“Conqueror” is an amazing song – did any personal experience inspire that record specifically?

Estelle: Everyday. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. I use the analogy that even the richest person in the world has his lows. The smartest guy in the world, well he has his lows. And his lows compared to your lows are two different lows but they’re still lows. Whatever it is, the bottom line is you have to get up. Use that song whatever you need for, that feeling, that energy – use it. Don’t just sit there and let it take over you.

Misty Copeland truly represents what it means to be a conqueror, what was it like to see her piece to your song?

Estelle: I love Misty; she is a proven affirmation that ‘yes, you can actually be the ballerina that you said you wanted to be to your parents when you were little.’ Her life on a bigger level is a testament to perserverance and being told no. So it is perfect for her, like ‘ok you say I can’t, I have the wrong body type, I can’t dance, I’m never going to be. Well, I actually am so how about that.’ She’s one of the exact examples of the conqueror.

So you recently sang with Gladys Knight and Martina McBride – what did that experience mean to you?

Estelle: I was like a puppy. I was like a baby. You sing with Gladys Knight and Martina McBride, they are legends. You look at their resumes, their work and to just sit down and meet them, meet their families and their people and to see how happy they were to still be singing and still be doing music. To be living their life and have their families and their kids. And then Gladys, she’s 70 and her vocals are just the most untouched vocals in the world. Oh yeah, when she sings in between her teeth and the mic is away from her mouth but you can still hear her – yeah how the fuck does she do that? And I got a close-up of that. Lesson in excellence.

I read in InStyle that you want to work with Bon Jovi, are there any other legends you’d like to collaborate with?

Estelle: These are my 10-year-old dreams. People wanted to be princesses, I wanted to be a rock star. Before we don’t have a chance anymore Diana Ross and Barbara Streisand. Just legends.