Biography
Erica Falls is a celebrated soul singer and songwriter from New Orleans, Louisiana, who emerged from the culturally rich 9th Ward as the youngest of eight children. Growing up in a musical household, Falls was immersed in a diverse array of sounds from an early age, with her mother—a schoolteacher and church musician who sang and played piano and organ—serving as a foundational influence. Her parents exposed her to legendary artists including Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Sarah Vaughan, and Whitney Houston, creating a rich musical foundation that would shape her distinctive vintage soul sound. Falls discovered her vocal talents while singing at church with her family, and by the end of high school, she had begun performing in bands around New Orleans, quickly gaining recognition for her powerful voice.
Falls' professional career took off in the 1990s when she began performing covers on Bourbon Street with Nu Beginnings, which led to extensive work as a backing vocalist and session singer for music industry luminaries including Allen Toussaint (who became a significant mentor), Dr. John, Sting, No Doubt, Jennifer Hudson, John Fogerty, and Joe Sample. Between 2014 and 2019, she served as the lead vocalist for the renowned New Orleans funk band Galactic, touring extensively across the country before departing to focus on her solo career. As a solo artist, Falls released her debut album "Me, Myself & Music" in 2011, followed by "Homegrown" in 2017, which earned critical acclaim and multiple nominations at OffBeat Magazine's 2017 Best of The Beat Awards, winning Best Female Vocalist. Her latest album "Emotions," released in March 2024 and co-produced by Nick Mercadel, is a deeply personal reflection on her pandemic experiences, featuring collaborations with George Porter Jr. and Jamison Ross.
Falls has established herself as a rising star in contemporary R&B and soul with her signature "vintage soul" sound—a style she describes as a reminder that authentic soul music is timeless rather than nostalgic. Her electrifying live performances, characterized by a dynamic mix of fashion, sassiness, and groove, have made her a fixture at prestigious venues and festivals including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Essence Fest. Beyond music, Falls ventured into film in 2013 when director Lee Daniels hand-picked her to appear as a singer in his critically acclaimed film "The Butler." Known for extracting eloquent sounds from within the soul and delivering them straight to the heart of audiences, Falls views herself as a messenger of music's universal healing power, continuing to captivate audiences with her powerful vocals and heartfelt performances that blend neo-soul with vintage influences.
Fun Facts
- Director Lee Daniels hand-picked Erica Falls to appear as a lead singer in his critically acclaimed 2013 film "The Butler," starring Forest Whitaker and featuring Oprah Winfrey and Cuba Gooding Jr.
- Falls describes her stage performances as feeding "all of humanity a big pot of funky gumbo" and ensuring audiences "keep coming back for seconds," reflecting her New Orleans roots and dynamic performance style.
- She began her career in the 1990s performing covers on Bourbon Street with a band called Nu Beginnings before becoming a sought-after backing vocalist for music industry legends.
- Falls won Best Female Vocalist at OffBeat Magazine's 2017 Best of The Beat Awards and describes her "vintage soul" sound as a reminder that authentic soul music "never went anywhere" rather than bringing listeners back to a bygone era.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Allen Toussaint - Grammy Award-winning artist who became one of Falls' biggest supporters and mentors (Backing vocalist and session work) [Career span through 2015]
- Erica's Mother - Schoolteacher and church musician who played piano and organ, provided foundational musical influence with her angelic soprano voice (Church performances and home musical education) [Early childhood]
Key Collaborators
- Galactic - Lead vocalist for the New Orleans power-funk band (Extensive touring and performances) [2014-2019]
- Nick Mercadel - Co-producer ("Emotions" album) [2024]
- George Porter Jr. - Featured artist ("Emotions" album) [2024]
- Jamison Ross - Featured artist ("Emotions" album) [2024]
- Dr. John - Backing vocalist and session singer (Recording and performance collaborations) [Career span]
- Sting - Backing vocalist (Recording and performance collaborations) [Career span]
- Jennifer Hudson - Backing vocalist (Recording and performance collaborations) [Career span]
- No Doubt - Backing vocalist (Recording and performance collaborations) [Career span]
- John Fogerty - Backing vocalist (Recording and performance collaborations) [Career span]
- Joe Sample - Grammy Award-winning artist collaboration (Recording and performance work) [Career span]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| TRIUNE | 2025-08-29 | Album |
| Already Ready Already | 2019-02-20 | Album |
| Into The Deep | 2015-07-15 | Album |
| Emotions | 2024-03-08 | Album |
| HomeGrown | 2018-08-17 | Album |
| Into the Deep (Deluxe Edition) | 2015-07-17 | Album |
| Digital Fantasy | 2025-10-24 | Album |
| Boots In Place | 2023-07-07 | Album |
Top Tracks
- #bamisforthechildren
- 3rd Ward Bounce (feat. Erica Falls)
- Boots In Place (Boots In Place)
- Ear to Ear (From Here.)
- Dolla Diva - Live (Into The Deep (Deluxe Edition))
- Optimistic
- Touch Get Cut (feat. Erica Falls) (Already Ready Already)
- #bamisforthechildren (TRIUNE)
- Rebirth Makes You Dance (Move Your Body)
- HBNS (Move Your Body)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Erica Falls has been played 5 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2025 | 12:20 | One Stop Shopfrom Emotions | New Orleans Music Showw/ Cole Williams | |
| Oct 20, 2025 | 11:55 | Optimistic | New Orleans Music Showw/ Murf Reeves | |
| Oct 14, 2025 | 14:51 | Bigfrom Emotions | Soul Serenadew/ Marc Stone | |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 13:21 | Upfrom Emotions | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen | |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 12:54 | Old Recordsfrom HomeGrown | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen |