BIO
Gospel, Soul and Reggae. Dance, Hip-hop and R&B. Those are the building blocks of Estelle’s unique sound, all blended into one– slowcooked over the fire of a masterful two-decades-long career as an international pop star.
Her music mirrors the sound of her West African and Caribbean upbringing. Born in West London to her Senegalese mother and her Grenadian father– they prophetically named her “Estelle” in honor of her grandmother. The Latin root of her name translates to star– a direct foreshadowing of how her art would shine in the world.
As one of nine children– Estelle spent her childhood discovering music through the ears of her family members. Gospel through her mother’s love, reggae through her father’s records, soul through her aunt’s collection, and hip-hop through her uncle’s sensibility.
Since committing to pursue a career as a recording artist in her early twenties– Estelle’s success includes 6 studio albums, 3 Billboard Hot 100 hits and three MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin). Her resume also boasts a GRAMMY® win, one World Music Award, and a selection for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize among various other accolades and nominations.
After the success of her 2004 debut studio album The 18th Day…, Estelle was determined to make her mark on the industry on a global scale. Through a serendipitous trip to Los Angeles, she wound up meeting her future collaborator Kanye West, and R&B singer/songwriter John Legend at the Hollywood Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant.
Legend eventually signed her as his first artist to his HomeSchool Label through Atlantic Records where she released her critically acclaimed second album, 2008’s Shine. The album’s second single “American Boy” became a top 10 pop hit, won the 2009 GRAMMY® for best rap/sung collaboration, and launched Estelle as an international pop star.
Building on that momentum, her next three albums were critically acclaimed.
“Thank You,” the second single from her 2012 album All of Me, received a GRAMMY® nomination. “Conqueror” off her 2015 album, True Romance, became a top 50 pop hit, landed her a guest appearance on Fox’s original hit tv series, Empire, and drove the show’s Original Soundtrack to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. In 2018, after nearly a decade-long plea from fans to drop a reggae project– Estelle released her fifth studio album, Lovers Rock. The intimate project is an ode to the African and Caribbean sounds of her childhood and a pilgrimage back to herself, back to her lineage, and back to love.
Now, after a six-year musical hiatus, Estelle is back with her sixth studio album 2024’s Stay Alta. The project shines with gratitude after being birthed in one of the darkest times in global history– the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“My new album, Stay Alta, comes to you from ‘My Version of Home” says Estelle. “I hope you feel at home—a place that seeks the light in you as much as I see its possibility in myself.”
She channels the soul and disco of musical icons like Diana Ross, Donna Summer, and Melba Moore to deliver a project that drips with the same kind of joy that fueled their legendary careers.
“It honors the artists on whose shoulders I stand and reflects the experiences and places that have brought me here,” she continues. “I aim to move music forward into an intentionally joyful space. I hope you love it here and find your own understanding and connection. Stay Alta is my sixth album, created especially for you, just as much as I need it for myself.”
Estelle’s generational ear has certified her as a respected curator and tastemaker which has manifested in concerts, event activations, and curated playlists.
The former reached a new height with her first ever “Dancehall & Afrobeat Link Up presented by Estelle” at the 2019 Essence Festival.
The latter manifested a proud moment with Estelle joining the Apple Music Radio family and bringing the world The Estelle Show.
The Estelle Show is a daily opportunity to invite listeners into Estelle’s home and heart to celebrate the diverse sounds and cultures that music provides. Within a year of the show’s debut, Estelle won the esteemed Gracie Award for “Women In Media”.
With a career that spans twenty years in music and entertainment, the genius of Estelle is defined by her infinite curiosity and eternal desire to creatively challenge the boundaries of what Black music is and to reimagine what it can sound like.
