by pankhuri bhutani
photo courtesy of e^st
Hailing from Australia, this 20 year old singer-songwriter is about to release her debut album I’m Doing It on July 31st . Mel Bester, who professionally goes by the name E^ST, is one of the up and coming artists in the industry.
Having created some phenomenal track like “Friends,” “Talk Deep,” “Life Goes On",” and “Fresh Out Of Love,” E^ST has already garnered around 500,000 active monthly listeners on her Spotify channel.
We talked to E^ST regarding the process during the making of her debut album, her musical inspirations and her plans on future projects.
Hi Mel! Thank you for joining us on Unclear! For those who are yet to be introduced to your music, kindly tell us something about yourself!
E^ST: “Hiya! Well, I write sad but happy sounding pop songs for a job, and in my spare time I read heaps of fantasy novels and take film photos of my friends.”
When was the moment you realized you wanted to set out in the music industry?
E: “I was always surrounded by music, so I think it’s something I just always knew I was destined to be a part of.”
You are about to release your debut album I’m Doing It. Congratulations on that! What kind of reaction are you looking forward to from your fans?
E: “I hope this album can be there for people! There are songs for many moments in life, and I hope people will always have a song to turn to.”
What was the creative process like with the album, and did you face any challenges during the making of all the tracks?
E: “It was a pretty intense process! Wrote for one week in Sydney, and then spent five weeks in a little Welsh town finishing it. I was really focused and consumed by the making of this album, in a really rewarding way.”
You have garnered around 470,000 active monthly listeners on your Spotify Channel. How does it feel to know that your music has such a global influence?
E: “I forget about how many people actually hear my music! Once I release a song I kinda forget that it exists. But it’s nice to be reminded that it’s out there in other people’s worlds.”
You have created some phenomenal tracks and have attracted an immense amount of listeners at just the age of 22. What kind of projects/collaborations are you hoping for in your music journey?
E: “Thank you! Honestly I’m a pretty ‘go with the flow’ type of person… I don’t like to plan things out in my mind too much because I feel like it can close me off from other opportunities. So at this point, it’s a blank canvas.”
How did the name E^ST come into existence? What was the idea behind it?
E: “I wanted a name that reminded me of my family! So E^ST (or east) comes from my mum’s maiden name.”
What are you currently listening to? Who are your musical inspirations?
E: “I’ve actually been listening to a lot of sad country pop music, which I never thought I’d get into. Heaps of Glen Campbell and Hank Williams.”
Lastly, I would like to ask you if there’s any message that you wish to convey to your fans from all around the world?
E: “Try your best to be honest, especially with yourself! Life’s a lot simpler that way.”