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Estelle’s sound is a unique blend of hip-hop, pop, reggae and soul–throw in her special voice and swagger, and it kills. “Freak,” the single from her new CD “All of Me,” is a sign of even more hotness to come.  Just check out the song’s chorus:

“Every single girl should embrace their inner freaky freak/Don’t be scared, don’t be shy/Yes you gotta let it breathe.”

Honestly, I was blown away the first time I heard it…and not only by the song! The images from the video are so impressive, I asked my dear friend Alvaro, the genius illustrator, to create a sketch drawn from the look of the video. Meanwhile, I recently caught up with Estelle, herself, to chat about everything from her move to New York City to the inspiration behind her hot new look and sound:

IMAN: When you moved to New York in 2007, did it inspire the sound of your new music?

ESTELLE: A little bit. I’m really more of a world music artist…I pick up a little bit of everything because I travel everywhere. My sound is always inspired by the music I listen to at whatever stage I’m at.

IMAN: Everybody sees New York in their own way. How would you describe Estelle’s New York?

ESTELLE: Just like London, except twenty-four hours!  Also, it really is like Jay Z and Alicia’s song “Empire State of Mind.” You can do exactly what you want to do here. CONTINUED AT ESSENCE.COM