U.G. Digital Mag: : It’s amazing. I love what you represent as an artist. It’s freeing in a sense. I use music as an escape at times.
Kendra Erika: Exactly. I love to offer people an escape. I also like to enlighten. I’m not purposely a sex symbol. Everything is desensitized, and over-sexualized. In order to empower young women, I want to bring that sense of unity, and bring the tastefulness back to music.
U.G. Digital Mag:: I’ve talked to ten artists today, and you’re first to speak of authenticity [laughing]. It’s great. You talk unity, and to be honest, that’s what I’m about. With all of our articles, that’s what we’re pushing. It totally drives who I reach out to for interviews and features, and those who I don’t. There’s room for everyone, and we can work together. Musically, we’re all talking about a lot of the same things and experiencing the same things. We really could unite and grow with each other. I love that through your music, I feel like people are being united.
IKendra Erika: ’m appreciative of that.
U.G. Digital Mag: I know you have an album coming, and it’s cool. I do a lot of internet browsing, and you’re in so many places online. What other things are you working on that we should know more about?
Kendra Erika: Coming into the summer, I’m looking forward to performances in Miami. I’m working my way to Vegas. I have a really good vibe about that.
U.G. Digital Mag: Vegas is the best.
Kendra Erika: Of course. Everybody loves Vegas, especially if you’re talking about escaping (laughing). It’s also an oasis, so, another little pun (laughing). I just love writing and collaborating. I also recently worked with someone from DJ Snake’s team. We’re looking forward to rapping that up and sending it off soon.
U.G. Digital Mag: Working with other artists and DJs, it’s good because it also helps you grow. Who else would you like to work with?
Kendra Erika: I would love to work with Lana Del Ray. She just has this cinematic way of portraying herself and her music. She’s gone through a lot in finding herself, and she’s really redeemed herself along the way. She’s come out of it in a healthy way and she’s honest. That’s one thing I admire, and I look forward to working with Elie Goulding. She’s very down to earth. I saw her concert in Miami and just her talking to the audience like we were all just hanging out. She was on a stage, but it was like we were all on one level. People love people. They don’t like a golden statue. They can’t relate to that. I want to continue working with people like that who are authentic, mature, and know their identity. They don’t really listen to the people around them as far as how they should dress or move. You’re not relatable that way.
U.G. Digital Mag: What makes you relatable also is you have your own mind. You have to have a mind for yourself and know what’s right and wrong. Someone else I love is Katie Perry, and I picture you working with her too. I’d love to hear that. Collaborations are really good though.
Kendra Erika: When I saw Katie Perry riding that high lion at the Super Bowl, she was just like this is my time. It made me chuckle, but it was cool to witness.
U.G. Digital Mag: I think that you’ve worked extremely hard to get to where you are, and that’s something else I love. I like to see people who come into this, and have an authentic and genuine love and respect for the craft. Things are vibing and I can tell by your conversation that you paid attention coming into this. What advice do you offer to the next one coming up? People often feel like it’s never going to happen for them.
what you have to do and your message. Be honest and Kendra Erika: Trust me, I’ve had those moments where I’ve asked if this was really it for me. But that’s when you’ve reached your point as a human. Things are getting real. The one piece of advice is to focus on your own thing. Don’t get distracted by social media. As much as it’s really important, it can also be a major distraction. People falsify things all the time. You can’t believe the hype. Focus on what you have to do and your message. Be honest and be who you are.
be who you are.