Estère
5th May 2018
Cassette Nine, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.
It’s the month of May, and in New Zealand it is the month that we celebrate the greatness of New Zealand music – although to be fair, with the plethora of musical genius that is free flowing from this country’s veins currently New Zealand music can be celebrated all year round. But celebrate we shall and what better way to do that than with the album release from the ethereal Estère.
As the evenings patrons huddle around the stage, another stunning kiwi musician appears to begin tonight’s proceedings. Fresh from a round of sold out shows in Australia; Merk (aka Mark Perkins) is a welcome addition to any line-up. With his signature haircut and striped shirt Merk unleashes on the crowd with his three piece band in tow; ‘Ash & Sand’ from his utterly brilliant debut album Swordfish immediately seeing the crowd plug in to Merk’s unique channel.
There is something quite delightful about Merk, his on stage demeanor, the way his vocals serenade you from what seems like the distant folds of time but yet entrenched in the present. The 90’s nostalgia of ‘Manchuria’ to the almost 60’s keyboard melodies of one of his latest tracks ‘Lucky Dilemma’, Merk combines them all in just the right amounts, like a musical scientist creating the perfect tincture that both intoxicates and restores. Soon to depart for Denmark to record his second album, Merk’s set comprises of mostly his older work, with a few gems thrown into the mix that sparkle under the light of Cassette Nine’s giant disco ball; ‘Laps Around the Sun’ which Merk informed the audience with an endearing sideways smile was penned on his birthday; gifting this evenings attendees a small insight into the contemplative nature of its words.
Introducing his “cool” band (Josh on Keys, Shaun on drums and Matt on bass) Merk moves into a favourite among many ‘Treehouse Club’ is one of those tracks that you keep locked away inside yourself like a treasured memory Merk’s delivery of it with that sweet falsetto as always ever endearing. Closing yet another gorgeous set Merk finishes with ‘I’m Easy’, it’s scintillating Caribbean beat with psychedelic funk overtones whipping the energy up in the room, Merk’s humour showing through as he holds his guitar pick aloft in the air for all to see, his eyes portraying childlike wonderment as he cheekily smiles at the crowd.
Both souls and spirits uplifted and buoyant, the ever growing numbers were not keep waiting long before both Kimberly and Olivia – the esteemed human members of Estère’s band – dressed in crisp white shirts entered the stage. As the air filled with crystalline notes, Estère made her entrance in a whirl of shimmering blue; the multicoloured fluorescent tubing perfectly framing her as she occupied the stage with her larger than life presence. Wearing a two piece outfit that glinted in the light with the almost bespeckled blue of a Redstart’s egg, Estère flexed her shoulders rippling the multitude of large electric blue discs that hung from her wire framed wings. It was a look that only someone of Estère’s calibre could pull off and she did so in breathtaking style. Members of the coven of their high priestess, both Kimberly and Olivia sported small blue discs above their eyebrows – this attention to detail an important component of all of Estère’s work both on and off the stage.
Inviting us into her circle, Estère began with the earthly tones of ‘On Another’s Life/Under Water Whale Knowledge’; her vocals and gestures as if invoking the giants of the sea itself. There is something so divinely captivating about Estère’s songs; they draw you in under her cloak of elder knowledge as you drink from the cup of whispered tales. Estère is not only wise in the ways of the world, teaching anthropology by day but musically wise as well; only in her twenties she has not only performed at iconic festivals such as Glastonbury but in an underground amphitheatre in Swaziland. Cutting her teeth in Wellington in the hilariously named collective Brockaflowersaurus-Rex & The Blueberry Biscuits (who has also produced the likes of Louis Baker), Estère has come a long way both spiritually and musically.
Named after her grandmother Estère brings elements to her music that don’t fit into any genre box. Hints of EDM (courtesy of her electronic band mates Lola and Korgi) intermingle with jazz and neo-soul, tracks such as ‘Control Freak’ seeing her embody the power of woman such as the illustrious Grace Jones before she takes us back in time to one of her earlier tracks ‘I Spy’. While this may be her album release show, Estère has been releasing pieces of her work to the public for quite a while preferring to allow her fans the time to let the work saturate, stating that she did not want her music to become lost in the multitude of releases. While this plan was of course extremely wise, there was never any chance of Estère’s music ever becoming lost in anything; like first rays of the dazzling morning sun, her music cuts through the clouds, turning heads towards its sumptuous warmth.
Moving through the tech infused sounds of ‘Pro Bono Techno Zone’ and Estère completely turns one eighty degrees; “This song is going to take you on a journey to a far distant reality”. As she performs ‘Gun Kid’ – her delivery of the track reminiscent of M.I.A – a change comes over her, the edges harden with her cautionary tale. Eyes locked on to those in the front row she pulls her trigger fingers, before stepping back and delivering a chorus that is a complete juxtaposition; it is honeyed and light; the track ending with spoken word.
Estère is the creator of self-described ‘electric blue witch hop’ and frankly there is no better description for this magical wonder of music that has completely enveloped the room. From the upbeat quirky tempo of ‘Jellyfish Stings’ where Estère herself drums with the natural rhythm of a tribal queen to the bordello dwelling aspirations of ‘Ambition’ that as she introduces is the story of a high-class prostitute with aspirations of being the president of the USA, Estère certainly casts her spell on all in attendance. Finishing her set with ‘Flashlight’ from her 2014 Red Bull Prodigy Project and the methodical and ever searching pace of ‘Nomads’ Estère thanks the audience before bidding them “Night, Night”.
But not a single soul wanted this set to end, calls for an encore met with the stand alone track ‘Guilty’ which Estère quickly morphed into ‘L’Ouiseau Dans L’Etoile’ proving that she is not only multi-talented sonically, moving between drums, keys, sampler and guitar with the greatest of ease but multilingual to boot.
New Zealand has many, many wonderfully talented musicians, but in Estère they have certainly found their first deity.
Estère:
Merk:
Were you there at the Cassette Nine for this magnificent display of electric blue witch hop? Or have you seen Estère perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Estère Setlist:
- On Another Life / Under Water Whale Knowledge
- Control Freak
- I Spy
- Pro Bono Techno Zone
- Gun Kid
- Rent
- Jellyfish Stings
- Grandmother
- Ambition
- Flashlight
- Nomads
- Guilty / L’Ouiseau Dans L’Etoile [encore]
Merk Setlist:
- Ash & Sand
- No Better Reason
- Manchuria
- Hang
- Eat A Lemon Tart
- Lucky Dilemma
- Laps Around The Sun
- Treehouse Club
- I’m Easy
This content is a part of our NZ Music Month coverage, celebrating old, new and upcoming Kiwi artists. For more information on NZ Music Month you can visit their website.
