In the dynamic world of modern pop, there are artists who not only capture the essence of the genre but redefine it altogether. One such force to be reckoned with is Estella Dawn, a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose unwavering confidence and boldly passionate delivery have carved out a fiercely distinct identity in the music scene.
In an exclusive interview with Estella Dawn, we delved into the inspiration behind her distinctive style and how she honed her creative identity. According to the artist, her unique style is a result of countless hours spent making music, settling into a sound that feels right for her voice and way of writing. As she has matured and gained more life experience, confidence has become an integral part of her music, evident in her striking vocals and powerful delivery.
Born and raised in New Zealand and now residing in the US, Estella shared insights into how her international background has influenced her music. While she acknowledged the talent in New Zealand, she highlighted the challenges of navigating a small island’s music scene. Moving to the US opened up new possibilities due to its sheer size and proximity to a larger audience.
Known for transcending genres with spirited conviction, Estella Dawn shared her fearless approach to trying new things. From blending different elements together to incorporating spoken word poetry and rap into her music, she expressed a willingness to experiment and evolve.
Estella Dawn’s interview unveils not just the artist but the person behind the music—a passionate and fearless creative force shaping the future of contemporary pop. As she continues to evolve, her journey promises an exciting exploration of new sounds, genres, and experiences.
Everything that unfolded is detailed below.
You’re known for your unwavering confidence and boldly passionate delivery of your music. Can you share the inspiration behind your distinctive style and how you’ve honed your creative identity?
Honestly, it’s just a result of the hours I’ve put into making music. Over the years, I’ve settled into a style that feels right for my voice and particular way of writing, and in turn, I’m more confident in the songs I’m putting out. On a personal level, I’ve also just gotten older and acquired more life experience, which means I am more confident in myself in general, and that bleeds through!
You were born and raised in New Zealand but now reside in the US. How has your international background influenced your music, and what differences have you observed in the music scenes in these two countries?
Candidly, I don’t feel like I can speak much for the New Zealand music scene; I moved to the US when I was 18, so I’ve spent my entire adult life here. I did grow up in a very artistic and musical household, though, so I think that environment encouraged me to dip my toes in.
As for differences I see between the two places, there is an insane amount of talent in New Zealand, just as there is in the USA, but I think the biggest difficulty is navigating living on a small island in the middle of the ocean, there are only so many venues you can play at and touring outside of the country is extremely expensive. I think it’s easier in the US purely because of the sheer size and its proximity to a larger audience.
As a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, you have a diverse set of skills. How do you approach the creative process of writing, recording, and producing your music, and what drives you to be involved in every aspect of your releases?
It varies a little from song to song; sometimes, I’ll write a song on piano or guitar and then flesh out the rest of the production, but more commonly, I open a Logic project and build the song all at the same time, instruments, lyrics and ‘vibe’.
The drive initially was wanting to have more artistic control and to keep costs down, but now I’m very proud to be a female producer/songwriter! The music industry is very male-dominated, and I think it is unfortunate that in the top 40 there are so few female producers, I’d love to see that change! I also really enjoy being involved in all aspects of my career.
Your music is often described as having elements of piercing delicacy and outright ferocity. How do you manage to strike a balance between these two contrasting elements in your sound, and what does this balance mean to you?
To me, it’s simply about portraying the human experience, we are all intricate, complex creatures. The expression of art in any form should, in my opinion, highlight all of the different aspects of what it means to feel.
Sometimes, I am gentle, soft, and sweet, and other times, I am venomous, coy, and fiery. I like to include all variations if I can.
You’ve been praised for your ability to transcend genres with spirited conviction. Can you share some examples of how you’ve pushed the boundaries of genres in your music and why this experimentation is important to you?
I’ve never been afraid to try new things, I might look back and go, “Mmm yeah that missed the mark a little,” but that doesn’t bother me. Life is short, you make mistakes, learn, grow, and change. I like to blend different elements together, I wish I could say that it was with intention, but honestly, it seems to happen unprompted; I just go off how things sound and how those sounds make me feel. More recently, I’ve been incorporating more spoken word poetry/rap in my music and it’s been fun!
Reviewers have complimented your songwriting, with descriptions like “touching lyricist” and your ability to capture complicated feelings in your music. Can you elaborate on your approach to writing lyrics and the themes or emotions you aim to convey in your songs?
When I listen to music, I mostly listen to the lyrics, so this is by far the nicest compliment I have received; it’s my favorite part of the process!
I have an incredibly overactive imagination so I create a little story/movies in my head – often it’s based on true events but sometimes completely fabricated ones – and then I pull details from that to build the song.
Your TikTok following has grown to over 80k, and you’ve accumulated more than 3 million streams. How has social media and streaming platforms influenced your career as an artist, and what role do you see these platforms playing in the future of music?
As taxing as the social media content creation grind can be, it is also hugely helpful for independent artists. It’s free advertising, a way to get your music in front of as many people as you can, and it allows you to connect with amazing people all over the world!
I attribute a lot of my streaming success to consistently engaging on social media and participating in trends like open verses.
Your music is celebrated for its introspective and confessional style lyrics. Can you share some insights into the themes and personal experiences that inspire your songwriting?
It’s funny, I feel incredibly comfortable being vulnerable via song, but outside of that, not so much. Songwriting is a much-needed escape for me, and it’s also an extremely cheap form of therapy; I tend to just let whatever needs to come out, come out.
As a rising talent in the Contemporary Pop genre, what are your goals and aspirations for the future of your music career, and how do you plan to continue evolving and growing as an artist?
Outside of financial security, my goal is to keep building my skill set, my platforms, my audience, and my sound! I would also love to tour next summer. I plan to keep evolving by simply living my life and allowing myself the grace to try new things without being attached to the outcome.
Lastly, what can your listeners and fans expect from your upcoming projects, and are there any collaborations or new releases on the horizon that you’d like to tease or share with your audience?
Just a whole lot more music! I plan to continue on my 4-6 week release cycle and want to experiment with different genre blends and styles. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this interview!
I also swear by using the thesaurus and the website RhymeZone! Sometimes, I’ll flip through a dictionary as well, close my eyes, and pick a random word to try to include. That always pushes me to capture concepts in more interesting ways.
That’s it for now. See u!
The Hollywood Six 