MiddleChild: What’s going on with you Miss International Superstar?

Estelle: (laughs) I’m happy.

MiddleChild: First of all, how about you tell me who Estelle is?

Estelle: Oh. That’s the second time I’ve heard that today. I am my mother’s daughter. I am a singer. A writer. All that good stuff. An artist.

MiddleChild: Sounds good to me. You came out with your song and had John Legend in the video. I know it was getting mad spins on VH1 Soul. Now your new single is dropping and it features Kanye. You are already coming out the gate working with some heavy hitters. How does that feel to you?

Estelle: It feels good. This is the second album for me. I haven’t quite hit home that I worked with Kanye West. We just shot the video the other day, but it hasn’t quite hit. Like hit yet. It’s amazing to me. It’s dope that these people even think I’m worth that effort. I don’t think I am. No low self esteem or anything, but where I come from and looking at my background. And in this jungle? Alright!

MiddleChild: (laughs) Okay. Well I know a lot of things on radio these days get a little redundant and here you come with this sound that is nothing like I’m hearing right now. So does that work for you or against you?

Estelle: Oh definitely my advantage. As long as it’s good it’s going to work for you. If it really is you and it’s what you like then that’s what it is. You’re gonna sell it. It’s not like you have to make up stories about why you made the music. You make it because you enjoy it. It’s nothing made up and it’s nothing forceful in the packaging. It is what it is and people will like that realness.

MiddleChild: I see. Another positive is that you have one of the biggest artists within the past few years backing you. How is it being the one to head up John Legend’s label. Is there pressure or is this more like an adventure?

Estelle: Ah. It’s an adventure. Like I said I had an album out before. This go around it’s like you don’t have to do nothing this time around. Thanks for getting me in the door. It wasn’t like you’re a new artist. He was like “You got it. You know you do.”

MiddleChild: So who is more critical? Your home or like the US?

Estelle: Ooh. I think at home because they know me and they already have a perception of me. They’re more critical. They’re like “Do it. Just do it. Don’t fuck around”. You know. And they pay attention so it’s like “you might not want to do that”. They give me that real real feedback. There is a difference between your home and your friends.

MiddleChild: I hear you. We like to make comparisons over here as well. Who have you been compared to so far?

Estelle: I heard Amy Winehouse. I’ve heard Fiest. I’ve heard…who else? You know you always get compared to everyone and their art. The biggest I’ve gotten though is Lauryn. I guess because she sings and raps. It’s cool though. She isn’t a new artist though. I’m not too mad at her.

MiddleChild: What’s your guilty pleasure? I know it’s so much to choose from.

Estelle: There is this store in New York that makes this Red Velvet Cake. Have you ever had Red Velvet Cake?

MiddleChild: YES!

Estelle: YES! WHEW!! HONEY YES!

MiddleChild: You love Red Velvet Cake too? (laughing)

Estelle: Yes. It tastes good. The worse thing about it though is that I’m skinny so any piece of weight I put on, you automatically see it. That’s the only thing that keeps me from eating it all day. So if you see me in a baggy t-shirt, you know what’s happening. It’s the velvet cake.

MiddleChild: We know you’ve been in that cake right?

Estelle: Yes. I have it in my rider so people go out of their way to get it for me and I feel bad. Like if they try and find it and they can’t find it.

MiddleChild: Oh yes. Trust me. I love it. I was raised on them things.

Estelle: Where are you from?

MiddleChild: I’m from Alabama. Raised down south. A country boy.

Estelle: Oh ok. That’s where it came from.

MiddleChild: Ayy! So you have this new single with Kanye called “American Boy”.

Estelle: Yeaaaa.

MiddleChild: So what draws you to American men? What makes them different from the men you grew up around?

Estelle: (laughs) Can I tell you that American men have a lot more game? To their advantage, but also to their detriment. But definitely to their advantage. They come up to you and you’re like “okay” and you hear what they have to say, but before they are done you’re like “what’s your name again?”

MiddleChild: So you forget all that? They done spit all that game and you can’t remember their name.

Estelle: Everything they told you in the beginning you’re like “What? Who are you again? You what?” So you’ve had a ten minute conversation staring at them wondering what they’re talking about. Like he’s talked so much about every other thing trying to get me to go home with him, but his name. And you’re sitting there wanting to go home with him too but you don’t know his name. (laughs) I can’t ask him now because if I go home with him, I’m such a hoe. So it works to your advantage and your detriment.

MiddleChild: So that’s when you put the game on. Get his name and his phone number and then just read the paper. And be like.. “Oh. That’s what he said.”

Estelle: That’s what it is. There you go. I will remember that because I be there like “What’s his name?” (both laugh)

MiddleChild: I’m loving it.

Estelle: So that’s the one thing. And then also your grooming. Your grooming is on point. I can’t even front. You guys have it together clothes wise. It’s not that I don’t really think the high fashion for men is sexy, but the grooming. I like the nails to be clean…the converse to be fresh. (laughs) You guys have it together. I love it.

MiddleChild: So what’s the most attractive thing on a man to you?

Estelle: Oh man. Don’t get me started. I’m a big eyes and lips girl.

MiddleChild: Okay.

Estelle: The first thing that gets me is the eyes. That’s the first thing I look at is the eyes. Then I look and make sure the shoes are right. And then after that we’ll see what happens.

MiddleChild: Okay. So what’s your favorite track on the album?

Estelle: (laughs) My favorite track on the album is “Come Over”. It’s basically me telling a guy – again real talk – “If I was to tell you how much I need you would you come tonight? And would you not believe me that love that easy never turns out right?” Basically saying the shit that if I see a guy I like I’ll go and say hi and maybe more. Don’t think I’m a hoe…

MiddleChild: Ha! You just know what you want, right?

Estelle: You get what you want and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s that kind of moment. I’m not that easy, I just feel like giving you some right now. So come over. (laughs) I feel like it’s a really sexy record. One thing that I’ve learned from John is that you can write what you want, just make it sexy. He writes crazy. Like “She Don’t Have To Know”. I look at the audience and their like (sings) “she don’t have to know…” I’m like “Man. Do you know what he’s singing about?” and the crowd have they hands in the air.

MiddleChild: (laughs) I know right. We be on that. So do we have a release date for the album yet?

Estelle: April 29th.

MiddleChild: Okay. April 29th. We’ll be on the lookout for that. Miss Estelle coming over to take over the States.

Estelle: (laughs) I’m gonna try. I’m gonna try.

MiddleChild: We gonna let her do what she do. We not hating on her.

Estelle: Thank you.

MiddleChild: And let me just say. When I watched your first video for “Wait A Minute”, I was like “Okay. She putting that pimp game on.”

Estelle: (laughs)

MiddleChild: Like you said. You know what you want. So you do what you do.

Estelle: Exactly. And don’t be afraid of it. Don’t be ashamed of it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t be doing this or that. Be you as a person and let everyone else figure it out.

MiddleChild: Well I’m definitely going to try and catch you on the road and when I do, you ain’t gotta worry about if they got you a red velvet cake or not because I’ll bring one for you. Aight?

Estelle: For sure love.

MiddleChild: I’m going to knock on the door and be like “It’s RoJay with the cake!”

Estelle: Knock it right down.

MiddleChild: (laughs) I will. So you have a good day.

Estelle: Alright babe

MiddleChild: And we’ll be looking out for you over at MiddleChild Promotions. Good luck with everything.

Estelle: Thank you. I appreciate that.

MiddleChild: Talk to you later.

Estelle: Alright. Bye Bye.