Indie pop singer-songwriter E^ST will have you in your feels and up on your feet with every song, and we can’t get enough. The Australia-based twentysomething already has an ARIA-certified gold single and opening slots for Panic! at the Disco and Twenty One Pilots under her belt. And with a new album due out at the end of the month, E^ST shows no signs of slowing down.
Her dreamy, expansive sound is one of coming-of-age movies and much-too-late summer nights with friends. Irresistible pop hooks paired with masterful, introspective lyrics make her perfect for fans of Bleachers, Mallrat, and Amy Shark.
We had the pleasure of talking with E^ST about her creative process, the inspiration for latest single “I WANNA BE HERE,” and staying connected during quarantine.
Get to Know E^ST
BTS: How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t listened to you yet?
E^ST: I would describe it as being really colourful, every song is in its own little world. Lyrically it’s quite honest and reflective. And every song will make you feel something different.
BTS: What made you interested in pursuing music professionally?
E: I grew up around music… it’s in my blood, so I think I was always destined to be really involved in music.
BTS: Who do you cite as your biggest musical influences and what about their work resonates with you?
E: I’m inspired by lots of different artists and sounds! Recently been really inspired by The 1975, they’re just such an adventurous band, not afraid to explore different moments in their music and I think that really resonated with me.
BTS: Your new album “I’M DOING IT” comes out at the end of the month. What excites you most about the release?
E: I’m mainly just excited for people to have these songs for their own. There’s a song for every occasion on this album, and I hope this album can be there for people.
BTS: What was the songwriting process like for you for the new album? What do you hope listeners take away from the album as a whole?
E: This album is super honest and vulnerable, even in the more fun upbeat moments. I hope people come away from this album feeling like it’s ok to be honest with yourself, and that life has so many different moments and no moment, good or bad, lasts forever.
BTS: If you had to pick one word to describe your new album, what would it be?
E: Dynamic.
BTS: Your latest single “I WANNA BE HERE” deals with some serious mental health themes, while maintaining an upbeat and hopeful outlook. Can you talk a little about the inspiration for the song?
E: I wrote the song write in the middle of all the struggles the song talks about. I think I just needed a song like that to exist for my own personal journey, so I wanted to write it into existence.
BTS: How have you stayed connected with fans in the midst of coronavirus restrictions? What’s it been like to navigate a new way of reaching out when we can’t gather for live music in-person?
E: I guess the world moved online even more than before. So I was able to check in on fans, and vice versa, just on social media platforms, and it’s been really wholesome.
BTS: You’ve already worked with so many incredible artists, but if you could collaborate with any artist in the industry right now, who would it be and why?
E: I would love to collaborate with Joji, I love everything he does and he also seems like a really cool person.
BTS: What can we expect to see from E^ST in the next year?
E: Honestly the music world is so unpredictable right now. I hope things get back to normal soon so that we can have more opportunities to connect as humans.
E^ST’s new album “I’M DOING IT” is out on July 31. Pre-order here.
Follow E^ST on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on all of her forthcoming releases.
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