Erika Michelle' Shipp was born Jan. 1 of the mid 80's in Memphis, TN. The natural performer's musical talents were discovered at the tender age of 1, while on a routine trip to the grocery store with her mother. She recalls, "I remember my mother telling me how I would listen to the radio or the music she was playing in the car and how my foot would move to the rhythm. She didn't believe that I was keeping beat and that it was a coincidence, so she turned the radio off and my foot stopped. Though it may not seem like much to some people, my mom said that this event let her know that there was something special about me and that music and I would share an exceptional relationship." At age 4, she began singing lead in the children’s choir at her church and eventually became a soloist for the adult choir, of which she remains an active member until this day.After fine tuning her talents in the church, Erika sought out the appreciation of local crowds by performing in college talent shows, small circuit musicals, and virtually anywhere with a stage. It was during this time when she began meeting local producers who encouraged her to record, sell and distribute her music. She immediately took their advice and began recording songs she had written chronicling her past relationships with men in uncompromising detail. She says of that time, "Encountering love gives so many emotions and I've never been one to hold back, so the end result leaves people shocked because I don’t bite my tongue. I write exactly what I feel. It's as though the listeners are being let in on therapeutic sessions when they listen to my songs." In 2006, she wrote and recorded 7 songs for a small industry E.P. release. While she still searches for distribution and marketing for the release, the response she receives locally when performing the songs is overwhelming.Erika's music was born out of the rich blues and early R&B tradition that Memphis is known for the world over. One listen and it is evident she is inextricably tied to the soulful sounds of legendary Memphis artists like Bessie Smith, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, and Albert King. In her songs, she intertwines this magnificent past with her own personal understanding of hip hop and contemporary R&B. When asked about her musical influences, she cites a diverse list of well known artists ranging from Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, and Whitney Houston to the gritty sounds of local rap artists Three Six Mafia, Project Pat, and Yo Gotti. One only needs to hear the lyrical prowess and vocal emotion of the song "Brand New Slacks" to be convinced that her style recounts her influences while bringing an original voice to the rich heritage and tradition of Memphis soul music.
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Buy merch from Erika Michelle' at www.zazzle.com/erikamichelle
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