Estelle - Biography
By Joanna Ricco
Making her mark not only as a singer, but also as a writer, arranger, producer, and rapper, Estelle (born Estelle Fanta Swaray) was destined for fame from the get-go, driven by her signature determination and impeccable timing. Born in 1980, she was raised in a religious Senegalese/Granadan home in West London and is the second oldest of eight children. Estelle’s influences are an inspiring amalgamation of African, West Indian, and British traditions that imbue her specific style of R&B with a soulfulness and world-centric viewpoint that not many artists could pull off. Estelle’s sound has been described as a combination of reggae, soul, Hip-Hop, and pop, and her lyrics are known for their ability to take everyday occurrences and turn them into anthemic pop songs that tug at the heartstrings as well as cause a disruption on the dance floor.
Estelle’s 2004 debut album, The 18th Day (V2 Records), presents a brash young woman with an acerbic tongue and a ton of talent. The 18th Day is mostly the sole work of Estelle, without collaboration with external talent. Estelle enjoyed her first foray into the charts with the two singles “1980” and “Free.” “1980” is a bare knuckle rap about growing up in London, and Mark Ronson has noted that it was this track that first attracted him to working with her before they met. Despite The 18th Day generally being noted as Estelle’s all-solo venture, “Free” was co-written and co-produced with Jimmy Hogarth. The success of these two tracks and the overwhelmingly positive reception of The 18th Day led to a Mobo Award for Best Newcomer that same year. The album peaked at number 35 on the UK Albums Chart.
A chance meeting with Kanye West outside of Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles during a trip to Los Angeles, California proved key for Estelle. Finding the courage to approach the superstar, Estelle started a conversation with West that led to her meeting with John Legend, the esteemed singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. She and Legend soon created a partnership that led to Estelle joining Legend on the European leg of his Get Lifted Tour. The tour went well and Legend, having long toyed with the idea of creating his own soul label, decided that Estelle was the perfect catalyst to make that dream a reality. Legend created Homeschool Records, a partner with Atlantic Records, and Estelle was the first artist to sign on. Her 2008 sophomore album, Shine (Homeschool/Atlantic), was able to pull in heavy talent from the worlds of Hip-Hop, rap, R&B, rock, and pop, and fully catapulted Estelle’s career. Featured collaborators on the album include Cee-lo & Jack Splash, Mark Ronson, Swizz Beats, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, and Will.i.am.
On Shine, Estelle begins to show some vulnerability and even a certain feminine softness in her approach and delivery that make her songs both more emotionally pleasing and more captivating. She has noted that Legend encouraged her to use and explore her voice as a singer and not only as a rapper. Once she realized that she could do it, she felt liberated. “American Boy,” recorded with Kanye West, allowed Estelle to finally jump the pond and make her mark on American music. The single had peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and went on to reach the top 10 on the Billboard charts in the United States. In 2009, a Grammy Award was given for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and the song was even nominated for Song of the Year, though it did not take home that title. In their annual retrospective, Rolling Stone magazine listed “American Boy” at number seven in their countdown to the 100 Best Songs of 2008. While “American Boy” enjoyed considerable success, the other singles off of Shine did not fare as well. “No Substitute Love” peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart and “Pretty Please (Love Me)” topped off on the same chart at number 103. “American Boy” was, however, able to carry the album and it was certified gold in the UK.
Shine showcases Estelle’s considerable breadth of musical knowledge and many of the tracks offer glimpses into her frame of musical reference, which include everything from African music to 80’s pop. One such song that captures the essence of reconfiguring genres to create dynamic pop music is “Magnificent.” Produced by Mark Ronson, this track has a dancehall boom that implies a cavalier, retro vibe that makes for the ultimate party jam. Switching gears entirely, Estelle’s collaboration with Will.i.am hearkens to a time and place even earlier and more remote than late-Seventies dancehall. “Wait a Minute (Just a Touch),” features Estelle and Will.i.am playing with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You.”
With only two albums to her credit, Estelle is without a doubt on the fast track to commercial success.
