McKenna Esteb

Biography

While not unheard of to have a local artist in residence at Surel’s Place, it doesn’t happen very often. McKenna Esteb grew up in Snoqualmie Wash. — where her love for music began — performing in talent shows, at coffee shops and restaurants around the greater Seattle area. Throughout her career, she has called both Austin, Texas, and Boise, ID home. Since releasing her first single in 2019, her career has taken many different forms. Pivoting from 2-3 hour cover shows at coffee shops, she began performing her own musical project at Treefort, Flipside, Boise Pride, and opening for touring bands like The Suffers. Her vocal style is heavily influenced by the likes of Norah Jones, Etta James, and Amy Winehouse. The roots of her music have soul and funk influences mixed into a nice cocktail of pop/modern rock. Her music is vulnerable, direct, and influenced by her life experiences. In most recent projects, she wrote about Row v. Wade being overturned and donated all profits received from streams to Northwest Abortion Access Fund. With songs ranging from power ballads to rocking out, she is guaranteed to keep her music relatable and raw.

Our selection panelists universally recommended Esteb for the residency, even over out-of-town applicants. Eric Alexander, one of these panelists, wrote that, “I feel McKenna is poised to do great things, I hope a residency would allow her to move to the next phase of her creativity.” And that’s what she hopes to do.

During her residency, Esteb led a workshop on journaling. She shared her experience with journaling: personal tips, how to workshop creative ideas, and how to release tension in the body through journaling. For her culminating event, Esteb performed the songs created during her residency and told the stories behind each one.

Watch an interview Esteb gave during her residency with Idaho News 6.

Gallery