It’s one of the biggest releases of the year, and Esthero’s fingerprints are all over it. To be released Monday, Kanye West’s “808s & Heartbreak” features three tracks co-written by Esthero, including the single “Love Lockdown.” She also provides backing vocals on “Street Lights.”
November 11th will see the release of a new album from Brandy, entitled “Human” - her first new studio album in four years.
As you’ll recall, Esthero and Brandy teamed up on “Believer,” (the demo of which was released through the Esthero MySpace page in December). The two have also teamed up on Brandy’s new album, with Esthero taking a writing credit for the title track.
The album’s first single “Right Here (Departed)” was recently released to radio.
Torontonians, and those in town for the film fest, are in for a treat. Esthero headlines the festival wrap party at Yonge-Dundas Square, September 13th. The Midway State and Cadence Weapon are also slated to appear.
09/13 Toronto @ Yonge-Dundas Square
There’s no need for tickets, as this one’s free to the public (so get there early - the show starts at 8 pm) …not to mention outdoors (so maybe bring an umbrella too, just in case).
[Hat tip to Jerry on the Swallow Me list for pointing this out.]
1. In the middle of We R In Need of A Musical Revolution (after the “Ashanti in the video” lyric): “Fuck, I’m so dated. I so fucking dated myself… and now I just sound bitter. Fuck it, I am bitter!”
2. Responding to a request from a fan: “We played Heaven Sent already! Where the fuck were you? You’re drunk! [laughs] You should totally hang out with me after…”
3. Breaking out into a rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” despite forgetting the words.
Videos from the show are on YouTube; Photos are up on Flickr.
Tickets are $19 advance, $22 the day of the show. Get them online via Ticket Alternative. Doors are at 8 pm.
Esthero will be performing alongside Black Cowboy and Yirayah as part of Musical Mutiny 2008, “an Atlanta festival aimed at allying fans and musicians under a single, unified ideology; namely the belief that there exist talented artists who care more about the integrity of their music than about adhering to the outdated policies and procedures of large record labels.”
This might be an excellent chance to see Esthero perform new material - she’s recently been recording in Vancouver with producer Chin Injeti (Canadians might remember him best as part of Bass is Base, the band responsible for “Funkmobile”).
Congratulations are due to Will.I.Am, Jesse Dylan, Mike Jurkovac and the rest of the crew involved with the Obama-inspired “Yes, We Can,” featuring Esthero, as the video picked up an Emmy® Award for “New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment.”
Esthero taking to the streets, interviewing strangers with… a hairbrush? This forms the basis of an alternate video for “Revolution” filmed in 2006. See it at Director Danny Roew’s website.
As far as we know, it was unreleased. Are we wrong? Have you seen it before? Let us know in the comments.
Kanye West recently wrapped up his “Glow in the Dark” Tour, which featured Esthero as the spaceship J.A.N.E. How did it all come about?
“He said he wasn’t really going to directly speak to the audience, so much as he was going to speak to this spaceship, and that it would be his only companion on this planet that he had landed on. When I asked him, ‘Who’s the voice of this spaceship?’ he sort of went blank. He was like, ‘I don’t know.’ It was one detail he’d forgotten.” [laughs]”
"Grab some bread and get ready to eat a ----ing sandwich, bitches."
PerezHilton.com features Esthero's new track "Never Gonna Let You Go" as their latest anthem. Visit Perez Hilton to listen to the track in its entirety!
12 March 2008
Official Facebook Page
MySpace not your thing? We've launched the official Facebook page - Spread your love and automatically get updates in your News Feed!
3 February 2007
Yes, We Can.
Will.I.Am has come together with an incredible assembly of talent (including John Legend, Common, Scarlett Johansson, and of course Esthero) to produce an incredibly moving song entitled "Yes, We Can," based on a speech given by Sen. Barack Obama in Nashua, New Hampshire on January 8th. See the video at www.yeswecansong.com (or on YouTube).
i was captivated...
Inspired...
I reflected on my life...
and the blessings I have...
and the people who fought for me to have these rights and blessings...
Karen Bliss has an interview with Esthero in which she talks about the recording of the song and video and her views on the American political scene.
