All signs pointing E^ST

Having signed with Warner Music Australia at just 16-years-old, it took a breakthrough break-up track to hit the commercial radio scene. Now E^ST has her sights set on even bigger things.

It’s the classic case of working hard for years to become an overnight success. Luckily for Central Coast teenager E^ST, she has time on her side.

After releasing three EPs in the last three years, it was a perfect pop break-up song we didn’t know we needed called ‘Life Goes On’ that has catapulted this rising star to the top of many radio playlists.

The track comes off the back of a guest feature on Alice Ivy’s break-out single ‘Get Me A Drink’, and was written with Ellie Goulding/Fleet Foxes collaborator Jim Elliot while in the UK.

Having recently played two headline shows in Australia, E^ST (real name Mel Bester) is currently in the US, and took some time out of her busy schedule to chat to TMN about the wave of success she’s currently riding.

“I’m over here having some meetings and doing some writing,” she said.

“I’m getting real hyped about all this behind the scenes stuff, [and] can’t wait for everything to hit the spotlight. But for now I have to be a bit vague…”

Signed to Warner Music Australia since 2014, E^ST credits the label for helping her “bring the vision to life”.

“Warner have supported me in so many different ways, it’s hard to pin it down to one thing,” she adds.

But it’s radio where she has been shown the most support of late.

E^ST appeared on the Most Added chart two weeks ago after ‘Life Goes On’ was playlisted by the Nova network.  

The track also achieved it’s highest spike in Shazams in Australia after E^ST appeared on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 Worldwide show while he was broadcasting from Sydney ahead of the ARIAs, and he added ‘Life Goes On’ to an exclusive all-Australian playlist corresponding with the show.

Speaking on both the importance of radio and digital streaming services, E^ST has a good understanding of the balance between the two.

“Radio is really important! But I guess it also doesn’t have to be the be all end all.

“There are so many different ways you can go about sharing your music these days. It’s really exciting, because people are discovering music much easier and quicker than they used to, and yeah you just end up reaching so many more people.”

As for what to expect from the young artist next year?

“I’m really looking forward to sharing my new songs with everyone. Hopefully I’ll have a much larger repertoire available to everyone.”