Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Canales.
Erica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
At 19, I moved to Los Angeles to study voice at Hollywood’s Musician’s Institute. I started immediately working in the session/Studio singer community and was doing pretty steady projects that led to co-writing several songs featured in film and television. Then in 2005, I met Scott Seiver (a music producer and currently drummer for Tenacious D.) and we began to collaborate on my debut album 577, released in April 2007.
After pursuing my solo project, I eventually became frustrated and exhausted by the music industry and decided to walk away from it. From 2007 – 2014, I became a successful producer of fashion photography. I collaborated and put together photo shoots for high-profile clients, with campaigns being featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair and Elle Magazine and many others. But this industry also proved difficult and even though I had put music on the back burner, I occasionally did a show or two with friends or people that knew what I used to do in the local scene.
In 2014, after the sudden loss of my father, I had a lot of time to reflect. I realized that music would always be in my blood. It would always be my passion and with that I walked away from the fashion industry and back into music.
I got a call from a friend and fellow singer Dannielle De Andrea (Jackson Browne, John Farnham), about our friend Jeff Young (Jackson Browne, Steely Dan) needing a couple of background vocalists for a CONAN appearance with Dhani Harrison. After that appearance, I got call from Jimmy Vivino (Conan Musical Director) and he asked if I would be a part of George Fest: A Celebration of the Music of George Harrison, that was taking place that weekend and that I would need to show up on Friday at 10AM, for a 2 hour vocal rehearsal with the Musical Director and with the other vocalist, learn about 20+ songs and begin rehearsals with the artists later that day and the next. The performance was on Sunday night.
The lineup included The Flaming Lips, Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Karen Elson, Brian Wilson, Brandon Flowers, Perry Farrell, Ann Wilson and many more.
This performance led to the meeting that would change my life. Brandon Flowers is the lead singer of The Killers. He was performing “I Got My Mind Set On You” and just before the performance, he wanted to run through it with just vocals.
We had a great musical connection and what I learned later, after four years of working with him, was that he remembered that moment and when it came time to pick background singers for his upcoming solo world tour, he made sure I was contacted and brought on to the tour.
Fast forward to five years later, having asked to join The Killers as a background vocalist for their Wonderful Wonderful world tour, I could not be happier or love my life more.
I’m so lucky to get to do what I do.
So thankful to so many amazing people and the community of musicians that I’m insanely lucky to be a part of.
Life is good.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely NOT been a smooth ride nor has it been a straight line to success.
It’s most definitely been filled with lots of detours and I’m OK with that!
I think the biggest struggle was recognizing what I really wanted to do within the music industry and also what made me happy.
When I was in a solo artist role, it never felt right. But the minute I began singing and writing music with and for other people, I was so happy. It made me realize that for me, being a part of a team, whether that be with working alongside and for other artists as a background vocalist, or in collaboration with another songwriter for a project, that was going to be important for my success and happiness.
Gotta love what you do, always.
Please tell us about Erica Canales.
I am a Vocalist/Vocal Coach/Musician and Songwriter.
I sing background vocals for many wonderful artists, my main project is touring with the incredible rock band The Killers. I’m also a part of a vocal harmony trio group called The SongBirds (Gaby Moreno, myself and Dannielle De Andrea).
I also teach voice while I’m on and off the road. I love to work with students 10 and up and it really brings me a lot of joy to work with my students to help them find their voices and SING!
I also play piano and am currently learning guitar, I think it’s important to be able to play an instrument so that you can write and also know what others are experiencing with the instruments they work with.
Songwriting is also a really big part of what I do. I started writing music for TV & Film early in my career and it’s always been a part of what I do. I love to tell stories and have other people sing them or make them theirs. Getting to see my name on the big screen, in film credits or in TV credits was such a great feeling.
I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished in the last five years. I knew that what I was experiencing coming back into music, especially after being away for so long, was really special. The opportunities, the challenges that I faced, the experiences I’ve had have been amazing and have taught me so much.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have stayed on the songwriting path and I wouldn’t have gone into another career.
Probably would have had a bit more faith in my talent and in my abilities as a vocalist and musician.
We can get caught up in living life and forget our purpose.
I certainly did for a little while.
Luckily, I’m back and it’s like I never left.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ericacanales.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @ericacanalesmusic
- Twitter: @ericacanales
Image Credit:
Photo by Rob Loud
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