Born in Cameroon, New York’s Estelle Bikibili moved to the U.S. at age 8 and appeared in several stage productions before immersing herself in music. Since, Bikibili has not only performed in prestigious venues across the county, but she’s serenaded New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and State Senator Shelley B. Mayer during ArtsWestchester’s Celebration of Women’s Art and Cultural Expression in March. Performing at Yonkers’ Empire City Casino on October 11 with her band Total Soul, Bikibili sat down to discuss with WM her intriguing past and rising career.
How did you first develop a love for performance?
I was born in Cameroon in 1996 and I remember there was a huge mango tree in front of our house. I had the middle house and on the right were my two best friends, who I am still in contact with today, and we used to form a singing group. Every Saturday morning, we would be in front of our houses putting on a show for our families. I was that one child always dancing at adult parties and I also started very early singing in church and in choirs, so most of my earliest memories stem from that.
When did you know you wanted to pursue music?
I was home with my dad, and we were watching an award show. I don’t remember which one, but I remember seeing Alicia Keys on the piano singing and I looked to my dad, and I said, “That’s what I want to do.” And so, my dad and our church gave me a piano. After that, YouTube became my best friend, and I started watching Coldplay and Jason Mraz videos and teaching myself songs that I liked.
How would you describe your music?
As a woman of color I feel that people just put us in the box of R&B, but I wouldn’t really describe my music as R&B. I’m African, so I definitely do add and love to add Afropop, Afro fusion, and Afrobeats to my sound, but I also love soul music and neo soul.
Do you have an album out?
I have an EP called The Journey that came out in 2022 on my birthday — that was my birthday gift to myself. It’s a five-song EP that features my songs “Elevating” and “Balance,” which also have music videos, and I am currently working on my next EP, which will have seven songs.
Why is music so important to you?
Music is what feels most like home to me. Everyone has an anchor, and for me, music has been my anchor for as long as I can remember. It is something I can pour out and pour into at the same time. Pouring out in the sense of being on stage and performing, but also pouring in because I choose to always do things that make me feel good on a spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional level — so music is home to me, and the stage feels like my first home.
