who I continue to look to is Joe Kay, founder of Soulection Radio. His weekly shows have been the soundtrack to so many moments in my life, I can even recall the exact show that I was listening to at any given time. Aside from the musical impact of his work, I’m inspired by the display of his vision, leadership, creativity, and longevity he’s been able to uphold. His journey has taken years, but it reminds me of the power of strong foundations and the time it takes to build something meaningful.

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What books have changed the way you think?

The Art of Fully Living by Tal Gur

This was one of the first self-development books I intentionally bought as new, not just a serendipitous op shop find. It’s a simple read but speaks about powerful concepts of living with deep immersion as well as patience.

Pussy: A Reclamation by Regena Thomashauer

I was “prescribed” this book by a somatic sexologist and holistic health coach I was working with in my early 20s. It takes you on a journey of rediscovering your feminine power - pleasure, intuition, confidence, purpose. It made for a very transformative period in my life.

Third Culture Cooking by Zaynab Issa

The first published book from my favourite recipe developer. I recently acquired it and it’s the first cookbook where I wouldn’t skip any recipe. Not to mention it’s beautifully designed and written.  Food is a love language for me, but I didn’t grow up with a prominent culture and generational recipes, so this feels like my opportunity to establish a new legacy.

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