Estella Dawn – Guilt is good enough

I wrote this song after getting out of an emotionally draining and turbulent relationship.  I immediately met someone new that was so perfect and sweet (and also just generally not crazy…) but even though they felt so right I still couldn’t shake this gigantic sense of guilt I felt about moving on so quickly.  If there’s any advice I can give it’s don’t be afraid to remove yourself from somebody that’s toxic for you, and don’t feel guilty about it if you do! When you’re with the right person/people you’ll know.

Estella Dawn

 

Estella is a New Zealand born, Colorado based singer-songwriter. At 23 her work speaks with a maturity and confidence that surpasses her age. Her songs are a mixture of pop, folk and soul, delivered with an open hearted honesty and a story like arrangement. While her songs bring you close, her voice never lets you go, Estella sings with the melodic command, subtlety and range that spans genres from Billie Holiday to Billie Eilish.

At the age of 15 Estella was chosen to participate in the New Zealand national competition “Play it Strange” where she secured a slot on their annual compilation album. This introduced her to the world of recording and production. At 16 she was a semi-finalist on New Zealand’s Got Talent, where Judge Rachel Hunter called her “The full package.” Estella has already performed before crowds of 17,000 people and shared the stage with some of New Zealand’s finest musicians.

Estella moved to the USA when she was 19 and landed in Denver, Colorado, where she has stayed because of the rich and flourishing music scene. In 2018 she released an EP titled ‘Dancing Girl’s” which has five tracks varying from upbeat pop-rock to grungy indie. She also shot a music video for the titled track “Dancing Girls” which was filmed in and around Denver. It has had showings at various film festivals and can be viewed on her YouTube channel.

During 2019 Estella released nine singles,

Now about half way into 2020 and on track to delivering 12 plus songs, a full length LP really, by the end of the year. So far so good. From the Neo-Soul vibes of “Cadmium Yellow” (released in January), the “burn the town down” dynamics of “Hallow” to the attitude heavy anthemic rock of “I Dare Your”, due out on June 4th, Estella has been flat out. These are well crafted songs with multiple layers, both vocally and musically.

The responses from music journalists, playlist curators, and the occasional celeb, have been clear:

 

Pop hooks meeting heartfelt lyrics at every turn” Michael Hollywood (NZM)

“Wow the vocals are beautiful, very authentic and raw” (Cadmium Yellow)

      Sha (Night Time Bops)

“She is the full package”- Rachel Hunter (Judge-New Zealand’s Got Talent)

“Estella sounds magical on this one!! Great up and comer” (Hallow)

Arvanitis, (Discovery Rock)

The story starts with Estella singing original songs from the booster seat in the back of her parents car growing up in New Zealand (true, ask her mother). From a young age she glides into songwriting, piano, guitar, music production and recording (piano under the watchful eye of a fierce octogenarian!!) So really Estella has been a musician all her life, like her father and grandfather before her (Andy McGee lead singer of Desert Road and Max Winnie, Wellington musical icon, respectively) Whether it has been for personal entertainment or crisis management she has music in her; her head, her hands, her heart. Now there is a richness and depth in her voice that has comes with years of hard work and constant singing.

Estella fuses her powerhouse vocals, story like arrangements and diversity of style into music that is unique, honest and intimate.

 

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