ur connecting with Kendra Erika is
a major move for us here at U.G.
Digital Mag. First and foremost,
she’s an amazing artists, blowing
the EDM scene to pieces with her music. Then, there’s the obvious: Kendra is not necessarily what most wold categorize as “urban”. Essentially, that alone is what makes us different. She has an amazing product, and we absolutely love it.
U.G. Digital Mag: It’s wonderful to connect with you Kendra. Tell everyone about your coming into music?
Kendra Erika: I grew up in South Florida, and it’s really tropical here, especially around Miami. A lot of pool party scenes, and I really fell in love with the deep house, EDM, and the whole DJ world. I started off singing in lounges, and doing some of the old Jazz standards. I liked having that fusion of vintage old standards with deep house. It’s the new age relaxation, cool vibe music. I feel like it intertwines very well.
U.G. Digital Mag: It definitely does. There’s so many people doing this, like EDM is really growing. I can think back to when I first heard it, and wasn’t really feeling it. It’s grown so much though, and now I love it. It’s growing tremendously, and there’s a lot more creativity.
Kendra Erika: Most definitely. A lot of people would go to Ultra and get amped up. A lot of those songs are super upbeat and hyped up. People are gravitating more to it because the deep house DJs are taking over and having more of an influence. Everybody can relate to it now, and it appeals to a lot of people.
U.G. Digital Mag: Right. It is more appealing. Your song, “Under My Skin”, the production stood out to me. It’s weird to me that I look more at production than anything, but I’m just a music person. Damon Sharpe worked on this, and he’s worked with a wide array of people, like Monica, Kelly Rowland, and Ariana Grande. How did you connect with him?
Kendra Erika: I was working with a team in New York, and they introduced me to Jason Dahlman from Sony Red. He had this idea of me working with his writers in L.A., and they ultimately introduced me to Damon. From then on, we’ve been the dream team. When we work together, there’s a flow and we vibe very well. We like to keep it as authentic as possible. I’m looking forward to sharing more music that we’re working together on.
U.G. Digital Mag: Talk about music that will be coming. This song is doing so well.
Kendra Erika: I want to be consistent in keeping the same feel, but I do want a ballad in there. Not too much where it’s like this 80s romantic comedy powerful thing. Just having more of that hallsy chain-smoker vibe to it that appeals to the youthful generation where they’re trying to find themselves. It appeals to the older crowd too because they love lyrics and smart melodies. It’ll be pretty cool. I want to throw in something of that nature.
U.G. Digital Mag: It’s great. You want consistency, but someone like myself who love the music behind it all, I would love to hear the ballad. But again, you want the consistency. In terms of full length album what’s to come?
Kendra Erika: I have an album that will be wrapped by end of summer potentially. I’ll be promoting the lead single that will drop during the summer. It’ll be a good time to present an album and get everyone brought back.
U.G. Digital Mag: You also worked with Mark Stoute.
Kendra Erika: Yes, he’s great.
U.G. Digital Mag: Most definitely. Talk about what you guys have been working on.
Kendra Erika: His remixes really captivate that mass audience who wants something positive to move to. I love what he did with Under My Skin. He brought it to his own level. I love what DJs do because they have their own take on songs and perspective. I love how they can capture their feelings, and make songs cater to certain crowds. It’s neat to be a part of it. bsolutely love it.
It’s wonderful to connect with you Kendra. Tell everyone about your coming into music?
I grew up in South Florida, and it’s really tropical here, especially around Miami. A lot of pool party scenes, and I really fell in love with the deep house, EDM, and the whole DJ world. I started off singing in lounges, and doing some of the old Jazz standards. I liked having that fusion of vintage old standards with deep house. It’s the new age relaxation, cool vibe music. I feel like it intertwines very well.
It definitely does. There’s so many people doing this, like EDM is really growing. I can think back to when I first heard it, and wasn’t really feeling it. It’s grown so much though, and now I love it. It’s growing tremendously, and there’s a lot more creativity.
Most definitely. A lot of people would go to Ultra and get amped up. A lot of those songs are super upbeat and hyped up. People are gravitating more to it because the deep house DJs are taking over and having more of an influence. Everybody can relate to it now, and it appeals to a lot of people.
Right. It is more appealing. Your song, “Under My Skin”, the production stood out to me. It’s weird to me that I look more at production than anything, but I’m just a music person. Damon Sharpe worked on this, and he’s worked with a wide array of people, like Monica, Kelly Rowland, and Ariana Grande. How did you connect with him?
I was working with a team in New York, and they introduced me to Jason Dahlman from Sony Red. He had this idea of me working with his writers in L.A., and they ultimately introduced me to Damon. From then on, we’ve been the dream team. When we work together, there’s a flow and we vibe very well. We like to keep it as authentic as possible. I’m looking forward to sharing more music that we’re working together on.
Talk about music that will be coming. This song is doing so well.
I want to be consistent in keeping the same feel, but I do want a ballad in there. Not too much where it’s like this 80s romantic comedy powerful thing. Just having more of that hallsy chain-smoker vibe to it that appeals to the youthful generation where they’re trying to find themselves. It appeals to the older crowd too because they love lyrics and smart melodies. It’ll be pretty cool. I want to throw in something of that nature.
It’s great. You want consistency, but someone like myself who love the music behind it all, I would love to hear the ballad. But again, you want the consistency. In terms of full length album what’s to come?
I have an album that will be wrapped by end of summer potentially. I’ll be promoting the lead single that will drop during the summer. It’ll be a good time to present an album and get everyone brought back.
You also worked with Mark Stoute.
Yes, he’s great.
Most definitely. Talk about what you guys have been working on.
His remixes really captivate that mass audience who wants something positive to move to. I love what he did with Under My Skin. He brought it to his own level. I love what DJs do because they have their own take on songs and perspective. I love how they can capture their feelings, and make songs cater to certain crowds. It’s neat to be a part of it.
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