Alt-pop punk noir princess Erica James is setting a new standard in UK music with her debut album, ‘WABI SABI’.
Hailing from South London, Erica James is not just a singer-songwriter but also a producer and entertainment journalist. Her independently released debut album, ‘WABI SABI’, hit the airwaves last month, showcasing her exceptional talent.
The album is a compelling narrative of love, loss, freedom, and relationships, with a nod to Y2K stars such as Save The Last Dance’s Julia Stiles, whose name becomes a symbol of defiance and self-reliance in the standout pop-punk track, ‘Julia Stiles’. Erica penned and produced each of the album’s ten tracks, carefully selected from a pool of over 50 songs she wrote and produced herself.
In less than a month since its release, two tracks from ‘WABI SABI’, namely ‘Julia Stiles’ and the afropop hit ‘Made’, have garnered multiple spins on BBC Radio. Renowned BBC Sussex and Surrey radio DJ Melita Dennett handpicked both songs for her prestigious weekly BBC Introducing show.
Expressing her gratitude, Erica said, “The support from BBC Radio and DJ Melita for my album is beyond words.” She added,
“Growing up in London, I was influenced by diverse artists ranging from Kate Bush and Blur to Skepta. But with African roots, I was also immersed in genres like afrobeat from artists like Fela Kuti and Yemi Alade. ‘MADE’ is a celebration of my cultural heritage, and I hope it inspires others to embrace their own identities.”
Having spent part of her childhood in New Jersey, USA, Erica draws inspiration from local legends such as Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, studying their songwriting as a blueprint for crafting anthemic, stadium-filling tracks.
The notable American blog Ones To Watch featured ‘FINALLY FREE’, another track from ‘WABI SABI’, on their renowned New Music Friday Spotify playlist.
Erica, an anime enthusiast, conceived ‘WABI SABI’ during lockdown, capturing the impermanence felt by many as society adapted to a new normal amidst the backdrop of various injustices in 2020.
Inspired by rock and pop concept albums of the 70s and 80s, such as David Bowie’s ‘The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust’ and Rick James’s ‘Street Songs’, Erica crafted an album narrating the journey of an artificial intelligent-alien-like avatar descending to earth to emancipate closed minds, as depicted in the album’s Intro.
This extraordinary musical talent will soon be gracing stages across the country, with tour dates expected to be announced soon.
‘WABI SABI’ is available now via all major platforms.
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