There are so many ways in which music heals, unites and provides. It’s a constant in my life, and it always will be. One of the best parts of being a music lover is the journey. For me, finding good new tracks and artists is like finding pure gold. Although I have a modicum of love for top 40, my personal search for the perfect mix is a most meaningful one.
Music changes so frequently…but I don’t…
I look for consistent qualities musically. Here’s what I love: a chill-inducing beat, thought provoking instrumentals and a smooth vocal that pulls it all together. Perhaps I listen to the type of music that I most long to produce and sing myself. When I was young, I would go to my local record store a lot. I used to sit on the floor for hours with a set of headphones on. Those were the days that you could open the CD right there and listen before you buy. They were also the days of waiting in line for boy band tickets and limited edition CD sets on Tuesdays. I definitely did all those things. I was a certified musical junkie even then!
My hours of browsing brought me to a particular musical gem…
One day at the age of seventeen, I drove to Zia Records. I went there to find music that made me feel something. After communicating what I was hoping to hear, a young employee wearing flannel and a skinny ponytail informed me that I would love Esthero. He handed me her Breath From Another record and I took my usual place on the floor, headphones on. I was hooked from the first sound of her silky smooth voice. I know that I’m in love with an artist when I feel a little squeeze in my heart. I bought Esthero’s EP that day and listened to it at every waking moment!
She wasn’t making music like the others were…
Many people I knew at the time were listening to club anthems and TRL hits. And I could appreciate them too. But I always felt this pull to listen to music that made me feel something. I’m still that way. Esthero has the kind of voice and intention that just draws me in and takes me on a musical journey. She’s made other tracks since Breath From Another that I’ve bought and faithfully listened to. And in the seven years since her last release, I’ve had her songs on every playlist.
She has returned…and I am ecstatic!
I follow Esthero on Instagram, and my heart squeezed yet again when she started teasing her new single. It’s called Baby Steps, and it’s just beautiful. This is the kind of song that just makes you forget about the world for five minutes. The track puts the focus solely on her timelessly gorgeous vocals, which seem to float effortlessly over the music. Something else that I love about Esthero is that she is an independent artist. In a world where we are often told who to be and what to listen to, she is making records on her terms and in her timing. We can all learn something from that. Here’s my recommendation: listen to this track…let it get into your soul. You won’t regret it.
Buy On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/baby-steps-single/1451453634
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/120KZAEzkP4O0VGuwH79pK?si=ZUWLflRdTx6tFCsAEil58Q