The ground swell around kiwi singer and actress Esther Stephens has been
building for a while. A mainstay of the Auckland music scene, Esther has
been a master collaborator, lending her vocal prowess to acts including Sola
Rosa, Isaac Aesili (Funkomunity) and Tama Waipara.
On New Zealand television she is best known as fashion journalist Olivia from the
comedy/drama ‘Go Girls’. Esther’s solo music is powerful blend of old soul
and contemporary pop, citing influences including classic luminaries like Sam
Cooke, Janis Joplin and Etta James, and modern acts such as Bjork and
Lauryn Hill.
Her first underground release ‘Ashai’ was praised by music journalist Martyn
Pepperell as a ‘sultry, richly toned trip-hop/modern soul voice through an
engaging melodic and rhythmic frame’ (Martyn Pepperell, Vanguard Red
Magazine) and in 2012 Esther was given special mention after the release of
the chart topping Home Brew album on which she features. ‘Stephens is a
true standout, and adds her smoky-toned R&B talents to four different tracks
including the classily smouldering Plastic Magic.’ (Lydia Jenkin, NZ Herald).
This collaboration also secured her position as one of the promising new
talents in the independent collective, Young Gifted and Broke.
Esther has been profiled online by Red Bull Studio Auckland, and she was
featured in music magazine Rip It Up’s ‘Who’s Next'’ section. Esther’s New
York produced, NZ On Air funded debut single and accompanying video are
due for release early 2013.
Esther now resides in Melbourne and is introducing Australian audiences to
her love for complex harmonies and alternative pop song-writing structure.
Esther Stephens plays at Q Theatre as part of an awesome live music program for December 2012.
