One of the stars of Future Sounds has been Georg’ Estelle. The singer, songwriter and dancer delivered a sensorial acoustic set at one of our soulful music monthly events, her set floating from English to Italian, from uplifting to melancholy, leaving the audience spellbound. And then she returned, month after month, to join that joyful audience and cheer on other like-minded performers. Estelle’s music is infused with message of self-empowerment that encourage us to lean into every experience, whether good or bad, as a tool to learn and grow. For this conversation with Consciously Connect Travel’s Ingrid Asoni, she delves into how she stays inspired and balanced in a world that demands the most.

Who was Georg’ Estelle in her younger years?

I was born in the UK and grew up in Italy, in the middle of nature, near the Dolomites. Life was much simpler and slower, which is beautiful. It gave me lots of time and things to dream about, but you don't really get the chance to fully express yourself and that's what pushed me to follow those dreams.

What sounds were playing in your family home?

My mum is always proud to say that she never played children’s music. Our house was filled with 90s R&B and she loved Jamiroquai. I have these funny memories of being woken up on Sunday mornings by my mum’s cleaning and super loud jazz. I'm not a morning person, so that was my alarm. She even took me to jazz clubs and to my first concert when I was seven, which was Duran Duran.

Where did your love of music come from?

I began dancing and performing very early on and then fell in love with gymnastics, which is a rhythmic sport. I did that for almost 10 years and was working towards the Olympics but after injuring my back I started to explore music. I worked with a vocal coach who saw something in me before I saw it in myself. I realised there was always something there but I’d never thought I was good enough to pursue it.

Do you still have a passion for dance?

Yes. Even now, if I'm feeling some type of way, I'll dance. Whether I'm angry, sad or happy, it helps me deal with my emotions. I recently picked up dancing in heels so now I find it harder to walk in heels than dance in heels. Dance is such a powerful thing. It's a safe space to express yourself.

How has dance played into your creative narrative?

When I first came to London about four years ago, I fully focused on music and singing. I was really eager to learn that side of things so I put dancing on the back burner. But naturally, the two things go together. I definitely want to use it more in my visuals. My next video has choreography with two girls and myself which I am excited to share.

How did you learn to trust your own voice, despite the noise around you?

It's hard, but it's also not, if you listen to your gut. It’s something I haven't done until recently, because I was always very rational growing up. Then I started paying attention to how I feel about certain types of music, and to stop thinking about what people will like. If I feel a song a certain way, I'm going to perform in a certain way or I'm going to promote it a certain way because that's authentic to me. That's the beauty of art, you could have set an intention but how the audience receives it will continue to breathe life into it.

What's your creative process when making music?

It varies but for me it’s about feeling. Whenever I listen to a bit of music that my producer sends me or when I’m working with other musicians, I wait to get that feeling and then improvise. Usually whatever I improvise first is the best idea because it just came from a feeling I had. Other times, I have something I need to say so I write it down without having a melody. I've always been a perfectionist, so I never allowed myself to make mistakes. But I’ve learnt to be open. You have to trust and go with it, and something beautiful will come.

How have you nurtured your self-empowerment and where does that sense of ownership come from?

Italy is quite a conservative country so as a child, I always had a strong sense of the social injustices that I grew up around. The smallest things, like someone telling a joke, would make you feel less empowered, but I'm lucky that my mum is a feminist. The media and the music industry also put women in competition and comparison; it's as if we can't all shine individually. So, there is a responsibility on us to make a difference. I don't necessarily always speak on it, but I do embody it.

How do you find balance?

My mum always speaks about balance so I grew up listening to this. Through life our foundation gets manipulated and we modify ourselves so it’s important to go back to understanding who you really am. You have to remind yourself that there's no one like you. There's space for everyone, so stay true to yourself.

How do you navigate the negative?

The first thing is the support of good people. I'm very lucky to have a supportive family and friends. We're human beings so we can't do life without community. The second thing is finding that one thing that really helps you stay in sync with yourself. For me it's dance, it always brings me back to my body, for others it may be meditation.

Tell us about the messages in your songs.

I'm exploring a lot musically, working with different people allows me to learn and that puts me into a more open space to create. My inspirations are sensual but strong at the same time. My songs are a reflection of my life experiences and feelings towards those experiences. I question myself. Why did I allow certain things to happen? Why didn't I respect myself enough? Why didn't I love myself enough? My music also speaks to the importance of knowing yourself, even if that is an endless process. We need to be loving people. While it's easier to shut down your emotions, you miss out on learning and there's so much courage in being vulnerable.

What can you tell us about your current single, Permission?

A line in the song goes: ‘I give you permission to let go of your inner self talk, to let go of your inner self doubt. It's never too late to say what you want to say.’ I wrote this as a motivational anthem. I had just gotten out of a relationship and felt like it was time to be myself. But it doesn't have to be an intimate relationship. It can be a professional experience. It can be anything that is making you feel like your voice is being stifled, or like you're having to compromise a sense of self. This song is like a liberation of sorts; freedom, you know.

What can we expect from you next?

I can't wait to release more music this year. I've been writing a lot, trying to step into more of the Georg’ Estelle sound so I'm excited about that. I really want to collaborate more. I also want to live more!