Erica's Story...

Erica ichiko Iji (Surname pronounced ‘E Jee’) was born and raised in the city of Plymouth on Britain’s South Westerly Coast, to a Nigerian father & English mother. The 2nd eldest of 5 siblings Erica soon found out that the best way to get attention in a big family was by singing and performing…

“I started singing from a very early age,” Erica recalls. “My nan gave me a toy microphone when I was just 3 years old and I never looked back.” A natural performer Erica attended the famous ‘Stagecoach’ school from 11 until the age of 16 during which time she sang live on children’s channel Nickelodeon.

Erica was surrounded by influential sounds growing up. ‘I remember my dad would play his African & Reggae music, & my mum would play her Soul & Motown’ … ‘Then I discovered artists like India Arie, Mary J Blige & Shola Ama who influenced me to write my own songs’ Erica soon got noticed for her talent and her single ‘I don’t know what to do?’ gained the attention of A&R’s & Music magazines such as ‘Touch’ & ‘Blues & Soul’ who featured Erica as one to watch out for as a young teenager.

While attending a music seminar in Devon, Erica was to meet producer and songwriter Steve Marshall, who Erica was to team up with to produce her first Soul/R&B album named ‘I Am Erica’. While working with Steve, Erica’s vocals featured on the album 'Scratch Came Scratch Saw Scratch Conquered' by the pioneering dub and reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. Released in 2008,"SCSSSC" went to number 8 in the Billboard World Music airplay chart in the US. The track entitled 'Heavy Voodoo' also featured legendary rolling stones man Keith Richards on guitar. Soon forming a strong following on Myspace as a young R&B/Soul singer and while performing to an industry crowd at famous ‘Soho Revue bar’ (now ‘the Box soho’) Erica attracted the attention of several major labels.

A move to London to pursue opportunities in music followed & it was in the big smoke where Erica met DJ Matchstick (Now Kiss FM DJ), with whom she worked on several tracks with. Erica performed across the country, including the event ‘Shoot a ball not a gun’ where she was on the same line up as pop trio N Dubz & grime legend Kano, it wasn’t long before her sound was to take an unexpected path ‘some of my R&B tracks were remixed into Bassline and Funky which was blowing up at that time’ a publishing deal for the single ‘It’s Over’ remixed by ‘Witty Boy’ soon followed and the single featured on the ‘Ministry of Sound’ compilation ‘The Sound Of Bassline 2’.

Erica’s sound took another twist when she was introduced to fellow Plymouthian & house producer ‘Kenny Hectyc’ they have worked on 3 house tracks which between them have amassed well over 100,000 plays on Soundcloud including ‘Addicted’ which was played on national radio Kiss FM. Their track ‘Like A Ghost’ was released on the record label ‘Freakin 909’ of House music legend Marshall Jefferson.

Erica continues to work with house producers with several tracks in the pipeline, while also currently writing & recording for a new R&B project set for release in 2018.

Contact MGMT & Info: Info@ericaijimusic.com