Not all of the best neo-soul artists necessarily originate from Philly. California is also quietly becoming a breeding ground for some of today’s most soulful acts. Ready to emerge is Cali’s own Erika Sulpacio—a true California girl who was born in San Diego, raised in the Bay Area’s Berkeley, California area, and currently resides in Los Angeles.

This may be Erika’s debut solo project, but it’s certainly not her first foray as a recording artist. Ms. Sulpacio was once in a group called Treehouse, represented by veteran manager Benny Medina (Will Smith, Mariah Carey). “We’re going to take a particularly different route with this project,” she says. “I’ve had record deals with groups through Yab Yum and Universal, but this time I’m doing it independently.”

Erika has been working diligently to complete the project, working with such producers as Michaelangelo (Faith Evans), and up-and comers like Jeff Jeudy and Anthony Nance. “These guys are very talented” she says “and all present a similar and yet uniquely different vibe. They’re all students of classic soul music and understand where I’m trying to go as an artist.”

Erika’s album is expected to be released in the Spring of 2005, and the first region that will get a taste of it is the Bay Area. Erika and her team expect to saturate Oakland’s radio waves, the local club scene and the streets with her music. “The Bay Area is just our starting point, because it’s also my home and my first love. It will be where we get the buzz going, and we can break nationally from there.”

Erika’s influences harken back to the golden age of R&B, the ‘70s. She cites soul queen Chaka Khan, and groups such as the Ohio Players, Earth Wind & Fire, and the Brothers Johnson among her favorites. “I loved the funk in the bass lines and the instrumentation from some of their greatest songs…the passion in the vocals. It doesn’t get any better than that. I can only hope to carry the torch of those legends.”

Erika is well on her way. Her mantra as an artist has been to be true to herself. She realizes that we’re living in a hip-hop world, but understands that there is also a huge audience yearning for her sounds and her style. “People will peg me as a funky, neo-soul stylist, but don’t expect me to hit the stage wearing dashikis, or a turban. There’s nothing wrong with that. But so many soul artists out there feel that they have to be eccentric or have a real organic look. But what about the fly, funky, hip-hop soul artist? I want to try something more contemporary—something a bit more sexy?”

As it pertains to her soulful sound she states, “If I’m just going to go with the flow because that is what’s happening today, then the music will come off that way. I had to hone in on a sound and lyric that really touches me; one that truly represents me. That’s what enables you to come off with a credible and legitimate style. All I can say is I gotta be true to who and what I am.
I can only be me!”

back