US Dance Sensation Set To Hit UK Shores This July
US Billboard No.1 Dance Breakout artist, Erika Jayne, will hit UK shores this July as she presents her forthcoming hit record Rollercoaster (taken from debut album Pretty Mess). Let’s take a trip… in a limousine, to a private jet flying to a secluded island in the Bahamas. We spend the evening on a yacht taking a moonlight cruise, staring up at the awe-inspiring beauty of the heavens. A soft breeze blows as we stand out on the deck and the sounds of Erika Jayne’s “Stars” wafts out from the main cabin.
Atlanta-bred, sultry stunner, Erika Jayne, has traveled the world as a model and an entertainer and enjoyed the finest it has to offer. She shares her experiences – the people, the places, the essence and the energy of all she has seen – through her music. Themes like love, beauty and escape (literally and figuratively) are explored in Pretty Mess, her debut angle. The album will see its official release in the Summer of 2007.
Prior to the release of the album, comes the Breakout hit, Rollercoaster (due for single release in July). A perfect pop/dance record, the track is set to be the soundtrack to those hot, sultry Summer days and nights, across the UK and Europe. Already going wild Stateside, Erika is the name of the moment in New York and Los Angeles, where she has been working with global club and party planner supremo, Susanne Bartsch. Last December, she was the new kid in town at Winter Music Conference in Miami where she debuted the single in front of the world’s Fashionistas, celebrities and glitteratis.
Written and produced by Peter Rafelson, whose credits including penning the global hit Open Your Heart for Madonna, as well as top ten singles for Stevie Nicks and Jane Wiedlin of the GoGos, Rafelson brings his magic to Erika’s unique blend of fashion, style and sound. Also in Erika’s creative team is long-standing friend, Travis Payne (credits include Madonna, Janet Jackson and Beyonce).
The record also includes mixes by DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious, Tony Moran, Moto Blanco and Mark Knight.
Pretty Mess – The Album
"My mother would introduce me, and I would make my “big entrance” into the room from the closet," says Erika of her youthful antics. Raised by her mother and grandmother, the artistic drive that permeates her life was always encouraged at home. "I would put on shows for whomever was at the house at the time," she adds “I’d play my ukulele and sing and dance.” Others noticed her star-quality early on. “Erika has always been a star,” says longtime friend and choreographer/co-director, Travis Payne (Madonna, Beyonce). “She has had presence and commanded attention from an early age,” he adds “she is uninhibited by fear and that makes her work so bold and incredible.”
Payne introduced Erika to his frequent collaborator, Peter Rafelson. Rafelson, a prominent producer, songwriter and creative force in many types of media who has worked with Madonna, Berlin, Britney Spears, Elton John, Stevie Nicks and many other high profile artists, sees Erika as a “dream artist… someone who has pushed me to push myself.”
This group that Erika assembled to create Pretty Mess put together a collection of sensory experiences (aka songs) that take the listener on a trip around the world. These journeys come from within Erika and then they are “dressed up… the final touches are put on them,” she explains.
Erika assembled an “Artist Bible” of evocative images (fashion icons, old Hollywood scenes, and opalescent lifestyle) and feelings that reflected emotions she wanted to convey through her music… a palate, if you will, for Rafelson, and Erika’s team to inspire him and enable them to help her put it all together. “Though her music, we’ve been able to build her multi-media platform, advancing the tone and feel of the entire project,” he states.
“I feel good when I sing Stars,” says Erika “I love it – I am so proud of that song!” Evocative of the afore-mentioned moonlight cruise, this track is a “sweet moment” according to its author. The sweeping melody and ethereal vocal quality envelopes you in audio-luxury. The song “Beautiful” was built around the concept that there is beauty everywhere in life – in people, places and relationships. “It is a sexy song – it brings to mind a trip I took to Sardinia, what a sexy place!” she explains. The pulsating beat and the hot vocals underline the track’s theme. “Every woman has been a princess, temptress, doormat, diplomat in their life,” explains Erika of the inspiration behind “Pretty Mess.”
The song is directed to a man – it is a confessional of sorts, of what a woman experiences and reflects on… “This song gives you in more of a big city feel,” she concludes. The more pan-European song of the bunch is the feel-good opus, “Rollercoaster.” Its bold beats encourage listeners to dance and get wild.
When asked about her ultimate goal, Erika Jayne says “Everyone wants commercial success, but my primary goal was to make the best record possible... a work of art I can be proud of. I have made a record that represents my point of view as thoroughly as possible.” Her beauty, elegance, intelligence and talent are laid out in Pretty Mess. Music lovers will have the opportunity to bask in its glow and enjoy the success of Pretty Mess.
To find out more, visit Myspace.com/erikajaynemusic or Erikajayne.com.
