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COVER
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The artist is the mold from which the pop star is formed; they aren’t given a
purpose, they’re born with it. You can’t give an artist tools and experiences
to use in the creation; you can only watch as a masterpiece comes to life.
And no matter how many spotlights you turn on, only a true artist will shine.
As a singer, rapper, songwriter and producer, 28-year-old London bred
Estelle Swaray does just that.
Estelle first hit the music scene in the UK with her 2004 debut album “The
18th Day,” which included her highly successful autobiographical single
“1980.” Although the album was well-received by critics, the project saw
meager sales and inadequate promotion from execs at V2 Records due to
creative differences that left the label “a little unprepared for my first album.
“I think what happened with the first album was more to do with the way it
was presented to the label. They never had an urban artist do so much.
The way it was presented to us was like, it was meant to be some kind of
fake G-Unit situation. And then I make an album that has nothing to do with
killing anyone and they didn’t quite know what to do with it. It was still a rap
album so they still had to promote it in the same way they would a rap
album, but they didn’t quite know what to do with me talking about growing
up and having eight brothers and sisters and, ya know, the real stuff that
people go through.”
Four years and some growing pains later, Estelle has moved to what she
calls “a better…more equipped label.” In April 2008, she released her
second album, “Shine,” as the first artist on John Legend’s Homeschool
label (Atlantic). With this new deal in a new country came the challenge to
conquer the market in the land across the waters. But Estelle enjoys the
gracious reception of the album in both countries and she wasn’t nervous
purpose, they’re born with it. You can’t give an artist tools and experiences
to use in the creation; you can only watch as a masterpiece comes to life.
And no matter how many spotlights you turn on, only a true artist will shine.
As a singer, rapper, songwriter and producer, 28-year-old London bred
Estelle Swaray does just that.
Estelle first hit the music scene in the UK with her 2004 debut album “The
18th Day,” which included her highly successful autobiographical single
“1980.” Although the album was well-received by critics, the project saw
meager sales and inadequate promotion from execs at V2 Records due to
creative differences that left the label “a little unprepared for my first album.
“I think what happened with the first album was more to do with the way it
was presented to the label. They never had an urban artist do so much.
The way it was presented to us was like, it was meant to be some kind of
fake G-Unit situation. And then I make an album that has nothing to do with
killing anyone and they didn’t quite know what to do with it. It was still a rap
album so they still had to promote it in the same way they would a rap
album, but they didn’t quite know what to do with me talking about growing
up and having eight brothers and sisters and, ya know, the real stuff that
people go through.”
Four years and some growing pains later, Estelle has moved to what she
calls “a better…more equipped label.” In April 2008, she released her
second album, “Shine,” as the first artist on John Legend’s Homeschool
label (Atlantic). With this new deal in a new country came the challenge to
conquer the market in the land across the waters. But Estelle enjoys the
gracious reception of the album in both countries and she wasn’t nervous
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By Robin Phillips
Photos Courtesy of Atlantic Records
Photos Courtesy of Atlantic Records
Estelle- American Boy feat. Kanye West
TM
