Estère's new single "BPM" is a vibe.
Estère's new single BPM is an aural masterclass in found sound production, the first release off Estère's new Mākara Peak EP. BPM's foray into rhythm and texture incorporates lyrics that are playful yet poignant, capturing the wanderlüst and sentiments of a musician/producer/performer stuck inside during various lockdown stages in Aotearoa New Zealand.
BPM transports the listener to a distant land. Close your eyes and you're in a Mediterranean port on a steamy summer's night, in a dimly-lit venue swirling in shisha smoke and the urgency and abandon of an ephemeral moment.
Estère says, “BPM is all about liberation and freedom of movement. In the clubs where people are sweating, dancing and feeling free with each other; that’s what I was channeling when I wrote it.”
BPM was born of a sampling exercise in which Estère recorded the sounds of assembling and smoking a hookah pipe (watch here). Laced with ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) and mukbang (performance eating) samples, BPM is an alluring and sexy song celebrating the feeling of liberation through dance and movement of the body.
Trailblazing director and DJ Shaquille Wasasala, also known as Halfqueen, brings the song to life with an accompanying music video shot entirely on film by DOP Ezra Simmons in the iconic Civic Theater in Auckland, New Zealand. The film quantity was finite, meaning every section of the video could only have one take. The lighting, timing, dance moves and camera work needed to be perfect with each shot, requiring many rehearsals, light metering, etc. “The stakes were high; it just made it more exhilarating,” says Estère. The result is a gorgeous and richly textured dance takeover of the Civic, perfectly channeling the energy and mood of the track into a visual feast.
Estère says "It was awesome working with Shaq, and her crew were really good at fostering an inspiring and fun environment. Timēna Apa, the editor, and Shaq did an incredible job of piecing together those 20 minutes."
Mākara Peak
Named after the statuesque hilltop outside of Estère’s studio window, Mākara Peak is a self-produced EP that combines beat-pop, RnB and ASMR, creating an upbeat hypnotic dancefloor tracklist. Citing Burna Boy, Lido Pimienta, Lous and the Yakuza and Doja Cat as some of the main inspirations for the EP - Mākara Peak explores Estère’s love of dance rhythm, and her sonic identity rooted in her Cameroonian/ Kiwi ancestry.
Produced at home during lockdown in a humble study-cum-studio she fondly dubs ‘Le Petit’, Estère says “I just wanted to make something unapologetic and honest, that represents where I’m currently at as a human and artist - I never want to feel pressure to stick to who I once was or what I’ve done before.”
Mākara Peak is slated for release on Friday 18 November through all good streaming platforms. Hang tight!