By: Daniel P’Lopez
Photos by: Tolga Katas
Kendra Erika (a gay ally to the LGBTQ+ community) is a singing sensation with many dance hits under her belt. Her new hit is “Dancing in the Fire,” and the video is just that. With her fiery red hair, great choreography, and dance moves, the song is set to be on fire!
Kendra was born in Sunny South Florida and got into theater at a young age. Exposure to Disney movies in the 90s and seeing the princesses singing and dancing made her want to create a world just like that, and she did.
Her parents put her into community theater and eventually into school productions. She evolved into vocal training and was classically trained at the age of eight. Having a foundation to build upon from an early age, everything Kendra has done thus far has been an evolutionary process.
Her five Billboard top ten hits have been integral in creating that traction for her and have also been a vehicle into the LGBTQ+ community. With songs like Self Control, her first single was a hit on the dance charts. She has done national and international shows in different gay clubs and also in many different venues. It has been an incredible journey for Kendra, and she keeps on elevating herself as she gets closer to the path that she ultimately wants to be on.
“I just want to say thank you for the community for being so supportive, because when you are going against the grain, you want people that are on that same mission,” says Kendra.
Kendra recorded her first album when she was fifteen, a super poppy, bubblegum album typical of a young teen of that age and era. As she started maturing and evolving, she found her true interests and got more involved in the elevated dance, EDM, and Billboard spectrum.
Kendra says that she was heavily inspired by artists who are very much connected to the community, like Kylie Minogue. She also sees similarities with herself, Lady Gaga, and the one and only Madonna. Kendra describes her style as stylish dance with worldly flair and cinematic appeal. She would also love to collaborate with these artists she aligns herself with, if and when it ever happens. Only time will tell for the singer.
Kedra admits that she did not grow up connected to her parents, so her hard work ethic had to come in and be the driving force that pushed her forward in her career. Her classical training influenced her a lot, as did her perseverance, tenacity, and sticking to what she believed in.
Kendra’s new single, “Dance in the Fire, “was written by Kendra, Luigie “Lugo” Gonzalez, and Will Gittens, who just won a Grammy for a Chris Brown song he also wrote called Dream. Dance in the Fire was inspired by the recent fires that happened early this year. Kendra wrote it as a survivor mentality, fighting and dancing through it, by letting people’s problems go up in smoke and allowing that journey to make them stronger.
Kendra performed at the Abbey in West Hollywood on April 10, playing Dance in the Fire and her latest single, “Body Language.” The singer will announce upcoming shows and performances soon.
When Kendra is not working on music, she loves to golf and take long walks on the beach. She also loves going back to her roots and singing the American classics.
You can follow Kendra on social media and Google @KendraErika