Erika left her high-profile gig as host of Australia’s Next Top Model to pursue her life-long passion for music. And she did so in one of the most public and potentially humiliating arenas—a singing contest television series, It Takes Two.

 

Fortunately for Erika, her warbling skills match her many other talents and after a truly rousing rendition of Con Te Partirò (Time To Say Goodbye) alongside one of Australia’s most celebrated tenors, David Hobson, she was named competition winner and offered a recording contact with EMI Music Australia.

 

After working for months with fellow tunesmiths—including Steve Booker (Duffy), Phil Thornalley (Pixie Lott, Natalie Imbruglia) and Australia’s own Mark Sholtez—Erika landed in Los Angeles to record her debut album at Los Angeles’ legendary recording studio, The Village with producer John Alagía (John Mayer, Liz Phair, Ben Lee) and then in Texas with Andy Zulla (Kelly Clarkson).

 

The result of all of this genius and creativity was Sweeter Side, ­an earthy pop record about the complications of relationships, as told from the honest perspective of a strong woman. The album spawned the popular single Kingdom.