E^ST

Melisa Bester is a South African-born Australian singer-songwriter and musician, best known for her former solo project E^ST. Under that moniker, Bester released four extended plays: Old Age, The Alley (September 2015), Get Money! (July 2016) and Life Ain't Always Roses (October 2018). Her debut studio album, I'm Doing It, was released on 31 July 2020. Bester also toured nationally as a support act for Twenty One Pilots in March–April 2016 and for Panic! at the Disco in October 2018.

As of 2023, Bester has released music under the moniker Headaches and Golden Vessel.

Biography Melisa Bester was born in South Africa and moved to Australia's Central Coast as a child.

2014–2018: Career beginnings Bester released her debut four-track extended play, Old Age, in July 2014. Dean Elphick of Happy Mag, described her first EP, "One thing that was evident on that debut was that she already sounded like a confident, established artist. Lots of people can sing well but it's obvious she has serious songwriting ability that stretch beyond her young years." Her second four-track EP, The Alley, was issued in September 2015. On 27 July 2018, it was announced that she signed with rock label Fueled By Ramen. She was the opening act for Twenty One Pilots during the Australian leg of the Blurryface tour in March–April 2016. She also backed Panic! at the Disco local leg of the Pray for the Wicked tour in October 2018. She headlined her own tour in support of her fourth EP, Life Ain't Always Roses, which was released on 26 October 2018.

2019–2022: I'm Doing It to hiatus In March 2020, Bester announced the release of her debut studio album, initially scheduling it for release on 12 June 2020. The album was preceding by the singles "Talk Deep" "Flight Path", "Fresh Out of Love", "Maybe It's Me" and "I Wanna Be Here". The album was later delayed and released on 31 July 2020.

2023–present: Headaches and Golden Vessel In October 2023, after her accounts had been deactivated for over two years, Bester returned to social media to announce that she would no longer be performing as E^ST. Simultaneously, Bester announced that she had started a new musical project under the name Headaches in collaboration with songwriter and producer Maxwell Byrne – also known as Golden Vessel. An album was released on 24 May 2024.

Discography Studio albums +List of studio albums, with selected details Title Details Peak chart positions AUS I'm Doing It Released: 31 July 2020 Old Age Released: 1 July 2014 Label: I Am East/Warner Music Australasia (EAST01) Formats: Digital download, streaming — The Alley Released: 18 September 2015 Label: Cap/Warner Music Australasia(825646050017) Formats: Digital download, streaming — Get Money! Released: 1 July 2016 Label: Warner Music Australasia(5419723172) Formats: Digital download, streaming 96 Life Ain't Always Roses Released: 26 October 2018 Label: Warner Music Australasia (5419703144) Formats: Digital download, streaming, CD —

Singles As lead artist as E^ST +List of singles released, with selected certifications shown Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album AUS "Old Age" 2014 — Old Age "The Alley" 2015 — The Alley "Get Money!" 2016 — Get Money! "Life Goes On" 2017 — ARIA: Platinum "Blowjob" 2018 — Life Ain't Always Roses "I Don't Lack Imagination" — "Alien" — "Friends" — "Talk Deep" 2019 — I'm Doing It "Flight Path" — "Fresh Out of Love" 2020 — "Maybe It's Me" — "I Wanna Be Here" —

As featured artist as E^ST +List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album Title Year Album "Get Me a Drink" 2017 I'm Dreaming "Bigbright" 2018 Slowshine "Nobody" 2019 Please, Get Home Safe "Funeral" 2022 Brand New You