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Esthero
 

Esthero (real name Jen-Bea Englishman, born December 23, 1978) is a Canadian singer-songwriter who hails originally from Toronto, Ontario but has recently moved to Los Angeles. The name "Esthero," pronounced (frequently mispronounced as ), refers both to the singer and to the two-person team of herself and her producer, Doc. She claims to have gotten the name from an old film character named Esther, whose last line in a movie (called, The Bell Jar based on the autobiographical Sylvia Plath novel) is, "If I am to be the hero, then I cannot fly from darkness."

Esthero's sound characteristically features her voice over a mix of mellow bass lines, jazzy trumpets, Spanish guitar and hip-hop. She is sometimes compared to trip-hop artists Björk, Portishead and the Sneaker Pimps. Later artists who count Esthero among their influences include Res and fellow Canadian Nelly Furtado.

Esthero has appeared as a guest jurist on the popular MuchMusic show Video On Trial.

Esthero's brother, j. englishman, is also a musician.

Background

At the age of sixteen, Esthero left southern Ontario to live on her own in Toronto, where she began singing at open-mic nights while supporting herself by working at a café. Within months, a mutual acquaintance introduced her to Doc, a guitarist and studio engineer. The young duo quickly began recording together, and their debut album, Breath from Another, was released to critical acclaim in 1998. She is currently dating no one.

On April 20, 2004, without Doc's assistance, Esthero released "O.G. Bitch," a standalone EP featuring seven different remixes of the title track, plus the b-side "I Love You." The EP led the way to Esthero's 2005 full-length album on the Warner Bros. label, the decidedly jazzy Wikked Lil' Grrrls, seven years following her debut album, to moderate critical acclaim. The album features contributions, either vocally or instrumentally, from Sean Lennon, André 3000, Shakari Nite, Cee-Lo Green of Goodie Mob, Jemeni, and Jelleestone. It was also chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005.

Esthero has appeared on the Chris Rock Show, Video on Trial, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. She has also contributed songs to the films Go, Love & Basketball and Down With Love, as well as the video game 007: Nightfire.

Esthero is touring with John Legend on East Coast of US from November 21 to December 1 and then heading south for 3 concerts.

Discography

  • Short of Breath (promo, 1998; Sony Records/The WORK Group)
  • Breath From Another (CD, 1998; Sony Records/The WORK Group)
  • Heaven Sent (CD single, 1998; Sony Records/The WORK Group)
  • Zero Effect Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD, 1999) (Song "Lounge")
  • That Girl (promo, 1999; Sony Records/The WORK Group)
  • Taken to the Next Phase (Isley Brothers tribute CD, 2004; Epic Records/Legacy Records)
  • O.G. Bitch (CD EP, 2004; Reprise Records)
  • O.G. Bitch Remixes (CD 2004; Reprise Records)
  • We R In Need of A Musical Revolution (CD EP, 2004 Reprise Records)
  • Wikked Lil' Grrrls Samplers (Version 1 & 2) (CD, 2005; Warner Bros. Records)
  • Wikked Lil' Grrrls (CD, 2005; Warner Bros. Records)
  • Fastlane Remixes (CD, 2005; Warner Bros. Records)

Collaborations

1998

  • "World I Know"(Country Livin' Version) by Goodie Mob and Esthero (From Slam: The Soundtrack)
1999
  • "Final Home" (vocal edit featuring Esthero) by DJ Krush (From album "Kakusei", original pressings of this album do not contain the vocal edit. This track is also included on the "Code 4109" album.)
  • "Song for Holly" with Danny Saber (for the soundtrack to the movie Go)
2000
  • "When I Fall In Love" (featuring Bratticus) by Axus (From "Soundtrack for Life (2000)". Esthero appears under the name Bratticus. This is a cover of the jazz standard written by Heyman and Young.)
  • "Complete Beloved" by Black Eyed Peas featuring Les Nubians (From "Love & Basketball: Music from the Motion Picture". Esthero appears in the background vocals.)
  • "The Hero" (featuring Esthero) by j. englishman (From "poor lil rockstar" album. Esthero also appears on demo version of "Don't Mean A Thing")
  • "Don't Wanna Be Your Slave" (featuring Esthero) by Michie Mee (From Michie's album "First cut Is The Deepest".)
  • "Priceless" by Rascalz (From "Global Warning" album. Esthero appears only in the background vocals)
  • "Weekends" (featuring Esthero) by Black Eyed Peas (From "Bridging the Gap" album. She also appeared in the music video for this song). Esthero is also featuring on a hidden track called "Empire Strikes Black")
2001
  • "Balmes (A Better Life)" by Ian Pooley (From album "Balmes (A Better Life)". The original version of this track can be found on Ian Pooley's "Since Then" album. The vocal edit appears only on special editions of the album.)
  • "Tao of Now" (featuring Esthero) by Saul Williams (From "Amethyst Rock Star")
  • "I Feel You" (featuring Esthero) by Nelly Furtado (From Nelly Furtado's "Whoa Nelly! (International Version)" and from "I'm Like A Bird" single.)
2002
  • "The Universal Quest" (featuring Esthero) by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (From "Supernova" album)
  • " How Could I?" (featuring Esthero)by John Forté (From "I, John" album)
  • "Run for Your Life" (featuring Esthero) by Jarvis Church (From "Shake It Off" album)
  • "Keep The Beat" by Artist For WarChild Canada (From "Much Dance 2003". Esthero appears alongside with numbers of Canadian artist)
  • "The Streets Where You Live" by The Buried Heart Broject (From " Women & Songs 6". A charity single for the Buried Heart Society)
2003
  • "White Rabbit" (featuring Esthero) by Blue Man Group (From "The Complex" album.)
  • " Every Day is a Holiday (With You)" (featuring Sean Lennon) by Esthero (From "Down With Love: Music from the Motion Picture (2003)". The song does not appear on film.)
2003
  • "Heaven" (featuring Esthero) by Sugar Ray (From "In the Pursuit of Leisure" album)
  • "Coming Down" (featuring Esthero) by Oddities (From "Scenic Route" album)
  • "One Life" (featuring Poetic & Esthero) by Last Emperor (From "Music, Magic & Myth" album)
2004
  • "Life" by Artist For WarChild Canada (From "Much Dance 2004". Esthero appears alongside Graph Nobel, Jully Black and Keshia Chante)
  • "Summertime" (featuring Esthero) by Mos Def (From Mos Def presents Medina Green")
  • "Summer Breze" (featuring Esthero) by Onda (From "The Isley Brothers - Taken to the Next Phase")
2005
  • "Too Rude" (featuring Esthero) by Carmen Rizzo (From "The Lost Art of the Idle Moment")

See also

External links

1978 births | 1990s music groups | Canadian dance musicians | Dance/Club music artists | Canadian female singers | Canadian musical groups | Canadian pop singers | Canadian singer-songwriters | Electronic musicians | Living people | Ontario musicians | Ontario writers | Toronto people | Trip hop groups

 

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