Estella Dawn Interview on Nagamag

.

Nagamag:
Which are the genres that describe your music style better?

Estella Dawn:
Pop/Indie/Neo Soul/Electronic/Adult alternative are probably the main genres I write in. I've never been particularly worried about sticking to one genre, what I'm feeling and what I've been listening to impacts the music I make on any given day, I like to roll with that, Sometimes it's rock/pop other days it's laid back indie, you might not enjoy every song I've written but there's a wide range of styles so something might just tickle your fancy.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Estella Dawn:
I began classical piano lessons at the age of 9, picked up the guitar a little later, around 13 and started writing more structured songs at that point. Banging away on the keys or strumming the three guitar chords I knew, it really just grew from there. Now I write in my own studio, using Logic. Recording software has helped me to expand my style and flesh out what I hear in my head. Having the ability to create beats and full song instrumentation has made a huge difference in where my songs are now, I've released 12 original songs in 2020/21.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Estella Dawn:
I can't say that there's any specific moment in my childhood that I can attribute my love of music to, it's something I've always just gravitated to. I used to make up songs from a really young age and I was always just drawn to music related activities. Songwriting has become my way to reflect on and process the world and my experiences within it.

Nagamag:
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

Estella Dawn:
I enjoy both! However I am definitely more comfortable in the studio. It's easier to nail a vocal take when I'm not also trying to control my nerves. I've always been a pretty shy gal so I find my throat and voice do funny things when I'm performing live. I just have to work around it when I put my set together, I'll start out with easier songs and save the big belting numbers for later on. That being said, there's truly nothing like being on stage, you feel so close and connected to everyone listening, you also get to set the tone and create a mood. I think there's something incredibly special about live music, ultimately it's an experience shared between the people there that night and the performer. The show will be different, every crowd will react differently, every song will be sung/played a little different, you can't recreate that, it's like a snowflake.

Nagamag:
Who would you consider your main musical influences?

Estella Dawn:
Musically I have always been drawn to songwriters with interesting lyrics, or singers with strong vocal performances. Ultimately songs that make you feel something. I would say I draw inspiration from songwriters like Halsey, Jaymes Young and Dermot Kennedy. I also really love that artists like Billie and
Finneas Eilish created such interesting and original music from their house. That they made every creative decision from the songwriting itself to the production and everything in between is incredibly inspiring. I also really admire artists like Sam Cooke, Etta James, Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald, their songs just hit you in all of the right places. It's timeless music and you can't beat the emotion they pour into their singing.

Nagamag:
Many artists listen to genres that they are not producing music for. Which track is your favorite that is NOT similar to yours?

Estella Dawn:
Redbone "Come and Get Your Love"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which is the track from a similar artist you admire?

Estella Dawn:
Dermot Kennedy ‘Power Over Me’