Self Esteem (musician)

Self Esteem is an experimental-pop project, consisting solely of musician Rebecca Lucy Taylor.[2] The inspiration for her stage name comes from the evolution of Taylor's confidence from her early 20s.[3]

Self Esteem
Self Esteem - XOYO - 22 October 2021
Background information
Birth nameRebecca Lucy Taylor
Born1986/1987 (age 34–35)[1]
GenresExperimental pop, indie pop
Years active2017–present
LabelsFiction Records, Kick + Clap
Associated actsSlow Club
Websitewww.selfesteem.love

Career
Self Esteem, Brockwell Park, 2021

Taylor was previously a member of folk duo Slow Club, which formed in Sheffield in 2006. The band consisted of multi-instrumentalists Charles Watson and Taylor, with Watson on the piano, Taylor on the drums, and both performing guitars and vocals.[4][5] The band split up in 2017, following an extensive tour to support their last album, owing to differing musical interests and Taylor feeling unfulfilled.[6][7]

A big fan of Queen, her logo is based on Freddie Mercury's signature.[8]

2017–2020: Compliments Please

Taylor released "Your Wife", her first single under the Self Esteem moniker, in 2017. Her debut album under the name, Compliments Please, was released on 1 March 2019 on Fiction Records.[9] The album was preceded by the singles "Wrestling", "Rollout", "The Best" and "Girl Crush".

Self Esteem completed a UK tour and played at festivals such as Glastonbury, British Summer Time and Latitude during 2019.[10][11]

2021–present: Prioritise Pleasure

In April 2021, Self Esteem released "I Do This All The Time", the first single from her forthcoming second album as Self Esteem.[12] The single was praised by Tracey Thorn and by Jack Antonoff.[13] In July, she released the title track and announced that the record, Prioritise Pleasure, would coincide with a UK tour in October of the same year.[14] In August, Self Esteem released the third single, "How Can I Help You".[15] Taylor directed the music videos for those singles, filming all three at the Almeida Theatre.[15] In September, the single "Moody" was released.[16] The video for "Moody" was directed by Louise Bhose and features comedian Alistair Green alongside Taylor.[17][18] In October, Self Esteem released "You Forever", the final single preceding the album.[19]

Prioritise Pleasure was released on 22 October 2021. The UK tour started on 6 November 2021 in Edinburgh.[10]

The Guardian, The Sunday Times and Gigwise ranked Prioritise Pleasure as the best album of 2021.[20][21][22] NME ranked the album as the fourth best of 2021.[23]The Guardian named "I Do This All The Time" as the best song of 2021.[24]

Collaborations

Taylor released her first single as Self Esteem on Kick + Clap, a label run by Django Django member Dave MacLean.[25] Taylor then went on to feature on the Django Django track "Surface to Air", which appeared on the band's album Marble Skies.

She provided guest vocals for "Strangle of Anna," a song by fellow Sheffield act The Moonlandingz which appeared on their second album, Interplanetary Class Classics.[26] Taylor also performed with the band live.

Awards

Personal life

Taylor was born in Rotherham to a steelworker dad and secretary mum.[29] She has spoken about breaking into the industry in her 30s, stating she used to lie and say she was 25 and said it took her a "while to be proud" of breaking into the industry later in life.[30]

Taylor has been openly bisexual since 2013.[31][32]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays
  • Cuddles Please (2020)

Singles
  • "Your Wife" (2017)
  • "Wrestling" (2018)
  • "Rollout" (2018)
  • "The Best" (2018)
  • "Girl Crush" (2019)
  • "I Do This All The Time" (2021)
  • "Prioritise Pleasure" (2021)
  • "How Can I Help You" (2021)
  • "Moody" (2021)
  • "You Forever" (2021)

Bibliography
  • Self Esteem (2021)[33]

References
  1. "Self Esteem is shining a musical spotlight on the experiences of queer women". Attitude.co.uk. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  2. Savage, Mark (7 June 2019). "Self Esteem is better off on her own". Bbc.co.uk.
  3. Subscribe. "Self Esteem: Independent Woman, Part 2". diymag.com. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  4. "Slow Club: 'We feel like a different band'". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  5. "Music Interview: Slow Club - The Verse". The Verse. 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  6. Jones, Daisy (14 January 2019). "Self Esteem and I Cheered Each Other Up at Winter Wonderland". Noisey.
  7. Dean, Jonathan (2021-12-12). "Self-Esteem: 'I used to say I was younger but I can't pretend I'm 31 any more'". The Times. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  8. "Elis James & John Robins BBC Radio 5 Show". BBC. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  9. Snapes, Laura (2019-03-01). "Self Esteem: Compliments Please review – sly, covetous pop". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  10. "SELF ESTEEM Gigography, Tour History & Past Concerts – Songkick". www.songkick.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  11. Digital, Pretty Good. "Glastonbury Festival - 2019". Glastonbury Festival - 21st-25th June, 2017. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  12. "Self Esteem returns with powerful new song 'I Do This All The Time'". NME. 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  13. Dean, Jonathan (2021-12-12). "Self-Esteem: 'I used to say I was younger but I can't pretend I'm 31 any more'". The Times. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  14. "Self Esteem announces new album 'Prioritise Pleasure' and shares title track". NME. 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  15. "Self Esteem takes aim at the objectification of women on new single 'How Can I Help You'". NME. 2021-08-23. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  16. "Self Esteem shares new single 'Moody' and announces 2022 UK tour". NME. 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  17. "Self Esteem shares new video for 'Moody' featuring Alistair Green". NME. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  18. Self Esteem - Moody, retrieved 2021-11-13
  19. "Self Esteem shares empowering new track, 'You Forever'". NME. 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  20. Helm, Dan Cairns, Jonathan Dean and Jake. "25 best albums of 2021". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  21. "The Gigwise 51 Best Albums of 2021 | Gigwise". www.gigwise.com. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  22. "The 50 best albums of 2021". the Guardian. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  23. "The 50 best albums of 2021". NME. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  24. "The 20 best songs of 2021". the Guardian. 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  25. "Django Django's Dave MacLean Launches New Label". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  26. "The Moonlandingz's new 'Strangle of Anna' video is a greasy and surreal melodrama". NME. 2017-03-20. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  27. "Stormzy, Dave and Little Simz nominated for 2019 Q Awards". Evening Standard. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  28. Stickler, Jon. "Self Esteem Crowned BBC Music Introducing Artist Of The Year 2021, Shares New Song You Forever - Stereoboard". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  29. Dean, Jonathan (2021-12-12). "Self-Esteem: 'I used to say I was younger but I can't pretend I'm 31 any more'". The Times. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  30. Dean, Jonathan (2021-12-12). "Self-Esteem: 'I used to say I was younger but I can't pretend I'm 31 any more'". The Times. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  31. "How Rebecca Taylor found her self-esteem". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  32. Team, Editorial (2018-03-31). "Seven queer artists to listen to right now". DIVA. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  33. "SELF ESTEEM, the debut book by Rebecca Lucy Taylor". YourShelf. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
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