We had the good fortune of connecting with Erika Levy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erika, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in Long Beach, California, surfing, cruising around with my dog, and wanting to be an artist. My father is an artist and woodworker, and my mother has a background in music, so it’s no surprise that after many years of piano lessons and being surrounded by creatives, I started writing my own songs. My dad made every piece of furniture in our house, and a lot of it is pretty whimsical and psychedelic. When I look back, it was like growing up in a wonderland. I think I felt a certain freedom to express myself and pursue a creative path. My first CD was Abbey Road by The Beatles, which I did not fully appreciate until the ripe age of 17, and I swooned over piano goddesses such as Fiona Apple and Tori Amos. I also think something about my upbringing developed my flexible and adaptable traits, which is why I find it so easy to live a nomadic lifestyle. I’m always in a temporary home, and so far, it’s been delightful and has allowed me the freedom to dive deep into music.

Let’s talk music. Tell us more about your career, and any challenges you’ve faced.

I write songs. I’ve been writing music on the piano since I was a kid, but I started seriously going after it in 2018. I was recently divorced and going through a “what am I doing with my life?” kind of upheaval. So I decided to head East to New York City, where I had always dreamed of living at some point. I got this crazy sublet that was an artist’s studio to a Painter (not technically a living space), but there is where I slept on the floor, wrote songs, and performed open mic nights three times a week. The biggest challenge in my story started in New York because I was terrified of performing live. So I threw myself into the fire. I forced myself to do the open mic thing until it didn’t phase me anymore. I became a regular at the Sidewalk Cafe, an iconic anti-folk haunt that is sadly no longer with us, and ended up booking my first show there. And that’s really how it all started for me. If you want something bad enough, you figure out a way.
Having truly started presenting my work to the world in my 30s, I still feel enthusiastic and excited over small accomplishments. I like that about me, but I know it can be an extremely frustrating career with few monetary rewards. Nevertheless, I will keep at it because the inner necessity doesn’t disappear. As long as I’m having fun, I feel pretty dang good to be here. And I hope I can inspire someone else to go after their dreams.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
LA is so spread out that people tend to stick to their dwelling zones, but I am very fortunate to have lived in every corner of the city, so I have a variety of favorite spots. I love Topanga Canyon for surfing and hiking, and I love taking my friends to the Reel Inn for some Oysters and libations. I always love catching a show at Gold Diggers. I also enjoy walking Elysian Park on the high trails with the view of Downtown LA. I did that throughout the pandemic, and it’s stuck with me as a place of reflection. Dunsmoor in Eagle Rock is super cozy and has insanely delicious food. And I like the scene at Little Dom’s in Los Feliz. Oh, and Chateau Marmont for ghost sightings and a sturdy Negroni.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give a shoutout to my music friend, bandmate, photographer extraordinaire, and co-producer Adam Lempel. We met at an open Mic in New York, and he was the first person outside my immediate family to believe in my music and encouraged me to move forward. So now he comes to LA a lot, and we play shows and record music together. It’s great!

Website: www.helloimerikalevy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rikasuave/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmj2UN8lSuuq6kO9qSGw7vA

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4osNlshmso649CxQ8JGzi4?si=wbRei91hQ7KQumaCD4Yb6w

Image Credits
Adam Lempel

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