UB Anniversary ReVisit: The Debut of Ester Dean

Over the next few months, we’ll be spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.

As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty, as well Hip Hop Legends.

UB has also been blessed to speak with some of black cultures brightest stars when they emerged.

Ester Dean is an actress and songwriter born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The youngest of five raised by single mother, in a low-income household.

Ester took to writing and singing more as a passage for escape and exit from the dysfunctional childhood full of bullying inside and outside the home. Writing all her emotions in her songs, At a young age Ester learned how to channel her pain into her music. Using creative writing, as self-therapy.

Helping her cope with a hard life, poverty, and big dreams in a small town with no glimpse of a positive future ahead. At the age of 15, her mother moved Ester and Deandria to Omaha, Nebraska. Leaving her older siblings in Tulsa, Oklahoma the separation made Ester again dig deeper for a connection, drawing her closer to the music and the music industry. Singing in every studio. Writing for local Omaha rappers and producers. Ester unknowingly grass-rooted herself.

Learning the ends and outs of her talent and creativity At 20yrs, old Esther made a bold move packed her bags and left Omaha with only $500 in her pocket she drove 18 hours alone to Atlanta Georgia to crack into the music industry. She sang for anyone who would listen. At a Charlie Wilson concert, Ester sat backstage humming a tune to herself. When music producer Tricky Stewart heard he immediately asked her to set up a meeting. Tricky unaware of the songs in Esters‘ heart. He was blown away when she played samples of not only her voice but her songwriting ability.

He signed her to a small publishing deal that allow her to grow and connect with other known writers and producers. Allowing Ester the tools, tricks, patterns and skills to writing a potential Top 40 song. Ester spent countless hours chipping her way through the massive music industry. Ester’s big Break came when she collaborated with major producers Stargate. Created her first #1, Rihanna‘s hit song “Rude Boy.” She went on to write “What’s my name“, “Where have you been” and several other Rihanna hits as well as Katie Perry‘s “Firework” And Nicki Minaj “Superbass.”

Not to mention hits for Kelly Clarkson, Ciara, The Pussycat Dolls, Usher, Kelly Rowland, Girlicious, and Keri Hilson.

Being named “The Song Machine” in an article in The New Yorkers Music Section written by John Seabrook, Esters goals and dreams did not stop there. In 2012 Esther set out to conquer the voice over world lending her naturally animated squeaky boyish voice to Blue Sky Mega Franchise Ice Age Continental Drift and Fox film Rio Cracking just a tiny chip in the animation world Ester continued to write songs for A-list artists and movie soundtracks.

When she was approached to write the end title song “Let it Grow” for the movie “The Lorax.” Writing and delivering to Universal within five hours from the request. Showing that she was here to work hard. After making a great impression. Ester shared with to Mike Knobloch at Universal her passion to find her place on the acting side of the film industry.

Mike soon after sent Ester to casting. Right at the Pitch Perfect time. Ester was asked to audition for a small upcoming movie about a girl Capella group. She jumped at the chance to audition and landed the role of Cynthia Rose in the hit movie “Pitch Perfect,” which went on to “Pitch Perfect 2” and “Pitch Perfect 3” in 2018.

In 2022, Ester Dean was on American Song Contest representing Oklahoma.

In this UB Anniversary ReVisit from October of 2012, Ester Dean discussed her role in “Pitch Perfect,” her debut album and more with Josiah from UB.