"lemon drop ghost you tiptoe through my head"
"Petty" by Estella Dawn, New Zealand born, US based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is not your average pop song. Starting with ghostly musical apparitions and a dark waltz of piano chords it, at this point, feels more like a baroque gothic pop song from a 70's melodramatic horror movie, "lemon drop ghost you tiptoe through my head". She twists up the chorus with an entirely different cadence from march to a free, and beautiful sway, from somber and dark to happy, "it's taken every part of me, not to be petty".
So far I have not mentioned Dawn's voice. She has killer pipes but more importantly she feels like she is pushing it at all times. There is grit in her lilt and she wraps every word with emotion, maybe something only a singer-songwriter can do fully. From the time signature shifts to the emotions ones, "Petty" is a pop song that does not hold in it's embrace all the current pop tropes that are too many to mention. A pop song that is surprisingly surprising.
-Robb Donker Curtius
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Estella Dawn has something to say, and she does it through music. Her songs are often personal and social explorations of life. 2020 has seen her develop and define her personal style, she has focused hard on refining her skills; songwriting, singing, recording and producing, as well as the overall business of music.
It's been a prolific year for Estella, she's released a new single every 6 weeks, with a steadily growing following that are resonating with her intimate, been there, done that, outlook on life. With this growth, there have been many highs, her song "I Dare You" charted on the media base Radio Top 40 chart, she's been interviewed by and had songs added to many radio stations, her songs have also been included on some big Spotify playlists and she's had many wonderful reviews by global music bloggers.
Estella is excited to start the new year with her next single 'Petty' out on January 14th and singles will keep flowing until she heads into the studio mid 2021 to record and produce a full length album with a band. Keep an eye on Estella Dawn she clearly has a deep creative well to draw from.
Estella, a New Zealand born, US based songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist. She has a keen creative vitality, resulting in a constant output since relocating to the US in 2016. Estella released her first EP “Dancing Girls” at the beginning of 2018 to excellent reviews: A constant writer and producer Estella then went on to release another 8 singles by the end of 2019, with another 10 following in 2020. As a working musician, she writes and records her vocals and piano as well as co-producing all aspects of her music. Estella sings with the melodic command, subtlety and range that spans genres from Billie Holiday to Billie Eilish. These well crafted songs contain multiple layers, both vocally and musically. Subtle and soothing when needed and sharp and gritty when desired.
The story begins back in the late 90’s with Estella singing 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 glided into songwriting, piano, guitar, music production and recording. Recognized by the Auckland University songwriting competitions at the age of 15 (and for the next 2 years), as well as national songwriting contest “Play it Strange”. Estella then went onto to become a semi-finalist at the age of 15 on New Zealand’s Got Talent where she performed her original songs and caught the eye of Judge Rachel Hunter (Yes that one) who said:
“She is the full package” (Rachel Hunter NZGT 2013)
Her recognition as a young and talented singer/songwriter led to opening spots for established artists such as Adam McGrath, Andrew White, Titanium and performances before crowds of 10k+ at the Bowl of Brooklands. So really, Estella has been a musician all of her life, whether for personal satisfaction, building her craft or crisis management she has music in her; her head, her hands, her heart. Estella fuses her powerhouse vocals, story like arrangements and diversity of style into music that is unique, honest, powerful and intimate.
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