Labels

Self Esteem


Born: 1986
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England
Genre: Pop, Alt-Pop
Years Active: 2006 -
Real Name: Rebecca Taylor
Meaning of the Name: Self respect. When choosing between the names Self Esteem and Sex Appeal, she chose the former because she "hated herself" and needed to learn to love who she is.
Way of Working: Works with producers
Labels: Fiction, Universal, Polydor

Essential Releases

Self Esteem - Compliments Please

Compliments
Please (2019)

Debut album. Luxurious, melodic electropop.

Self Esteem - Prioritise Pleasure

Prioritise
Pleasure (2021)

Maximalist pop album that charts one woman's course towards her authentic self.


When the British singer Rebecca Taylor was pondering a stage name, she had two candidates in mind: Self Esteem and Sex Appeal. Unflinchingly deciding on the former because she 'hated herself', Taylor was intent on making music that exposed her vulnerabilities as a form of self-empowerment.

Blisteringly authentic from the outset, her celebrated album Prioritise Pleasure (2021) describes a hedonistic lifestyle with sexually explicit lyrics and a no holds barred candour that evolves over its duration. The singer hurtles through the stages of self-realisation like an Olympic athlete with a bus to catch, moving from unfulfilling transactional relationships into a healthy sense of self-worth separate from external validation.

With the backing of an all female vocal ensemble, such as on the song 'Prioritise Pleasure', it feels like her observations are also about women's issues in general; the experiences are hers, but they aren't hers alone. In 2021, many other women wrestled with the pressure to match unrealistic beauty standards while also occupying the dual roles of successful career woman and domestic caregiver. When the thunderous backing vocals kick in as Taylor challenges the necessity of marriage, 'no need to wait on bended knee. I'm free', it sounds like a legion echoing similar views.

This dynamic between the collective and the individual is evident in Taylor's selection of a stage name. By using a broad, abstract concept she imposes a level of artifice upon her work that serves as a dividing line between the person and the persona, creating a necessary safe distance to explore the theme of vulnerability. The songs aren't only a naked expression of Taylor's internal life, they're also outward-facing statements about 'self esteem' in general, which encourages the audience to take part in the processing of such emotions.

These deliberate artistic choices were influenced by the cultural climate of the time and are exemplified in Self Esteem's album art and stage performances. While performing 'I Do This All the Time' at Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2023, she was accompanied in close proximity by her backing vocalists, each of them with smudged red lipstick representing an imperfect, authentic femininity.

However, when an artist foregrounds specific themes in their work they also background others in a way that's revealing. Self-esteem, the concept, is contrasted with its ugly sister: self-doubt.

This delicate balance between confidence and uncertainty, self-acceptance and shame, is what makes Taylor's maximalist pop so compelling. While the tone of Prioritise Pleasure is triumphant, as reflected in its warm, exuberant tones, it's ultimately about learning to accept yourself as you are in the face of pressure to conform: "All you need to do darling is fit in that little dress of yours." The overall context, standing up against a judgemental society, is inherently one fraught with conflict.

Rebecca Taylor is, in her own words, 'a big girl, a sturdy girl', in an industry obsessed with painfully thin beauty standards that border on the abusive. It must take courage for her to stand in the public eye as an imperfect person, and challenge those very notions of perfection, by daring to be flawed in the spotlight.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
85

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
60

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
80

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
85

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
90

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
70

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
90

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
65

Singing

i Technical attributes.
85

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
75

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
75

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
80

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
70

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
30

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
60

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

  • BRIT Award Nominee 2021 - British Breakthrough Act
  • Mercury Prize Nominee 2022 - Prioritise Pleasure

Certifications

Charts >>>

  • Prioritise Pleasure - 11th in the UK
  • A Complicated Woman - 5th in the UK

Critics >>>

  • The Guardian - Prioritise Pleasure - The Best Albums of 2021: 1st
  • The i - Prioritise Pleasure - The Best Albums of 2021: 1st
  • The Independent - Prioritise Pleasure - The Best Albums of 2021: 4th
  • The Sunday Times - Prioritise Pleasure - The Best Albums of 2021: 1st

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