Estelle: Stirring up the Atlantic

For over ten years, the formerly London-based (now NY) singer/rapper Estelle has been working towards encouraging fans and a fickle urban music industry to have faith in her vision. Some have labelled her a comeback, given that her last release The 18th Day was four years ago, but others see her re-appearance as a rebirth, bringing new life and kudos to the British scene. Estelle's recent chart-topping hit, American Boy, which features Kanye West, has broken into American and European charts and already become one of the signature tunes of 2008. Estelle's point of view is that the wait and struggle has been “worth it... When you get to the top of it – you get your number ones; you get your Grammies or your Brits or whatever - you can say you did it, and no-one can take that away."

Like many artists of the new hip-hop generation, Estelle has had her fair share of label woes. Five years ago the London bred MC/singer was the budding starlet of Virgin's V2 outfit. Things began to change after her singles were released and it was time to focus on the direction of her second album and career. "I didn't quite like the direction I was going, and they weren't sure what else to do with me," she reflects.

Estelle isn't bitter about being dropped, and she found a positive in what most would consider a negative. She has even gone so far as to thank Virgin for giving her a trial run in the sleeve notes for Shine. “They [V2] haven't let me down at all, they put me in the right position to be here right now. They put me in a great position for people to look at me... To be labelled as a comeback, you have to have been there the first time, and they put me there the first time. There are a lot of labels that don't have that sensibility to say 'you know, we don't know what we're doing, sorry'. I'm happy, I was one of the lucky ones," she explains. Lucky perhaps, but Estelle is proving herself to be an astute business woman, having spent her time off positioning herself for success. Moving to NYC and signing to Atlantic Records via John Legend's boutique label Homeschool is no easy accomplishment.

With the label troubles firmly behind her, Estelle and John Legend got on with the business of making a ground-breaking album. “He was fantastic to work with,” she beams. “He brought a different sensibility to the album. I come from a rap background, for me it was kinda like - 'what are you talking about, melodies'? My melodies are freestyle, my lyrics are freestyle. And he's saying work it out - 'put it in the key of F'. I'm saying, 'what is the key of F? I only know the key of C!' After a while he let me get on with it and we compromised a little bit and it worked out."
The cast of producers on Shine reads like a hip-hop fairytale, with the likes of John Legend, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, Wil.I.am, Swizz Beats and, let's not forget, Mark Ronson. With such a diverse range of producers you would think Shine would lack a sense of cohesion. Estelle views the situation as variety being the spice of life: “Oh no, I get bored really, really quickly. To do one style with one producer, and because it turns out great you do that style on the whole album? I would get bored after a while."

More surprising are the reggae undertones found in her lyrical delivery throughout the album. This is matched with pop-infused reggae instrumentals littered throughout the LP. Estelle feels it's her sound, and being born to Senegalese and West Indian parents, it may have been a natural progression. "It's from growing up. I love reggae, love it. It's one of those kinds of music that is never going to go anywhere, you're always going to hear it! Growing up, [reggae] was always around - it was never an option. I still listen to it now. My friends are like 'really? Is that all you have?', and I say 'Yeah, basically!'" she jokes.

Working with Wyclef and being a female MC who sings, forces most to make comparisons to Lauryn Hill, and Wyclef obviously feels these sentiments are justified, having told MTV Base: "Estelle reminds me of a young Lauryn Hill. She is the best talent I've come across in a minute, and I say that because of the way she does her melodies. I haven't seen that in the studio since Lauryn Hill." If that isn't enough pressure, early this year, Vibe and Billboard magazine both billed her as the artist to watch in 2008. Estelle refuses to be swayed by flattery. "My main thing is that as long as the fans are listening to the music and want to come out to the shows, then that's all I'm really bothered with. Everything else, you know, it can do what it wants to do!"

Estelle has put UK urban music in the spotlight again, and not since So Solid has there been such a buzz in the the industry. "Everyone has mentioned the word 'hope'! It can be done: when you know the stuff that you like to do and enjoy doing the music. It's cool, we're happy... and that keeps people's spirits up," she exclaims, typically positive. With a quality number one single and a top five album under her belt, let's hope the industry continues to let Estelle's light shine!