Ester Dean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ester Dean
Dean in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Esther Renay Dean
Born	(1982-04-15) April 15, 1982 (age 43) Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter record producer
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Zone 4 Interscope

Ester Dean (born Esther Renay Dean on April 15, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is famous for writing many hit songs for some of the biggest stars in music, including Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj. You might also know her from the movies, as she played Cynthia-Rose Adams in the popular musical series Pitch Perfect.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Ester Dean was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and grew up in Tulsa as the youngest of five children. She started singing when she was very young. When she was 15, she moved with her family to Omaha, Nebraska. There, she began writing songs for local musicians and working as a session singer, which means she was hired to sing on other people's recordings.

At age 20, Dean bravely moved to Atlanta with only $500 to follow her dream of becoming a professional songwriter. Her big break came when music producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart heard her singing in the crowd at a concert. He was so impressed that he offered her a publishing contract, which is a deal that helps a songwriter get their songs recorded by artists.

Rise to Fame as a Songwriter

After working with Tricky Stewart, Dean moved to Los Angeles. There, she met the producer Polow da Don and signed a record deal with Zone 4 Records and Interscope Records. In 2009, she released her own song called "Drop It Low", featuring Chris Brown. The song was a success and became her only Top 40 hit as the main artist.

Dean's career as a songwriter exploded when she worked with the production team Stargate to write Rihanna's number-one hit, "Rude Boy". After that, she became one of the most in-demand songwriters in the music industry. She wrote more huge hits for Rihanna, like "What's My Name?" and "Where Have You Been". She also wrote Katy Perry's powerful song "Firework" and Nicki Minaj's catchy hit "Super Bass".

Over the years, she has written songs for many other famous artists, including Beyoncé, Drake, Selena Gomez, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, and Usher.

Acting and Television Roles

Besides her music career, Ester Dean is also an actress. In 2011, she voiced a character in the animated movie Rio.

Her most famous acting role is Cynthia-Rose Adams in the movie Pitch Perfect (2012). She returned to play the character in the sequels, Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and Pitch Perfect 3 (2017).

Dean has also appeared on television. In 2022, she was a jury member for her home state of Oklahoma on the show American Song Contest. She has also been a judge on the songwriting competition show Songland.

Musical Style

Her Voice

Ester Dean has a powerful voice known as a mezzo-soprano, which means she can sing in a middle-to-high range. Music experts have described her singing as "raw" and "energetic." Her vocal style has often been compared to the artists she frequently works with, like Rihanna and Nicki Minaj.

How She Writes Songs

Dean has a unique way of writing songs. In a 2012 interview with The New Yorker magazine, she explained her creative process. She said she often goes into the recording booth and just sings whatever comes to mind, sometimes without real words. She waits for a special feeling, a "little chill," to know she has found the perfect hook for a new song.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Recognition

Ester Dean's incredible talent for songwriting has earned her many awards. She has won numerous BMI Awards, which honor songwriters and publishers for their popular songs. In 2012, BMI named her Songwriter of the Year and gave "Firework" the award for Pop Song of the Year.

Her work has also been part of albums nominated for the prestigious Grammy Awards. In 2013, she and the cast of Pitch Perfect won an MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Moment. These awards show how much of an impact her music has had on pop culture.

Discography

See also

In Spanish: Ester Dean para niños