Interview: Kendra Erika

Interview: Kendra Erika

Interview by: Emily May

South Florida pop singer-songwriter Kendra Erika is a spicy, bold artist who has worked with a variety of Grammy-winning producers such as Charlie Midnight; Jan Fairchild (Elton John, Mary J Blige); John DeNicola (Hungry Eyes and Time of my Life from Dirty Dancing); Damon Sharpe (Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez); Ned Cameron (Kid Ink, Lil Wayne); Mark Mangold (Cher, Michael Bolton); Luigie "LUGO" Gonzalez (Janet Jackson, Madonna, Barbra Streisand); and Ronnie "CHICO" DiCicco (JLo, Kistine W, Rihanna, Britney Spears). Drawn to music from a young age, she was born tone-deaf. At 8 years old her parents put her in vocal lessons with vocal coach Gisbert Heuer, a former professional opera singer from Berlin, who helped her lay a foundation with which she was able to grow and tap into her capabilities. Before pursuing her music full-time and upon the insistence of her mom, Kendra attended college at Lynn University, where she graduated with a degree in communications and international business. It was this experience that she believes helped her to mature and grow as a person. Having worked with many different producers, label execs, etc while coming up in the industry, some of which wished to mold her into the kind of artist they thought she should be, she learned to develop her own vision for the kind of artist she wanted to be and navigate her way through the industry on her own terms. With her fierce desire to be as independent and true to herself as possible, she started her own record label called OysterShell Music. Kendra met and come to work with longtime LA record producer Damon Sharpe a few years backhand the two immediately clicked and have been working together in her studio since.

In recent months, Kendra has released a successful cover of Aaliyah’s “Try Again”, in celebration of what would have been the singer’s 43rd birthday, as well as a dance remake of “As Long As You’re Mine” from Wicked featuring 2x Tony Award nominee, and American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis. Most recently she released her latest single “Rapture”, co-written by Kendra Erika and Ronnie "CHICO" DiCicco (JLo, Kristine W, Rihanna, Britney Spears) and produced by DiCicco, which sets the bar even higher for the dance-pop singer-songwriter. When asked about her new single Kendra said, “Rapture” encapsulates the very essence of who I am as not only an artist, but an individual, a woman, and a performer. The song was written out of pure research and discovery of what my sexual nature is made of. From the vocals to the production, both Chico and I wanted this one to capture and release the primal essence of who I am, and what turns me on musically. Cinematic, dynamic, intense, and spiritually brazen. As far as the eye can see, “Rapture” is the bar that has been set and the bold and lustrous taste of what is to come from me.” Today sees the release of the music video for “Rapture”, for which she tapped talented director Tolga Katas (Stevie B) as well as famed designer Armando Farfan Jr. who previously worked with artists like Lady Gaga, as well as on the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. With a goal going forward to release more music and have more experiences, make sure to follow Kendra Erika via the links below to stay up-to-date on all upcoming music, news, and live dates!

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD | ITUNES/APPLE MUSIC | YOUTUBE | TIK TOK

You were drawn to music from a young age but have said that you were born tone-deaf. What can you tell me about taking vocal lessons starting at the age of 8 and about your vocal coach Gisbert Heuer, a former professional opera singer from Berlin?

The saying “break you down to build you back up again” rings through with what he did. I say all of this with the true sentiment. A foundation was laid and Gisbert was able to tap into my capabilities that needed to grow and be brought to the surface and beyond. Was he strict? Did he give me a hard time out of tough love? More than enough times. But, that is how I know someone truly cares. Even that has shaped my discernment in knowing who I have around me. He was the first person to not be a “yes” person and to push me to those unchartered places in my voice and performance.

You got your start in musical theatre, performing in school plays and in community theater. What kind of foundation do you feel laid for you in pursuing a musical path? Do you see yourself doing musical theater again at all in the future?

It built my stage time credits and also my overall confidence on stage. Learning to sing and dance simultaneously early on is a skill that most current music performers had to do crash courses in order to continue on in their label support and distribution. A lot of people underestimate the level of influence and background that musical theatre brings to a performer. Even those who switch over to doing broadway or theatre, and then go back to pop, can see an improvement in their overall presence and agility. I don’t just see myself doing musical theater again in the future, I know I’ll be doing it in the future.

You have a message that you have said you try to instill in your music of believing in yourself for what you are and how with social media being such a big influence in our lives, sometimes we project images of ourselves because we want to be accepted. What role has social media played in your life and career and have you found yourself falling prey to that longing for acceptance and not believing in yourself? 

To be honest, social media has been the author of both my pain and my gain throughout my life and career. I’ve endured pain, and followers I’ve gained. In order to navigate through the minefield of social media, you have to understand that it’s a matrix. A lot of what you see is fake and politically and socially driven with narratives and agendas. This is why I try to be as organic in my posts as possible so as to not be another statistic in this observation. Even I have wrought my mind about social media. I mean, the amount of Bratz doll clones and lookalikes on there has made me feel guilty about being a black swan, which is absolutely ridiculous because, in REALITY, it’s the advantage. It’s laughable that so many people preach in their captions about being ‘different’ when their faces and backsides look exactly the same to those crowding the feeds. This is why I’m avid in practicing being about it, not just talking about it. Once I understood and inner stood what and how social media is best used for, and it’s a daily process personally for me, then it’s not as bemoaning, and you can wrestle victoriously with what big tech throws at you.

