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Ready to give Jamaica a show - Estelle
Richard Johnson
Sunday, January 11, 2009
It's only a few minutes into her telephone interview yet British pop sensation comes across as an easy-going chick who is all about the music and loving every minute of it.
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| Estelle ... I am bringing in my full band and we are truly prepared to give Jamaica a show |
Her heavy British accent makes the conversation colourful as she speaks about John Legend, her musical mentor of sorts; Sean Paul, her love for reggae, Jamaica and her upcoming gig here in two weeks at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay.
Estelle - who is of Caribbean stock by virtue of her father being from the Spice Isle, Grenada - virtually grew up around music. "My dad owned a sound and there was always music in the house. As we grew older we would take in a few of his gigs, and therefore the music just seeped into my system," she explained. She further noted that reggae was also a big part of this initiation into music through her father's influence, especially during the 1980s in her West London stomping grounds. It is therefore not surprising that she is heavily influenced by reggae, as well as almost every other genre of music, as this comes across readily in her work.
One track on which her reggae influence is immediately heard is the current hit Come Over, featuring Sean Paul, whom she describes as a really nice guy and a serious artiste. She says this track was originally done with John Legend singing supporting vocals for her album. She adds that Sean Paul expressed an interest in doing a collaboration and it was almost a no-brainer, and the result, she says, speaks for itself.
She also speaks glowingly about American balladeer, John Legend, who is credited with bringing her to notoriety. For her, Legend, whom she has known for the past 10 years, is an amazing vocalist and an even more talented songwriter, and she definitely seeks to emulate the standards he has set.
As Estelle explains, she just loves everything about the Jamaican vibe, and was able to truly enjoy some aspects of the island during her most recent visit one month ago. "I was able to slip in and really be under the radar. I really had a very good holiday in Jamaica with none of the excitement, a few people recognised me but that was cool ...I was able to vibe and chill." She's, however, quite aware that it will be somewhat different when she returns in another two weeks for the festival.
So what can Estelle's fans in Jamaica expect? The Sunday Observer asked. "I am bringing in my full band and we are truly prepared to give Jamaica a show. If you know the music be prepared to sing along as I really like to get my audience involved, and if you are not familiar come prepared to learn," she quipped.
When we spoke to Estelle she was preparing for a gig in Las Vegas followed by another in California. Following her Jamaican debut performance she returns to the US to tour with John Legend, then there is the Grammy Awards on February 8, where she is up with three nominations for American Boy, her collaboration with Kanye West and then hits the studios in March to record her next album. Estelle is promising a mixed bag for this next project drawing on a myriad of influences from the soul of Marvin Gay to the heavy rock of a Coldplay.
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