For any Australian music fan, E^ST has been on our lips for years now. From dropping the showstopping Life Goes On at the ripe age of 19 (though it seemed she had decades of wisdom already), it's taken a few years and a string of memorable, relatable indie pop hits like Friends, TALK DEEP and I Don't Lack Imagination, but Mel Bester has finally dropped her long-awaited debut album, I'M DOING IT. It's a vibrant journey of self-discovery and will go down as one of the boldest Australian debut albums of recent memory.

It's a big achievement for someone who got signed at just 16 years old, so we asked E^ST to mark the occasion with a letter to her younger self, now that she's in her early twenties, seen more of the world and has hit her stride with her music.

Here's what E^ST now would have told younger E^ST starting out in the music world - you know, if time travel was a thing...

Dear younger me,

You’re heaps cool. I know you don’t think so right now, but you have a lot to offer the world just by being you. Try to say yes to more, you might regret all the times you say no. But also, not every decision in your life is the be-all end-all… in fact they’re a lot more insignificant than they feel, so don’t stress. There’s gonna be a lot of pressure put on you from a very young age, and even though you’re super strong and capable, remember to be patient with yourself. You’re gonna go on heaps of adventures, so try to be as present in the moment as you can. And don’t freak out when it feels like nothing’s ever going to happen to you, because a lot of good stuff’s coming. Keep listening to lots of different kinds of music and keep reading, it’s cool. Don’t give up dancing.

Love,

Older me