7 December 2007
New Demos
It's one of the reasons we love her so much - her openness and willingness to share. New demos are available on MySpace.
The songs include "The Many Times," sung with Miguel Pimental, "Believer," written by Toya Alexis and featuring backup vocals by Brandy, "Love for Just One Night," a Madonna-inspired track, and "If I Didn't Have Faith," a beautiful piano-based ballad.
29 October 2007
Baby, It's Cold Outside
As a nice little treat with the colder weather hitting (at least in Canada), Esthero's radio performance of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Kevin Quain is now available for download from the SNOCAP store.
Acoustic show. Tickets are $24.50, available from Ticketmaster, Play de Record, Soundscapes & Rotate This.
8 May 2007
Bid on Esthero's Hello Kitty Stratocaster!
Esthero's black Hello Kitty Strat is up for bid! The guitar comes with the travel bag and will be autographed for the winning bidder.
13 March 2007
New Songs in the SNOCAP Store
Among the new tracks in the SNOCAP store is a rough demo of "Various Creatures."
The song has only been played live once, and features an uncharacteristic (for popular music) 5/4 time signature. Esthero's thinking is that, "It would be perfect for a Harry Potter film... It's kind of a creepy 'if you go out in the woods tonight, teddy bears picnic-y thing' but waaaay darker."
Also featured are "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby (With A Dixie Melody)," a fantastic cover of the classic made popular by Al Jolson and Judy Garland, as well as a number of tracks recorded live and at rehearsal over the past few years.
Updated
"I Get Down," "The Windmills of Your Mind" and "Joey" have been added to the SNOCAP store.
25 February 2007
Download Amelia!
The live/unreleased/MySpace favourite, "Amelia," is now available for download from the new Esthero SNOCAP store.
The store also features a brand new song, "How Do I Get You Alone."
16 February 2007
eBay Store Launched!
The Esthero eBay store is now live. Items available for purchase include the rare blue vinyl version of Breath from Another, as well as iPod covers and the coveted pink pirate apparel.
19 November 2006
Free from Warner
Esthero has been released from Reprise/Warner. Commenting on her MySpace page she noted "My spirit is sailing and filled with a world of possibilities."
For the meantime, it looks as though things will be done independently, with the opening of SNOCAP and eBay stores (we'll let you know when they're live).
19 November 2006
Esthero at Club 3121
Esthero will be performing November 29th at Prince's new nightclub in Las Vegas. Be there. Tickets.
23 July 23 2006
Intimate Evenings on the East Coast
08/15 Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
08/17 New York @ Hiro Ballroom
08/20 Philadelphia @ World Cafe Live
08/21 Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head
This is a continuation of the California acoustic tour (to see what California was like, take a peek at the YouTube videos below).
and those of you in Toronto, don't forget the Yellow Brick House event on the 26th... (see below).
11 June 2006
Goddess Festival
08/26 Toronto @ The Docks 19+
Esthero will be headlining the Goddess Festival in Toronto, August 26. This event is a fundraiser for the Yellow Brick House Women's Shelter. Organizers will be accepting cash, non-perishable food and cleaning products at the festival.
Also on the bill are Magneta Lane and Emm Gryner.
1 May 2006
Rockin' the Casbah, and the Roxy, too...
05/21 San Diego @ The Casbah 05/22 Hollywood @ The Roxy 05/24 San Francisco @ The Independent
Also, catch esthero as a presenter at the upcoming Music Video Production Association Awards, May 11 @ the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.
5 March 2006
Philippines Landslide Relief Benefit
This Tuesday... KAPWA: Philippines Landslide Relief Benefit
03/07 Toronto, ON @ Supermarket (268 Augusta Ave.)
Tickets are $10 at the door, with all proceeds directed to the South Leyte Landslide Relief effort. Doors are at 9pm.
This will be an intimate, acoustic performance. Also on the bill are Shawn Hewitt, members of Stop Die Rescusitate with LAL, Emily Weedon of Delta, ozfrankie and Len Cervantes. (Kapwa means "fellow human; fellow being; kindred")
Official Sites
Tour Dates
10/17 Vancouver @ Biltmore
09/13 Toronto @ Y-D Square
08/09 Atlanta @ The Loft 18+
