photography Sandra Myhrberg

fashion Ulrika Lindqvist

jacket & skirt Baum und Pferdgarten
socks Hysteria by Happy Socks
shoes Dr Martens

An Interview With Esther

Written by Alicia Hurst by Sandra Myhrberg

Esther is an emerging popstar hailing from Stockholm, Sweden. She made her debut on the music scene in 2019 and recently released her second album “Wander” featuring four hypnotizing tracks. The young star was born and raised in a musical household, with instruments practically decorating her house, influencing her tastes in music life and guiding her through life. Her enigmatic personality and eclectic use of musical instruments such as the vibraphone have captivated audiences and allowed her to tour with global superstars such as Lykke Li. Esther’s talent is both a nod to the past with her eyes and ears set on the future. Keep an eye and ear out for Esther as she embarks on her musical journey. 
 

Please tell us about how you started as a musician and Singer? 
I’ve always had music in my life, my dad is a musician so there’s always been instruments in every corner of our house. I started off playing the piano and then later took on drums as well, eventually combining the two and starting to play mallet instruments - which I now consider my main instrument. It’s essentially a piano you hit with mallets.
I never really considered singing before I was put on the spot at a music festival in Copenhagen 2017. I was there playing vibraphone with a couple of people from the company teenage engineering who were showing off some synthesizers. The music was all improvised and eventually they put up a microphone in front of me and told me to ”play and sing!”. When I did, the rest of them stopped playing and I got to end our set all by myself. That was the first time I ever sang and played vibraphone at the same time.
 
You play the vibraphone, tell us about that instrument? 
Like I said before, the vibraphone works pretty much like a piano in terms of where the notes are except you hit it with ”mallets” instead of your fingers. I hold two mallets in each hand which limits me to play four notes at a time.
Usually it’s made of metal, but the one I play is actually electronic which makes it easy for me to manipulate or completely change the sound I use. I think it fits really well with my music! It’s also really fun to play, haha.
 
What is your inspiration for your new ep “wander”?  And your music in general?
People and feelings have always inspired me. I’m very inspired by all of the people I work with because they’re really talented and come up with things I wouldn’t (hopefully it’s vice versa as well).
And I find it really inspiring to try and find something beautiful in a difficult emotion. Maybe it hurts to break up, but it might have been beautiful that it got to be at all?
  
You just spent time in Los Angeles, what brought you there?
This fall I’ve had a really cool opportunity to play in the band with Lykke Li on her recent tour in the States and Europe - so that’s why I was there. 
 
How do you like to incorporate style and fashion into your artist persona? 
It’s actually something I’m still trying to figure out. I have a good sense of what I feel comfortable in and what I like, but I also have an urge to be braver and try more clothes that are a little bit more outside of my box.  
It’s important for me to feel cool when I’m on stage, I don’t want to feel vulnerable so I’m taking it one step at a time. There’s also the aspect that I have to be able to play in the clothes I wear. I move around quite a bit and I know the sleeves can’t be too long since my mallets tend to get stuck inside them. I just recently started wearing heels when I play, haha. 
 
In this story the stylist gave you a baseball bat as a prop and you told us that you actually played baseball when you were younger? Please tell us more about that? 
I did! It’s really weird since most people don’t even know there are teams in Sweden. I started playing in middle school because me and my friend said we wanted to start playing together, but then he ended up bailing so I had to go by myself. I think it’s a great sport and ended up playing for probably three years. Go sports!
 
What are your plans for the future? 
Right now I’m working on new music that I’m really excited about. I think that’s my only plan for the future - to keep on going and saying yes to everything that I want to do, see how far it gets me! I don’t like making really big plans far ahead, because I think it can build up the pressure you put on yourself and we get enough of that already. I just ”trust the process” and try to have fun I guess.
 
You often write songs about relationships, How come?
I think it’s just because you feel very complex things in relationships with others, whether that be a friendship or a romantic relationship. Putting it into words and trying to explain it has been the best way for me to understand what the feeling is about. And it’s really rewarding. I really appreciate being able to feel all those emotions, even if they’re sad, because it gives you a sense of meaning. 
 
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I love puzzles! I pretty much always have a Rubiks Cube in my bag.
 
 
 
 
 
 

jacket Remake
top & tights Jannike Sommar
boots Vagabond
shirt Samsoe Samsoe
jumper & trousers Uniqlo and Marni
socks Minna Palmqvist
shoes Dr Martens
coat Baum und Pferdgarten
dress Samsoe Samsoe
socks Minna Palmqvist
boots Dr Martens
jacket Remake
top Uniqlo and Marni
skirt & stockings Minna Palmqvist
boots Tamaris
jacket & skirt Baum und Pferdgarten
socks Hysteria by Happy Socks
shoes Dr Martens