Photo credit: Celso Zaqueu
Today artist, producer and beatmaker Estère opens up her musical adventures to the world with her self-produced double album My Design, On Others’ Lives, following a mammoth year which included opening for legendary icon Grace Jones and sell-out shows in New Zealand and abroad, in a championed return to the scene following the 2014 release of her self-titled, debut album.
Listen to My Design, On Others’ Lives here!
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | iTunes
Wherever the stories go, the production follows. Never one to do things by the book, Estère takes on a unique plethora of sonic textures and samples, blending a wide range of stories and experiences of her own and those of others.
From the very first reverberant creak of the opening track ‘Vietnam’ until the folk-meets-electronic bounce of the ‘Guilty’, the album’s final track, Estère’s playful, explorative and widely sourced musical sensibility takes listeners on a unique journey through time, space and sound.
My Design, On Others’ Lives is out now on all digital streaming platforms, and available on CD, vinyl and cassette where all good music lives.
“I am really passionate about production and this album was partly an exercise in learning how to translate what I hear in my mind, to real compositions. It made me work and learn, hard. ‘Gun Kid’ is probably the best example of this, the entire song structure, the strange juxtaposition between violent electronic and soft acoustic, was in my head before I made the beat. I’m really fascinated by this cross-pollination of influence and ideas. I think when people listen to it, they will hear so many elements and, it’s a bit of a weird body of work in that way. I’ve always wanted my musical progress to be transparent to fans. I want people to tangibly hear how I’m learning and developing my own artistry, songwriting and production when they listen. I don’t want things to come off perfect and polished, because that is not who I am as a human or artist.”
– Estère
What the world is saying about My Design, On Others’ Lives so far…
“her affection for people and culture is affecting her art, which is why it is so difficult to define Estère or package her music into a box. Like Grace Jones, she is doing her own thing.” – Music Love (AU)
“This is not just an album, it’s a snapshot of life in motion perfectly preserved for generations to come.” – 13th Floor
“A little bit of Janet Jackson, hella soul doused in vintage electro-jazz, “My Design, On Others’ Lives” is a pop lovers dream.” – AFROPUNK
“a bold record, full of confidence and rigor.” – Bandcamp
In October last year, Estère released Part One, My Design as a digital-only release, which sparked an influx of love from all corners of the globe…
“An immersive experience, unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed.” – AFROPUNK
“Clearly existing beyond the usual parameters.” – Rolling Stone
“the Queen of electric blue witch-hop has returned with a vengeance.” – (5 stars) Ambient Light
“a joyful sound.” – (4 stars) The New Zealand Listener
“Get lost in the marvellous My Design.” – Elsewhere
(4 stars) – Sunday Star Times
“Her music has the rhythm of a poem, and the smarts of a great writer, and the beats of a boss.” – The Residents
“Grandmother [single] is a reflective and inspiring work of art from a talent still on the rise.” – The 405
Watch Estère’s live performance of ‘Nomads’ below.
THE VIDEOS:
Pro Bono Techno Zone
Rent
Grandmother
Control Freak
THE LIVE SESSIONS:
Nomads (Live)
‘Pro Bono Techno Zone’ (Live RNZ Session at Blue Barn)
‘Control Freak’ (live at Lot23)
‘Ambition’ (Aston Road Sessions)
Estère – My Design, On Others’ Lives
I. PART ONE – MY DESIGN
1. Vietnam
2. Control Freak
3. Grandmother
4. Pro Bono Techno Zone
5. Jellyfish Stings
6. Ambition
1. On Another’s Life / Under Water Whale Knowledge
2. Rent
3. Nomads
4. Gun Kid
5. L’ouiseau dans L’étoile
6. Guilty
Estère online
Official | Facebook | Instagra
