EL Recordings

Rona (2023)

Produced by Queen Esther

This pandemic album -- written in Harlem and recorded at Mighty Toad in Gowanus -- was created during the darkest days of the COVID lockdown in New York City. It includes original songs from Queen Esther as well as covers from 70s supergroup Bread and the iconic rock band Queen.

"While early descriptions of Queen Esther were along the lines of “the unknown queen of Americana,” a little dynamite should be added to those words to call her the “ecstatic ruler of the outer cosmos.” Because she sings like a cosmic visitor from another solar system, and then takes semi-normal songs and turns them into irresistible creatures of the semi-beyond. Her voice possesses feelings inside it that sound like they originate in a place that no normal humans can reach, and at the same time are as simple as the South Carolina low country where she once lived." - Bill Bentley, Americana Highways

Gild The Black Lily (2021)

Produced by Queen Esther

These 13 songs include originals from Queen Esther as well as covers from Son House, Chip Robinson of The Backsliders, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Eagles, and George Jones.

"She is depicted with a banjo on the cover, but it is the mandolin that is the dominant string instrument here, as well as what sounds like standing bass. In some songs it is laid on a light organ, elsewhere a little guitars, a steel guitar here and there, it is super nice screwed together, but it is always her voice, her crazy voice, that gets to shine and give the songs, both her own and the cover songs, wings." - Feedback (Norway)

The Other Side (2014)

Produced by Queen Esther

"This album is amazing. And very difficult to classify. Can you imagine a black Lucinda Williams? Not like when she plays the blues torn from her first albums, no. A black Lucinda Williams in pop, rhythm, blues and even gender roots Americana. So it sounds, if you can imagine such a hodgepodge somehow, the latest album from this brutal, original, explosive singer." -- El Descodificador, Vanity Fair (Spain)

"Our admiration for Queen Esther is almost beyond measure." -- Rootstime (Belgium)

What Is Love (2010)

Produced by Queen Esther and JC Hopkins

"What is Love?" is the new CD release from stunning vocalist, Queen Esther. In this collection of jazz tunes, Queen Esther brings to mind great singers like Sarah Vaughn and Nina Simone but ends up sounding uniquely like Queen Esther. Backed by a stellar band of New York's finest players and produced by Grammy nominated composer, J.C. Hopkins, Queen Esther creates a growling, crooning, and passionately expressive piece of work.

-- Don Sechelski, Muse's Muse

Talkin' Fishbowl Blues (2004)