Ester Dean Plans Missy Elliott Collaboration & Debut Album

Sam Lansky | September 26, 2012 1:48 pm

Ester Dean recently clocked a mention on our list of the best songs that radio forgot this summer with her buzz track “Bam Bam,” but the bajillion-times-platinum songwriter (who has penned smashes for Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry and more) is prepping a big U.S. launch with another major talent — rapstress Missy Elliott.

Dean told ESSENCE that though she’ll be launching a different single overseas, her U.S. single, titled “How You Love It,” features Elliott and is set for a release. She also hinted at the upcoming title for her debut. Head after the jump for more details about what to expect from Dean.

When asked about her plans for the album, Dean explained: “I don’t know about [an album title]. It’s all about what song you pick. But I would like it to be called Stories Never Told.  I’ve said a lot of things and a lot of people have heard the words I’ve said, but it’s a story never told. They don’t understand what I meant by those words because they were always given out through a different source.” Okay. We get it. We think.

And as for her songwriting process, Dean said that she feels no pressure to deliver a killer album, because her passion for the work is inherent: “I do this because I love it,” she said. “I never feel pressure to do anything. I don’t feel pressure to write songs for them. I do this because I love it. If that moment of pressure makes me feel like I don’t love it — I’ll walk away.”

We just hope she can get the album out before she has to walk away.