The Pulse of Entertainment: Kendra Erika, Chart-Topping Dance Music Artist, Releases ‘Dance in the Fire' Single via Empire

by Dr. Eunice Moseley

(April 15, 2025) - "I put out dance music, it's a genre," said the very popular Kendra Erika when I asked as we talked about her new single "Dance in the Fire" distributed by Empire. "I wasn't brought up with dance music. I was classically trained."

She continued, "But then when I was writing and recording, it was easier for me to go Pop and Dance Music...I was a teenager."

The "Dance in the Fire' single is co-written by Kendra, two-time Grammy nominated/multi-platinum selling music producer Luigie "LUGO" Gonzalez (Janet Jackson) and Grammy winning Will Gittens (Chris Brown).

"It's a good tenacious song," Kendra added. "I was presented a track by my producer. I got into the studio with Will thinking about what to write and the fires (in California) was happening...wanted something uplifting, didn't want to write something solemn. Started writing something about pushing forward."

Erika said she began writing and producing dance music in Miami and New York, then came out to Los Angeles. She started releasing dance music and immediately hit the top of the charts. Her "Body Language" single reached #2 on iTunes Chart and the video for the single reach over two million views on YouTube. It's played by iHeart radio stations, and #3 on UK Music Week Pop Top 5 Chart. Her "Body Language" music video is in rotation at MTV's "Spankin' New' video show.

I asked her if she dances and Kendra said with a slight laugh making me laugh too, "When performing. It's counter-productive to stand still."

Also, an actress, Kendra Erika is the winner of the Hollywood Independent Music Award for her remake of the Sinatra song "Witchcraft". In 2019 her cover of "Self Control" topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart, making a total of five Billboard Top 10 Dance Chart hits. That single also made it to the Year-End Top 30 Chart.

The Pulse of Entertainment: Veteran Pianist Brian Simpson Releases ‘Midnight Groove,' His 10th on Shanachie Entertainment

by Dr. Eunice Moseley

(April 8, 2025) - "I have 12 albums...the last 10 have been on Shanachie," said Los Angeles Music Award nominated pianist Brian Simpson about his "Midnight Groove" album on Shanachie Entertainment. "Soon as I finish one, I get working with the next. I start with a blank canvas then collaborate with others. It develops very quickly. (On ‘Midnight Groove') I'm working with a couple guys I just met."

Simpson is a veteran in the music industry, and he has played as a pianist on stage with Janet Jackson, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, and Dave Koz. In fact, he is a veteran music director known for serving as music director for Dave Koz. Brian has collaborated on projects with Boney James, Norman Brown, and Everette Harp. Artists that have been featured on his past projects include George Duke, Dave Koz, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, Najee and Maysa.

"The single is ‘Under the Stars'," Brian said when I asked. "I leave it up to the record company (to select the singles) and I agree with them, because they're invested in it."

The "Midnight Groove" album offers 10 selections and featured musicians on this latest Shanachie project include Keyon Harrold on trumpet, Isaiah Collier on sax, and Antonio Gomez on guitar.

"I'll do a show in a particular city and use musicians locally," he told me when I asked. "People would say, ‘You guys just got together today?' We just speak the same language."

Brian Simpson's first two albums were released on Rendezvous Entertainment, from there he made a home at Shanachie Entertainment which is also the home of Mint Condition and Norman Brown. Since his debut he has garnered multiple Top 20 Billboard singles and two #1 Billboard chart-toppers. Fluent also in R&B and Smooth Jazz Brian is an Illinois native with a bachelor's in music. www.BSimpsonMusic.com www.Shanachie.com

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 26th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 19, 2025, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 8, 2025. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $20,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email info@thepulseofentertainment.com.