Ericka Janes

Meet You don’t wanna know-born UK Open Mic performer Ericka Janes:

Ericka Janes

Hi Ericka Janes, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

Where were you born?

You don’t wanna know

Where did you grow up?

You still don’t wanna know…

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

That’s why it’s mostly sad.

Where are you based now, and why?

London, cause it’s as grey here as in my hometown but in a good way.

What got you into making music in the first place?

My parents are musicians, don’t think I’ve ever had a choice but in a good way

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing
Piano
Piano
Guitar
Percussion
Violin
Bass
Drums
Harmonica

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Radiohead, early Coldplay, James Bay, The Script, freaking Hannah Montana (she inspired me to start writing FOR REAL you know), Tom Rosenthal, Norah Jones, Jacob Collier, Black Sea Dahu, Kina Grannis, so many more.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

The process of writing songs.

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

Cause it’s an amazing way to play at as many venues as possible, meet as many people as possible and just have fun.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

Be yourself, they’ll know that you’re weird so don’t try to hide it.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

They’ll know I’m weird.

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

Once, I played at a wedding with my cover band, and the bride’s VERY DRUNK DAD screamed in my face, ‘YOU’RE FUCKING BULLSHIT!’ Then he turned to the other singer in the band and screamed, ‘AND YOU, TOO!’ It was so hilarious that we couldn’t carry on.