Where are you based?
Little Italy, NYC
Which instruments do you / your band play? Do you sing?
Accordion, voice, percussion
Tell us a bit about your musical background.
My dad is a drummer, he played in the Buenos Aires Opera House, and he inspired my passion for music. I grew up leading the high school drum section in marching band while also playing bass in punk bands. When I came to New York to study a self-designed music and ethnography program at NYU, I discovered the accordion and fell in love. I studied privately with accordion guru/mastermind Bill Schimmel, and also found a new expression with singing. The accordion quickly took me to many exciting places, whether it was having an on-stage role in an opera, playing sea shanties on a boat, or french gypsy jazz for Hermès of Paris and Vueve Cliquot, marching in a New Orleans style jazz band, or playing Bavarian music for Oktoberfest.
What are your favorite styles to play or sing?
I really love playing cumbia, I can’t help but dance and smile when I do.
Are there any recent performances that were extra special for you? Or any venues you particularly love?
I collaborated with a group of belly dancers recently. We performed a whole evening of music and choreographed belly dancing in the Kings County Distillery Gatehouses. It was magical.
Have you recorded any albums, EPs or singles?
https://soundcloud.com/erica-mancini
Do you have any exciting projects or upcoming gigs on the horizon?
August 4th, I’ll be performing with my band, The Bee’s Knees, on a vintage train on an open-air flat-bed car while we ride through the Catskill Mountians.
If you had to pick one each, what would you say are the best and worst things about being a professional musician?
Best part is being able to do what I love for a living, as well as the traveling. And not working in an office is so great. The worst part is schlepping tons of gear through the subway system and up and down stairs.
What have you been listening to lately?
Clifton Chenier, Brave Combo, Gus Viseur, Marc Ribot, Chicha Libre.
Where can people follow your work?
Instagram: @ericamariemancini Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ericamariemancini