by shelly decaigny
photo courtesy of erika tham
Playing pretend and living a dream. Erika Tham has had the opportunity to do both through her acting and music careers. She is doing what she loves, celebrating her heritage, and working hard to get what she wants in life. She is a creative force and a very interesting woman. We were fortunate to interview Erika, and we are so pleased to share it with you.
You have experience in both the acting world and the music industry. What have you enjoyed most about each?
Erika: “I think my favorite thing about acting is getting to become someone else. Dressing in clothes I wouldn’t normally wear, saying things I wouldn’t normally say etc… you’re getting paid to play pretend! When it comes to music, I love almost every aspect. I think my absolute favorite part of it would have to be performing though.”
What spurred you to transition professionally from acting to singing?
Erika: “I’ve always loved both, but I think it was falling in love with songwriting that really pushed me into pursuing music. Once I discovered songwriting it became all I wanted to do, all day everyday.”
What is it about your single “Admit It” that makes you most proud, and why did you make it your debut song?
Erika: “‘Admit It’ and the rest of the songs on this EP heavily feature traditional Asian instrumentation. Going into making these songs, I really wanted to honor my heritage, so I made it a point from day one to include those sounds. I was excited about the challenge of framing those instruments in a modern pop/R&B structure and behind lyrical content that fits with who I am as an artist. I think that’s what I’m most proud of about ‘Admit It,’ and it’s a big reason why it became my debut single. You can find those themes and sounds translate over to my new song ‘Shhh’ as well ahead of the EP.”
photo by 36neex yoshi uemura
If you could have known one thing before diving into the music scene, what would it have been?
Erika: “Probably how long it takes to perfect the mix of a song. I didn’t realize I’d be on version nine, ten, or eleven of a record before I was finally ready for it to be released into the world.”
Tell us about your unique blend of nationalities and how you connect with your heritage, especially in your music.
Erika: “My mom is Dutch and Ukrainian and my father is Chinese-Malaysian, so growing up I was exposed to an array of cultures and beliefs. I think that made me super open-minded when it came to deciding what I like, especially musically. I like to juxtapose things; soft, sensual vocals over hard, dark beats or, like in this EP, traditional Asian instrumentation with modern pop song structure.”
Where have you traveled so far, and where do you wish to travel in the future?
Erika: “I’ve lived in eight different countries (Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, China, Thailand, Canada, and now America) and been to almost every continent, but I have yet to go to any country in Africa, so that is definitely on my bucket list!”
Which artists and songs have inspired you most?
Erika: “I grew up listening to the Disney renaissance era of music a lot, and I think some of the most incredible melodies can be found in those songs. They definitely inspire me to this day.”
If you could collaborate with three musicians, dead or alive, who would they be?
Erika: “Drake, Pop Smoke, and Nicki Minaj.”
What do you envision for your future and this project?
Erika: “I would love to go on tour and perform the songs on this EP for an audience! Right now that’s the most impending thing that I’m ✨manifesting✨.”