Estère has dedicated many sleepless nights to honing her craft as a beat-maker, artist, multi-instrumentalist and music producer. As a result she has become an artist and performer of rare caliber, who creates sonic amalgamations of culture, language and legend. Her voice soars and then swoons, beckoning sultrily and breathing life into her songs. Estère coined her genre ‘electric blue witch-hop', to denote the unique mix of electronic, folk and R&B.
Estère began her journey as a bedroom producer with an MPC called Lola. Her first album, ‘Estère’, released in 2015 via Paris-based record label Prospect, earned her accolades from prominent media outlets such as Disco Naïveté, Elle Magazine (FR) and Portals. In 2018, Estère’s second album ‘My Design, On Others’ Lives’ was championed by Radio NZ as “an exceptional record.” Afropunk called it “an immersive experience unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed.”
Her third album Archetypes (released in 2021) was co-produced by Massive Attack member Stew Jackson and released on Blue Riot Records, a label Estère founded. New Zealand’s national daily print/online news outlet, Stuff, called Archetypes, “an ambitious and inspirational concept album” and Atwood Magazine described it as “Mesmerising, diverse and animated.” In December 2022, Estère released Mākara Peak (Blue Riot), a beat-forward, ASMR infused four-song lockdown opus the 13th Floor called “ a richly textured soundscape” that has grabbed the attention of producers across the US.
Estère has garnered a reputation as a one-of-a-kind live performer, with an ability to re-imagine her live show in new and exciting contexts. She has toured her unique solo show throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, as well as opened for the likes of Grace Jones, Erykah Badu and Hiatus Kaiyote. Estère’s onstage energy has earned her invitations to international festivals including Glastonbury (UK), Afropunk Paris (FR), Bushfire Festival (Swaziland) WOMAD (NZ), Aarhus Festuge (Denmark) and Sori Arts Festival (South Korea). She has also headlined sold-out shows in the UK, France and New Zealand and has been twice nominated for NZ Music Awards, including Best Producer (2018) and Critics Choice Award (2015).
In her push to explore new terrain in songwriting and performance, Estère created a concept show, ‘Into the Belly of Capricorn’, for international arts festivals. This show was performed at Auckland Arts Festival, NZ International Arts Festival and Wanaka Arts Festival (Festival of Colour) in 2021.
In June 2022, Estère was announced as the first-ever headline artist in the internationally renowned World of WearableArt Awards Show (WOW) in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/ Wellington, performing her music live as reimagined through the composed WOW soundtrack, while dancing for the choreographed 18-show spectacle. In early 2023 Estère created the Mākara Peak tour with choreographer/dancer Kayla Paige and Ethan Hika. Muzik.Net called it “a show of incomparable quality”.
BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES
NZ — Anthony Metcalf anthony@onehundredpercent.nz
AUS/AFRICA — Jess White jess@akumagency.com
MANAGEMENT
US/WW — Xan Hamilton xan@susiesays.co.nz
LABEL
US/WW — Blue Riot Records blueriotrecords@gmail.com