Ester Renay Dean is an American songwriter, singer, rapper, and record producer.
Her 2009 single "Drop It Low" featured singer Chris Brown.
Dean has also co-written songs for many artists including Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry,
Keri Hilson, Beyoncé, Priyanka Chopra, Mary J. Blige, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Clarkson, Ciara,
The Pussycat Dolls, Usher, Kelly Rowland, Girlicious, Rihanna, R. Kelly, Britney Spears,
Melody Thornton, Vanessa White, Selena Gomez, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Pia Toscano, Tinie Tempah,
Lil Wayne, Machine Gun Kelly and Eurovision Song Contest 2012 winner Loreen.
In 2011, Dean contributed to the soundtrack for the animated film, Rio by Blue Sky Studios.
In 2012, she voiced two of the characters in the fourth film in the Ice Age franchise,
Ice Age: Continental Drift, and also wrote a song for the movie, entitled "We Are".
Dean made her acting debut in the film Pitch Perfect and performs on the soundtrack as
well.
Biography 1986–2010: Early life and career beginnings
Ester Dean was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on April 15, 1986, but lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
then in her late teens, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska.
After graduating from Omaha North High School in 2001, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, until
relocating to Los Angeles, California.
In an interview Dean spoke on her family life,
Oh, my whole family can sing.
When I was growing up, I said I was going to be a chef.
And my cousin was like, “No you aren't.
You're going to sing.”
And I'm like, “No, I'm not.
I'm going to be a chef.
And that's it.”
And they're like, “No, you're going to sing.”
And I said, “Okay, well I'll sing and get the money and set-up a restaurant.”
My mom, she used to do gospel plays.
And we used to go on the road with her and perform in the choir, so I grew up watching
her star in these gospel plays.
And it just showed, like, “Oh my God, I want to do this or do something like this.”
I noticed how I started to get jealous when they used to pick other little girls to sing
certain parts.
And I'd be like, “Well, I can sing that better.”
Or we'd be in their studio and I'm like, “I want to sing in a studio.”
When I was really young, that childhood jealousy and seeing what I really wanted – I used
to sing into anything I could hear myself back on.
That's what I'd do.
Even if it was karaoke, I just wanted to be heard, you know?
I believe my mom wanted me to be a star and an artist.
I think it trickles down.
Sometimes it takes them to want it for you to do it.
When Dean relocated to Los Angeles, California, she became a successful songwriter, and was
introduced to Polow da Don, and later signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records.
During her tenure, Dean has amassed a catalog of songs she has written or co-written for
other artists, such as Britney Spears, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Vanessa White, Priyanka
Chopra, Monica, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole, Kelly Rowland, Girlicious, Katy Perry, Trey
Songz, Kelly Clarkson, Ciara, Usher, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Pia Toscano, Selena Gomez,
Melody Thornton, Ginuwine, Teyana Taylor, Scotty McCreery, Beyoncé Knowles, and Mary
J. Blige, among others.
Dean recorded and released her first single, "Drop It Low" which features singer Chris
Brown, from the LeBron James documentary, More Than a Game, which peaked at number 38
on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first US Top 40 single.
The song received positive reviews, and the song was remixed by artists such as Lil Wayne,
Trey Songz and Diddy.
Dean has co-written songs featured on the Step Up 3D Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
and Burlesque: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Throughout 2011, Dean carried on songwriting.
While working on her album, she co-wrote "Super Bass", for Nicki Minaj's debut album Pink
Friday.
The song has gone on to achieve the position of number three on the Hot 100.
"Super Bass" is included as part of the title of a UK Deluxe edition of Minaj's album, Pink
Friday.
Dean has an appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture with "Let Me Take You To
Rio".
Dean is a co-writer and is featured on the song "Invincible", the second single from
American rapper Machine Gun Kelly's debut album Lace Up.
The song has been used in a HTC ReZound ad and also served as one of several theme songs
for WrestleMania XXVIII.
Dean made an appearance in Ice Age: Continental Drift.
"I'm just excited," she says of playing her character, the Sloth Siren.
"On August 23, I go put my voice down.
And my character gets to sing."
Dean is one of many musicians in the Ice Age: Continental Drift cast.
Drake, Nicki Minaj, Queen Latifah and Jennifer Lopez are lending their voices to the film.
Dean's song "Drop It Low" appears on The Bling Ring: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
On May 13, 2014 Dean announced via Instagram that she had parted ways with Interscope,
and would be acting as an independent artist.
Artistry Voice
Dean's vocals were described by Billboard.com as "raw, energetic vocals cover a wide range:
from club banger to melodic doo-wop/hip-hop."
Dean's vocals have also been described as similar to Rihanna and Nicki Minaj.
"The songwriter’s voice is pitched dead center between two artists.
The first is frequent collaborator Rihanna, the other is the singing voice of Nicki Minaj.
Songwriting style In a 2012 article in The New Yorker, Dean
described her preferred method of songwriting: "I go into the booth and I scream and I sing
and I yell, and sometimes it's words but most time [sic] it's not...and I just see when
I get this little chill [on her upper arm, below the shoulder] and then I'm, like, 'Yeah,
that's the hook.'"
Discography
Singles As featured artist
Guest vocals Music videos
Filmography References
External links Official website
Ester Dean on Myspace Ester Dean on Twitter