Miss Erika Davies: The Voice In The Wind

It’s been a pretty good while since I last posted, but I am very glad to get back into the swing of things and proud to present to you Miss Erika Davies as our Featured Artist.

By now, most of you have heard her voice on the “Subaru commercial” and became hooked on that jingle. Well there is much, much more to Miss Erika Davies than just that one song. Miss Erika Davies was very kind to answer a few questions that were on my mind (and maybe on some of your minds as well). So here it is. Enjoy!

Jay, The Opening Set: First of all, Thank you very much for taking the time to answer a few questions for your fans and our readers. It’s appreciated. Tell us about how you first got started in the music world?

Miss Erika Davies: Well sure, thank you for taking the time to ask me questions.
My start in the music world… it began at open mic in 2003-2004 at a San Diego local coffee house, Lestat’s. Armed with my then jazz guitarist, Chris Baldwin, I began with one original song and the rest jazz standards.

It was right there that the sound guy told me of a local troubadour whom would love to have me sing duets and solos with him and so I went on a small tour of San Diego and a few Los Angeles gigs. I got my chops all polished up for about a year or so until I was ready to set out on my own.

Jay: Tell me if this is a fair assessment of your music. To me, it sounds like a mixture of Jazz, Traditional Folk, and maybe even a bit of Hawaiian type sounds to it at times. Couple that with your excellent vocals and it all blends extremely well. How would you describe your sound?

Erika: Oh, thank you. I think you have it right, except for the Hawaiian! Ha! I would describe my music as whimsical or as someone once told me, it is like ribbons trailing through the sky or a voice carried in the wind, bringing news of freshly baked, delicious cupcakes.

Jay: Wow. That’s a very interesting description but it fits your sounds quite well. Speaking of your sounds, you put out a CD entitled “Creecho Habecktoe – Old Ditties And New” Tell us a little bit about that and how did you come up with the title?

Erika: Creecho Habecktoe was the first account or diary if you will, of some of my own songs coupled with old time jazz gems. It was recorded in a friends home studio in 2008/2009. It is a very low-fi recording which lends to the intimate living room concert feel. The title was a nickname that my dad had for me when I was a little one.

Jay: I hear a lot of ukelele in several songs from that CD. Is that your preferred instrument or do you play other instruments as well?

Erika: My voice, I was taught is my main instrument. I was instructed by my first of two vocal instructors and 2 months of voice lessons, to hold my body upright and my chest outward yet in a relaxed manner. I was told that if my body goes crooked and if I lose control of my diaphragm then, that is like a trumpet or sax player trying to make beautiful sounds out of a bent instrument.

Voice is my passion.

I enjoy playing the uke for the purpose of getting the songs out that quickly pop into my head. Then I usually write the uke chords/melody/lyrics and play them for a guitarist and then he transposes them into guitar chords that he is familiar with and my song is born.

Jay: Let’s talk about “the song from the Subaru commercial”, “I Love You, I Do”. I’ll be honest, I first came across your music because of that commercial. It has a very nice vintage country, rockabilly sound to it which I love and it immediately caught my attention. How did that gig come about for you?

Erika: I love that song as well. The part you hear on the commercial was written before I got to a local San Diego studio (by Rafter Roberts) where I basically auditioned along side a few other local San Diego musicians. I sang on the country style track and it was recorded and submitted to Subaru. Of the many entrants, Subaru chose the version with my voice and Rafter Roberts guitar playing.

I then asked permission from Rafter to complete the song on my own, using my own guitarist. This full/new version written by Rafter Roberts and Miss Erika Davies, is the version you’ll hear on my new CD “Galaxy Lakes”.

Jay: Judging by the reaction across several social media sites, the song was a huge hit and opened many people’s ears to the rest of your music. Did you expect it to be such a hit? Did you think there would be such a demand for a full length version or did you already have a full length version planned regardless?

Erika: Yes, a much bigger reaction than I had ever thought! You know, I fell in love with the song and I wanted to finish it. I had it in my head all day and the day after I had recorded it! It wasn’t really planned, I wanted to include it on the album I had begun working on and people started asking for it kinda at the same time. So I thought, “OK, lets record it and put it on Galaxy Lakes. It was just supposed to be I guess.

But it is causing quite a stir and you know, I think that is a very good thing.

Jay: Sure is a good thing. Going back to the full length version of the song from your upcoming “Galaxy Lakes” CD, the first thing people will probably notice is that it is a bit different from the commercial version. What made you decide to change it up?

Erika: Well, I had began to play it live and it became a part of my set at live shows and I was playing it with a different guitarist than the one who played on the commercial version. When you play songs live, if you let them grow and breathe, then they evolve. So I suppose this was the case with the album version. It just became a little bit more mine than before.

Jay: The song “Tumbleweed” is a song I’m looking forward to from the new CD. Very smooth and relaxing hook/chorus on it. Any other particular song you think we should be on the lookout for? Or do you have a favorite song that you just love performing?

Erika: Yes, I love “Tumbleweed” as well. I wrote this with my pal Chris Fulford-Brown. He brought me the composed music and I wrote some melody and lyrics.

I am very fond of and love performing “Deep Sea Dancer” and “Robot Girl” as well.

Jay: Any touring planned?

Erika: Touring comes soon! I’ve yet to plan it but it is in my future. My new website is in the works. It will be up and running soon at misserikadavies.com

Jay: What’s your ultimate goal in the music world?

Erika: I usually work hard and constantly tell the universe what I see myself doing and offers will come to me when I am ready. I just try and keep my eyes and heart and mind open, coupled with my intuition and young wisdom. Then I am sure to choose the right path at the right time for me.

Jay: Any other musical projects you have going on right now?

Erika: Not right now!

Jay: Where can people find all your latest news, shows, etc..?

Erika: myspace.com/erika and on Facebook under Miss Erika Davies and soon, misserikadavies.com

Jay: More importantly, where can they order your upcoming CD? And will it be available as a digital download on sites like Amazon, CDbaby, etc??

Erika: Right now it is available in my Etsy store.

The “I Love You, I Do” single is up on iTunes/Amazon etc. right now! “Galaxy Lakes” will be available on iTunes June 7th.

Jay: Thank you again for your time Erika. Any final words for your fans and our readers?

Erika: Well, thank you. I hope if you’re reading this that you are or become a fan and I am very thankful to have fans period.

There you have it. Now go out and support this great indie artist! Buy her music. You won’t be disappointed.