E^ST - New Music

DEBUT ALBUM ‘I’M DOING IT’ IS OUT NOW!

Australia’s rising alt-pop talent E^ST has inspired comparisons with the likes of Robyn, Tove Lo and MØ, while her lyrics investigate the ups, downs and uncertainties that come with being a young adult and finding your place in the world. Her life-affirming blend of feelgood sounds with self-analytical themes is enticingly refreshing, as evidenced throughout her debut album ‘I’M DOING IT’, which is out now.

E^ST wrote all of the album with producer and long-term collaborator Jim Elliot (Halsey, Ellie Goulding, Kylie Minogue).

As show by the singles that have preceded it, ‘I’M DOING IT’ sets her distinctive, sonorous vocal to songs which slyly toy with the traits of modern pop. ‘I WANNA BE HERE’ powers skywards with a dramatic mood-altering drop, while ‘FLIGHT PATH’ effortlessly rises from sweet vocal harmonies into playful synths and beats. Elsewhere, ‘TALK DEEP’ brings some ‘80s-flavour to her progressive style, and ‘FRESH OUT OF LOVE’ is a moody twist on the torch song.

The new material also lives up to expectations. The delightfully downbeat ‘FIT FOR COMPANY’ perfectly sets the tone, ‘TURN’ represents a change of outlook before the quirky ‘WALKING HOME IN THE RAIN’ melds another sky-scraping hook with a new-found optimism. That uplifting self-discovery brings the album to a positive conclusion with the title track, as E^ST declares, “I’d always think about us, I never thought about me / But now I’m all about me, even if you doubt me / I’m doing fine without you in my life.”

“It’s about where I’m at right now, and that’s ever-changing,” explains E^ST. “If anything, it’s about who I’m becoming. The first half of the album is all about being a heartbroken mess as your life falls apart, and it’s wallowing in that with no effort to make sense of it. I mean you need to have a wallow — it’s crucial. They’re still dealing with sadness and heartbreak but there’s a conscious effort to do better and be better. The album takes on an optimistic tone as I grow as a person. By the end, the album’s like: it’s okay, I’m getting by, I’m coping.”

E^ST (real name Mel Bester) relocated from South Africa to Australia as a child. Her talents were first recognised by Sweden’s production/writing powerhouse The Kennel (BTS, Galantis) after she’d sent them an acoustic demo, which resulted in her honing her craft during extended visits to Stockholm. Her debut EP ‘Old Age’ led to her signing to Warner Music Australia when she was just 16-years-old.

E^ST’s support and following grew over the course of three subsequent EPs, adding support from The FADER, NME, Popjustice and more. ‘TALK DEEP’ proved to be an airplay favourite, as it became the number one most played song on triple j and was featured in the station’s coveted Hottest 100 countdown of the best songs of the year. She’s also forged connections with other high profile artists, touring with Twenty One Pilots and Panic! At The Disco, and co-writing with Noah Cyrus.