There are lots of issues with racism and women still in this country... it’s pretty bad
Singer, 26, inspired and starstruck by Mumba
SINGER and songwriter Erica Cody has opened up about how racism is “still pretty bad” in Ireland, though she tries to rise above it.
The R&B star, who grew up in Baldoyle in North Dublin, will take to the stage tonight for her first live outing on Dancing With The Stars.
Asked about the issue of racism, the 26-year-old said: “It’s still pretty bad, I don’t like to dwell on the negatives.
“There are a lot of issues when it comes to racism but there’s also a lot of issues when it comes to women in this country.
“With racism it’s a spectrum – it starts with hate and ends with death.”
Erica told how being offered a chance to take part in the hit RTE show was a blessing as work for musicians has all but dried up during the pandemic.
She is set to spice things up with a “fiery and sexy samba” to Little Mix’s Kiss My (Uh-oh).
Meanwhile, Aslan guitarist and singer Billy Mcguinness is hoping to foxtrot his way into the hearts of the nation to Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.
Erica told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I’m looking forward to showing off the chemistry Denys and I have built up over the last while.
“This is a whole new world for me getting to learn Latin ballroom.
“When I got the call for Dancing
With The Stars, there were no jobs going and this was the most amazing opportunity to do something I’ve always had a great appreciation for. “I’m having the time of my life.”
Dubliner Billy, 61, said if it weren’t for the show he’d be sitting at home “twiddling his thumbs”.
Opening up on the financial strain the pandemic has had on Aslan, he said: “The entertainment industry is decimated.
“Nobody in the music industry is working at the moment, for me Dancing With The Stars is an entertainment show, I’m an entertainer.
“I’m delighted I’m doing DWTS, there’s no sign of these restrictions being lifted.
“Although it was great to do three gigs at Vicar Street over Christmas, financially it was a disaster.
“But for us as a band and for a lot of fans it’s part of their Christmas.
“Because the Government made us cancel the gigs and resell them at 50 per cent we are going to try to claim that loss off the Government.
“Don’t get me started on these government grants – there were two grants given out last year and Aslan didn’t qualify for them.
“There’s another round coming pretty soon. Aslan will apply like every other artist not working, whether it’s a case of third time lucky I don’t know. “Me and Erica are not working at the moment, it would cost us money to put on shows with the 50 per cent rule.” Erica, who will strut her stuff with pro partner Denys Samson, explained her dancing shoes are an important part of the regime. She added: “I do a little work out before rehearsals, to get the stamina going, in terms of superstition I won’t change my shoes.” Meanwhile, Billy admitted he’s “more of a
I looked up to Mumba, like, She is black, Irish and sings ERICA CODY YESTERDAY
chancer than a dancer”. He said: “I’ve no dancing experience whatsoever, I’m out of my comfort zone. “It’s one thing performing in the Olympia or Vicar Street, it’s another thing to perform a dance. “I never realised how much hard work goes into it. “I’m with the youngest pro Hannah Kelly and I don’t know whether it was done on purpose with the oldest contestant at 61 and the youngest pro. “I was expecting people saying, ‘Oh what’s that clown doing on Dancing With The Stars?’
“I was expecting a lot of negativity – the opposite happened, I’ve got so much support.”
With her dad hailing from South Carolina and her mum from Ireland, Erica said she’s had a great mix of musical influences growing up.
But she noted it was Dubliner Samantha Mumba’s rise to fame that inspired her to pursue her dream.
She added: “Samantha opened doors that I’m walking through now, she was a huge inspiration.
“I don’t usually get starstruck, but when I met her I was. When I was younger and dancing and singing, to know there was another woman of colour doing that who looked like me and was mixed race topping the charts.
“That was stuff little girls of colour could only dream of.
“When you’ve a visual representation of someone who looks like you, it makes you feel you can achieve anything.
“I had Samantha here to look up to – oh my God, she’s black, Irish and she sings.”
Dancing With The Stars continues at 6.30pm tonight on RTE One.