The UK's finest, multiple award-winning artist Estelle is back with a brand new album on a brand new label. Signed by US 'Soul Sensation' John Legend to his Homeschool label, the album is a joint venture between Homeschool and Atlantic Records. "I have known John for a while now...we worked on my first album 18th day before he was signed. He featured on "Hey Girl," played piano on "Free," and appeared in the video. As I went to do my second album I asked him to help exec-produce it. As I progressed with it, I left my label and he said he'd sign me and here we are today. We always make great songs together. While I like and listen to a lot of musicians - there aren't many I respect on a level to help me write songs or upgrade/push me as an artist...but John is one of them." The album features collaborations with the likes of Kanye West, Will.I.Am, Wyclef Jean, Mark Ronson, Ceelo, Swizz Beatz who are just some of the 'hitmakers' that Estelle has been in the studio with...and of course, John Legend.
Award-winning British artist Estelle never got her just desserts for her 2004 debut album The 18th Day. Though the record was a critical success, it failed to make the mainstream splash many had hoped for. Her sophomore project, Shine, seems hell bent on avoiding the same fate. Backed up by a coterie of high profile US starlets--Wyclef Jean, will.i.am, Mark Ronson and Kanye West--Shine has surefire commercial success written all over it; though that's not to say Estelle has sold out. Despite the high-impact American-style production, Shine remains reassuringly British. Estelle's West London twang is as sharp as ever, and even Kanye drops rhymes about "WAGS" and "London Boys" (see single "American Boy"). It's every bit as diverse as its predecessor too, featuring dancehall party jams ("Magnificent", produced by Mark Ronson and featuring Kardinal Offishall), the will.i.am produced "Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)" (which uses a twisted up sample from Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You") to lovers' rock ("Come Over") and, of course, some love ballads too, such as "Substitute Lover", overseen by Wyclef. A solid all-round follow up, Shine should give Estelle the commercial success she deserves. --Danny McKenna
