Dance diva Erika Jayne with seven No. 1 singles on Billboard

Erika Jayne (above) began performing from the age of three. -- PHOTO: SANRE ENTERTAINMENT
Erika Jayne (above) began performing from the age of three. -- PHOTO: SANRE ENTERTAINMENT

Dance music singer Erika Jayne may not be a household name, but at 46 - she looks half her age in pictures - she can boast of having seven No. 1 singles on the Billboard dance chart.

It may be tempting to attribute some of her success to her blonde hair, curvy figure and sultry looks, but it is the toil behind the glamour that helped her solo career take off in 2007.

The American singer, who is now based in Los Angeles and performed here last month at rooftop bar 1-Altitude in Raffles Place, began performing at the age of three. She went on to study musical theatre at the North Atlanta High School for the Performing Arts.

She says: "Musical theatre helped me become a well-rounded performer and what I do to this day is still related to musical theatre in terms of showmanship.

"There are a lot of details and energy in these musical production numbers and these have helped me a lot in my performance skills."

At the age of 18, she moved from her hometown in Atlanta, Georgia, to New York City to immerse herself in the dance club scene. To pay the bills, she did odd jobs.

She says: "New York was where I really grew up.Not only did I learn a lot about myself and life, but I also found out what it takes to be a performer, singer, dancer and actress."

She also joined a few girl bands before going solo.

Unlike most artists who usually sign on with a major record label to launch their careers, Jayne released her chart-topping singles independently before going on to start her own label, Pretty Mess Records, in 2010.

Her debut album, Pretty Mess, in 2009 featured four of her top hits, including her first No. 1 single, Rollercoaster, in 2007.

On going it alone, she says: "With iTunes and all these digital service providers, you're able to get your music out as an independent artist and service your fans through your own business."

But she makes it clear that it was no walk in the park. "You face challenges like getting a platform, letting people know who you are and getting your music out there and played at clubs."

Her focus now is on releasing more music and videos and performing more shows. She is also eager to reach a wider audience, especially in Asia.

She made her Asian debut last November by releasing two singles, You Make Me Wanna Dance and Bringing You Back, which were mixed by the popular Filipino DJ, Manolet "DJ Papi" Santos. Segments of the two music videos were also filmed in the Philippines.

She has just ended the first leg of her Asian tour with performances in South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Singapore.

The second leg of her tour begins next month, with stops in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and China, and audiences can expect the dance diva to stay true to her sexy dressing style.

She says: "I am someone who likes to have a good time... Some artists don't feel the need, but for me, this is who I am and what I do."

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