A vibrant blend of play, identity, and individuality…
20 · 05 · 2025
Ten years after her self-titled debut album, ESKA makes her return this month with her second record, ‘The Ordinary Life Of a Magic Woman’.
Characterized by expansive creativity and dynamic playfulness, ESKA stands out as a unique artist. ‘The Ordinary Life Of A Magic Woman’ is an intricately crafted depiction of life, love, and existence, inviting ESKA to explore the mystical nature of the ordinary. As implied by the album's title, it deeply examines the connection between the daily rhythms of ordinary life and transcendent spiritual creativity. Drawing inspiration from motherhood, her musical background, and her experience as a first-generation African British woman, ESKA integrates these elements into the rich fabric of ‘The Ordinary Life…’.
Departing from a history of collaborations, ‘The Ordinary Life…’ signifies a return to individual exploration. The album shines with innovative production and instrumentation, incorporating grand choirs along with rock and blues influences. ESKA's powerful vocal performance leads the way through the project. With her remarkable ability, ESKA navigates challenging vocal arrangements effortlessly, moving fluidly across genres, pitches, and emotions. From the intense emotional range of ‘Magic Woman’ to the softer tones of ‘Catfish Blues’ and ‘All The Way Down’, the album features distorted guitars and impressive backing vocals. Breaking away from genre, tradition, and form, ‘The Ordinary Life…’ is music that evokes deep feelings.
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To say ESKA is an artist with range would be a significant understatement. Her accolades are numerous, including a nomination for the Mercury Prize for her debut album, and a role in Kae Tempest’s Paradise at The National Theatre in 2021. As a songwriter, she contributed to the fictional band Fuck The Factory on BBC’s This Town and composed the score for Leo Leigh’s Sweet Sue. As a vocal performer, she has contributed to projects by Shabaka Hutchings and Baxter Dury, and is working on upcoming releases from Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien and poet Anthony Joseph. It's also noted that she is currently composing her first opera, which is set to premiere in 2027.
With boldness and refreshment, ESKA describes her vocal performance as ‘voice painting’. The struggle inherent in her alternative vocal style reflects the resistance embodied in ‘The Ordinary Life’. For her, the album resonates with the turbulence of our contemporary world; the songs are viewed through the perspective of motherhood, aging as a woman and musician, and her identity as a first-generation, middle-aged African British woman in Southeast London.
‘The Ordinary Life Of A Magic Woman’ certainly acknowledges her rich musical history, but it also signals a new chapter for ESKA, showcasing ultimate creative individuality and expanding the boundaries of liberated artistry.
8/10
Words: Rachel Leong
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A decade following her self-titled debut album, ESKA is making a comeback this month with her second album, 'The Ordinary Life Of a Magic Woman'. Boundless creativity