AUTHENTIC A R I K A K A N E :soul

When she came of age, she decided to do just that. “I worked a lot of jobs, and saved up all the money I could to buy a car because I wanted to travel to New York, and go out to sing in the nightclubs, comedy shows, showcases, and just find as many outlets as I could to perform, write, record, and meet people.” Her strategy paid off.

About a year and a half ago, in July 2008, Arika was working with a producer who knew Louis Humphrey, CEO of BSE Recordings, and contacted him. Arika shares, “I was having a really bad day and got this phone call. It was my producer. He said, ‘I’ve got somebody you need to meet, get over here right away.’ So I went and

met Louis. He took me seriously, we negotiated a contract, and that’s how this path I’m on

now officially started.”

Since that point, she has performed with some of the undisputed best in the business, “I have had really great opportunities. I’ve been able to perform with Frankie Beverly and Maze, Charlie Wilson, Babyface, and others which has been wonderful.”

In the midst of gaining this unparalled experience, Arika

has also been working on her own album, recently released

on BSE. The self-titled project, “Arika Kane,” is “a good introduction of who I really am to the world,” she says.

The first single, “BCUZ I LUV U,” began climbing the charts and ranking on Urban/Rhythmic almost immediately after receiving airplay. As an independent label, breaking into the next levels of the industry can be a challenge, and for BSE it has been radio that has helped make all the difference in launching Arika’s music career and listener awareness. Arika recalls, “The station called us saying, ‘People are calling every day. They want to know where you are performing and where they can buy the single!’ ”

With the album “Arika Kane” now available at FYE, iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and a number of other outlets, the label is currently in the process of putting together a promotional tour.

She describes her music as universal and doesn’t want to limit herself to one specific sound, because when going back to the roots of her own upbringing, she was exposed to so many different genres. Arika says, “I feel as the years go by, music is just connecting like crazy. You have Gospel doing Hip-Hop now, and Hip-Hop doing Gospel, and so many other combinations. I myself pull a bit from everywhere, but bottom line, anything soulful and passionate is what I love, and that is the kind of music I perform.”

Looking forward to her career in the industry, Arika’s ultimate goals perhaps say the most about her authentic soul. After achieving success, she hopes to achieve something even greater, “I have a lot of dreams and wishes, but try to keep things in as much perspective as possible. My parents raised me to work hard for what I get, to be happy, and love what I do in life. Later on down the road, I would really like to be in the position to not only impact people through my music, but be able to give back in other ways. It’s really not about me. I just want to help make a positive change in whatever way I can, the greatest way I can.” With that type of outlook, maybe we should all take a real listen to what else Arika Kane has to say.

New singer to the scene Arika Kane grew up in Northeastern Connecticut. As a child, she was exposed to music at a very young age. Her family was close-knit and

some of her earliest memories are of traveling with her parent’s as they played different gigs, which is why music has been an intrinsic part of her life for as long as she can remember. Arika says, “I was raised with the belief that I could follow my dreams and growing passion of singing, to see just how far it could take me.”

» By Samantha Dixon

32 FREQUENCYNEWS.COM APR/MAY 2010