You studied communication and international business at Lynn University after high school, before pursuing music full-time. What can you tell me about your time in college? Do you feel it gave you a better perspective going forward, regarding life and your goals, than you would have had otherwise?

Going to college and obtaining my education was a deal laid out by my mom and followed through by me. Upon graduating high school, she said she would still support my music aspirations if and only if I went and got my education in something other than music and performing based. That period of time allowed me to mature and grow since I was performing at local gigs and going to college at the same time. I believe this protected me from sinking into the "rabbit hole" that many young artists, unfortunately, do these days.

You worked with/met many different producers, label execs, etc while coming up in the music industry and have talked about how they sometimes wanted to mold you into the kind of artist that they thought you should be. What can you tell me about the inner strength you developed and the vision for the kind of artist you wanted to be that has helped you to navigate your own path in the music industry. 

I learned some time ago that a lot of what is out there is manufactured and that most of the currents have been molded. It’s called industry standard. The standard never moves, it just remains constant. Now, there is a reason why the acts from previous decades have been able to stand the test of time, and that is they broke through the glass because they weren’t afraid of doing something different. They weren’t afraid of pissing anybody off. In today’s sensitive world, people are so fearful of that, that it literally holds them back from achieving excellence. A prime example is Eminem and Kanye. Both treat music like it’s a sport. That competitive edge has earned both of them respect, and although they aren’t anywhere near saturation (Eminem more than Kanye) when they talk, when they put something out there, people pay attention. Having the “shut up, he or she is talking” effect is timeless. I know I don’t fit industry standards. And, that independence is always the way to longevity.

How did you meet and come to work with longtime LA record producer Damon Sharpe, with whom you write songs, produce videos, and do most of what a record label would do? Why do you feel the two of you clicked so well?

My Billboard chart promoter, Jason Dauman, originally introduced us to work and collaborate. We clicked so well because we’re two empaths. He’s able to pick up on what I’m bringing into the studio, and I’m able to turn the water into wine. LOL. From the moment we wrote and recorded “Oasis”, the chemistry was inexplainable. There’s no formulaic code, just that he and I flowed creatively and stylistically so well from inception.

What can you tell me about starting your own record label, OysterShell Music, and your goal of being as independent of an artist as possible? Do you have plans to record music for other artists on your label or just your own music?

Being independent is what I savor and what needs to be steadfast throughout the majority of my career. So by having OysterShell Music, “because my music’s an aphrodisiac”, is something I revel in and believe in. No other plans yet, nothing confirmed to divulge.

How did the opportunity come about for your recent distribution deal with Symphonic distribution and what has the experience been like so far?

My marketing/management team introduced me to Symphonic distribution and I am finding them exceptionally supportive to work with.

Along with writing and recording music, you also support different charities and are passionate about helping children. What are some of your favorite charities to support? Have you always felt drawn to help others in that way?

Helping children and women, especially in the area of education and well-being is something I’m passionate about. Prevention of human trafficking and anti-pedophilia are two stronghold causes I stand behind. Operation Underground Railroad, WarChild, Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Propel, and Florence Fuller, are just some of the names I’ve been involved with. With both parents being stapled givers in the community, I grew up exercising that muscle and making sure that I made it constant to give back. You get more reward and fulfillment out of what you’re doing when you give back to communities.

As an artist who places a particular emphasis on lyrics, more so than many other dance artists, what significance do good lyrics, storytelling, and messaging in a song hold for you? What messages do you hope to convey through your music?

Music is the easiest way and method used to program people. The reason why today we see so many people in a state of confusion is because the lyrics and the messages of the current music are laden with mixed messages. It’s like they talk a big game about wanting people to be loving and equal, but then the music reflects more focus on the pain, the fear, the recklessness, and the division. And the music is what is going to wire and influence society, not the talk. Frank Sinatra is one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to this. He was clear, and he was romantic. He made you feel a part of something, a part of the experience. Invited into the piano bar, invited into that whimsical element. That’s the essence and kind of substance I like to keep thickly threaded throughout my music. Where people feel a part of something.

You recently released your latest single "Rapture". What can you tell me about the song, and in what ways does it encapsulate the very essence of who you are as an artist, individual, woman, and performer? How does it show what's to come from you as an artist? How did you meet and come to work with Ronnie "CHICO" DiCiccio?

I met Chico during Covid while performing my weekly Facebook live stream shows. Coincidentally, we had already known each other through the Billboard Dance Club chart. Chico is a Billboard reporter who supported “Self Control” when it was ascending to #1 on the charts, and he also had another record on the chart he was pushing to at that time. The energy was hot that day, my friends. We became instant friends and through talking about the industry during Covid, there was a lot of synergy and similarity between us in our careers. We took advantage of that and jumped right into the studio shortly after when Chico pitched not only a song, but a concept, and “Rapture” was born. We remain close to this very day. I think the word “Rapture” sums it up. As a female artist, it’s daringly safe to say every woman has a burning passion and fire, and sensual energy that is a part of who they are, and how you can express that through your words and music, is the ultimate. 

What can you tell me about the music video for "Rapture" and working with director Tolga Katas and famed designer Armando Farfan, Jr?

We filmed it at Armando’s studio and the main stage in Las Vegas. I’ve worked with Tolga a few times before, so the experience is always a brand new continuation of the previous times. Armando is quite masterful, yet is quite confident about who he is and what he does. I took note of that because it’s how I operate when working creatively. The vision is well-prepared and then delivered in a very tactful way. Both Tolga and Armando together were great.

What's next for you?

More music, and more experiences