Today we’d like to introduce you to Ericka Page.
Hi Ericka, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, I’ve always had a love of the arts. Growing up in rural Florida, I sang in my souther baptist church choir, although then I didn’t always have an appreciation of having to sacrifice watching my X-Men cartoons on Saturday mornings to go to practice before more church on Sunday. I guess I was always torn between loving magic fantasy and music ha. I was in band and choir at school too until I managed to get a D in one of my classes in ninth grade. At that age, I hopped around a few schools before dropping out all together and getting a GED. It wasn’t until college that I began with music again. Music is a deep love of mine, initially my draw toward Los Angeles, but I have also been interested other aspects of art and storytelling. Filmmaking and writing have worked their way into my creative outlets, and it has felt great to explore. I’ve written and directed a few short films and a young adult fantasy novel that I’ve been working on for the past six years will finally be out next month on May 1st. As far as music, I’m more excited than ever to release the new songs. I just finished shooting the music video for my song “Now (The Moment)” which is already available to stream everywhere. We’re just finding the right place to premiere the visual. I don’t have an exact release date, but it will be very soon.
I guess it’s worth mentioning my gender transition over the last year as well lol, although funny enough, it feels like the most natural thing. Gender dysphoria was something I was desperately suffering from, even though it wasn’t easy to admit it. Life was losing its beauty and I was really struggling. It wasn’t a good place to be. My existence has changed so profoundly for the better since finding the courage to live authentically. Im more happy and excited about everything than I ever have been, and I think more people are noticing me now than ever before because of it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a musician and creative person, we don’t always have an exact direct path to being able to reach our full potential. Art can be subjective and more than ever people want work for free with the “promise” of getting you the next paid gig. I think we have to first be making art because we love to do it, of course, but eventually some money would be cute too. Navigating the new world of social media and digital music is a blessing in many ways but it’s still a rough hard hustle. As indie artists, we have to offer the same caliber of music and videos and do it on a shoestring budget. We really have to get creative to get and keep a fans attention.
Finding time and peace of mind to write music, a literary project or a film while you also have to work another job to pay bills is no easy task. Los Angeles is no cheap place. But if you’re really lucky and chisel away at your craft, those two worlds can begin to balance out and you might find yourself doing more and more creative gigs, although the struggle to get there can be very real.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Music has been my main focus for a while. I scored a documentary called “Streetlight Harmonies” that released in 2019 about the history of doo-wop music and was featured as an artist on the soundtrack. Gabe Lopez and I produced our own version of the classic song “Maybe” by the Chantels and sang on the track with Angela Peel. The “Streetlight Harmonies” documentary is streaming on Amazon now and the soundtrack is on Lakeshore Records, streaming everywhere. My current release “Now (The Moment)” is an empowerment anthem. I wrote, produced and recorded the song before my transition, but it sort of felt like the perfect message for my first single since. It’s also my first solo song release in about five years. The song encourages listeners to try to live more in the moment but also points out our ability to take advantage of each moment. The music video is also really fun. I’m super excited!
My book is a young adult fantasy novel called “A Marvel of Magick: Madden and the Dark Unicorns of Danuk”. It’s a coming of age adventure kind of thing with some scares, laughs and lots of magic. Not to mention UNICORNS! Haha another of my obsessions. The book is available everywhere for Pre-Order now. May 1st official release date. Please check it out!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Right now, I’d have to say my biggest influences and mentors are the other trans girls out there who have been such wonderful examples for the community. Janet Mock, Angelica Ross, Hunter Schafer, Indya Moore, Teddy Geiger, Kim Petras these are all women I look up to creatively. Anohni holds a special place musically. To have transitioned as an artist and to still be singing her heart out with such a message. Her music has been played a lot during my transition. I listened to everything when I was old enough to start choosing for myself, although I still leaned toward my RnB soulful roots. TLC, Immature, Boys II Men, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston were who I really fanned out for (and still would lol). My mom played a lot of Donny Hathaway and I have been in love with him since. Nina Simone is really special. I was also not immune to the Britney/Christina/NSYNC/Backstreet craze that spread in the 90s-2000’s and definitely have to give a little influence cred were its due there. Wild Orchid/Fergie has been a big influence too. Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Max Martin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Linda Perry are some of my favorite producers. The list of influences goes on. It is long ha!
Contact Info:
- Website: ErickaPage.com
- Instagram: @TheErickaPage
- Facebook: Facebook.com/TheErickaPage
- Twitter: @TheErickaPage
- Youtube: Youtube.com/TheErickaPage
- SoundCloud: /TheErickaPage
- Other: AMarvelOfMagick.com
Image Credits
Blue polkadot dress photo credit: Becca Van Bockern
