Estelle
@ Pigeon Island, St. Lucia Jazz Festival
9 May 2009

Click an image to enlarge.

Biography

Estelle Swaray was born into a strictly religious Senegalese /Grenadian family. Being the second of eight children, Estelle learned early about responsibility for self and family, as well as how to escape life’s daily pressures through music. Though her mother had banned secular music in the house, young Estelle was exposed to African music and gospel (as well as her West Indian stepfather’s roots reggae and dub) via an impressive homemade sound system. At school, ‘80s pop was the dominant sound. It wasn’t long before a teenage Estelle was sneaking out of the house to hear hip hop.

“You don’t have to compromise yourself as an artist,” says Estelle. “You just have to make the standard believable and relatable.”

While her previous successes were notable, they followed an unconventional path. She won a 2004 MOBO for “Best Newcomer” after she had already received “Best Female Artist” at the UK Hip Hop Awards three years in a row. Still, she was frustrated by what she describes as a glass ceiling in the UK urban music industry.

“A lot of UK labels don’t expect you to get beyond a certain point.” “There’s more to life than just taking what someone gives you.”

Estelle moved to New York on her own initiative. Her trademark drive was also in full effect when she happened upon Kanye West outside Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles during a fated trip to Los Angeles. She summoned up the courage to approach the star, and request an introduction with Legend. When the two hit it off, she also pushed her label to let her to open for Legend during his European Get Lifted tour, a pairing that would continue for two years, and eventually blossom into the Homeschool deal.

Swizz Beatz produced the album’s title track. “It’s a continuation of ‘1980’,” says Estelle, referencing the popular 2004 single where she rapped about growing up in London.

“This is me, as plainly as I’ll be. It puts a lot of insecurities out there, but at the same time I’m still going to try to be me. As much as I’m giving you that strong woman, there’s still that strong woman who is pretty vulnerable, and that’s pretty much everybody.”

Estelle won ‘Best UK Female’ & ‘Best Song’ (American Boy) categories at the 2008 MOBO Awards ceremony.