The acts come from Cleveland, Columbus, Chicago and cities all around when they get the opportunity to play at the Live Music Showcase which was at the House of Blues in Cleveland on Sunday, September 18. As diverse as where they are from, is as diverse as what kind of music they play. Pop, R&B, blues and one girl from Akron, Ohio who has country music in her heart with a little rock in her soul.
Erica Dawn has been winning fans over and this was a chance for her to play for her peers in the record industry who were there to watch, review and ultimately pick a winner from the showcase. Dawn was the winner by the end of the performances, even if she didn’t realize it was a competition until she got there. “I thought it was just a showcase. So, winning the competition was even more of a shock to me,” said Dawn. “It was a day of doing what I love. I got to watch so many talented musicians from so many different genres and I loved every second of it.”
After each of the artists would perform for the packed house at the Cambridge Room in the House of Blues, they would spend a few minutes with Jim Kelly of Island/Def Jam Records. “Each artist received this one on one time where Mr. Jim Kelly would give you tips about your performance,” Dawn explained for us in an interview on Monday. She went on to say that she was floored when Kelly told her, “I’m speechless. You seriously did an amazing job.”
Dawn admitted that she was a little nervous before the performance, but once she hit the stage and started singing she forgot about the nerves and focused on her originals from her EP, as well as one from her upcoming album and entertained with her rendition of Adele’s “Hello.”After all of the acts went through their performance, Kelly asked three to come back for an encore song. “When they announced I was one of them, I have to admit that I was ecstatic,” Dawn said. The three acts played their encore, Dawn was last and did a cover of Melissa Etheridge’s “Am I The Only One.” The host took the stage and said, “I just talked to Jim Kelly. He has made his decision, and he believes there is only one rock star in this showcase tonight… Congratulations Erica Dawn.”
“I felt on top of the world. It was such an incredible experience,” she added.
Dawn looks forward to what the future may hold and hopes that she can continue to work with Kelly and Island/Def Jam to further her career. The chance to work with someone in the record industry may just prove to be the spark that takes this singer from Akron, Ohio all over the world.
