"I'M DOING IT" by E^ST
Not many people have heard of E^ST (pronounced “east”), but I doubt that will last much longer. With the debut of her first album, I’M DOING IT, E^ST is already paving new avenues in the indie-pop scene.
Melisa Bester, a twenty-one year old hailing from Australia, created the persona E^ST in 2014 with the release of her first single. It wasn’t until the drop of “Life Goes On,” in 2017, that she started getting some recognition. And I didn’t discover E^ST until her 2019 single, “TALK DEEP.” Immediately, the song caught my attention, making me want to simultaneously jump around my room and crawl into bed to do some reflecting. A song rarely evokes such opposing feelings within me, so I knew Bester had something special. On July 31, 2020, when E^ST dropped her debut album, I threw on my headphones and listened intently, as if life’s answers were hidden in one of those thirteen songs. Trust me, E^ST does not disappoint in I’M DOING IT.
After several listens, I recognized that the album has a clear progression. It begins with melancholy rhythms and becomes more upbeat and energetic with each song. The opening track, “FIT FOR COMPANY,” leads us into the album with a lamenting tone and lyrics. E^ST sings, “What does it matter, I’m fucked anyway.” This negative outlook is perpetuated in the following songs, “FOUND SOMEBODY” and “FRESH OUT OF LOVE.” One of my favorites of the album, “FRESH OUT OF LOVE,” is about someone recognizing their inability to love either themselves or anyone else. What I really enjoy about E^ST’s music is her blend of strong beats and heart-wrenching lyrics. Most of her melodies make you want to dance, but once you understand the lyrics things get complicated. I think this is one of the glories of the indie-pop genre: keeping with the pop instrumentals while incorporating the personal, lyrical touch of traditional indie music.
Halfway through I’M DOING IT, the tone changes as the rhythms become more upbeat and the lyrics become happier. “TALK DEEP” was the first single of the album and rightfully so. E^ST’s full range of talent is on display in this song. Her raspy voice adds a layer of interest to the typical dance beat, showing how unique her sound truly is. No doubt my favorite of the album is “WALKING HOME IN THE RAIN,” which is about finally accepting oneself, whether in a relationship or alone. She sings, “I feel a change come over me, and suddenly the world don’t look so bleak.” This song, especially, has a terrific build and beat drop that makes you feel like you can tackle anything the world throws at you.
But it is the last two tracks that strike me the hardest. “I WANNA BE HERE” and “I’M DOING IT” are both moments of self-acceptance and self-love. It is evident in how celebratory these songs sound. It really is time to get up and dance. This album isn’t a love story or some sob story; it is about a young woman coming into her own and being proud of herself for it. A line from “I’M DOING IT” that always gets me is, “I’d always think about us, I never thought about me. Now I’m all about me.”
If you have thirty-six minutes to spare, please listen to this album. If you listen to artists like Cub Sport, Mallrat, or Alexander 23, please listen to this album. If you’re still learning to love yourself, please listen to this album.
– Shea Humphries