{{short description|Irish R&B singer-songwriter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Erica-Cody | image = | caption = | birth_name = Erica-Cody Kennedy-Smith | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|7|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Dublin, Ireland | origin = Ireland | genre = {{hlist|R&B|hip hop}} | years_active = {{start date|2014}}–present | label = | associated_acts = | website = {{Facebook|ericacodyofficial}} | current_members = }}
'''Erica-Cody Kennedy Smith''' (born 27 July 1996) is an Irish R&B singer and songwriter.
==Early life== Erica-Cody was born Erica-Cody Kennedy-Smith in Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and grew up in Baldoyle. Her mother is Irish, while her father is an African-American from South Carolina.<ref name="Lindsay" /> As a teenager, Cody had hoped to become a professional basketball player, until an anterior cruciate ligament injury at age 18 ruled that out. She was formally a proud Member of the Bayside Scout group in North Dublin. She attended the Billie Barry Stage School and then BIMM Dublin, studying vocals.<ref name="Bruton" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Lauren |title=Erica Cody is jumping through hoops |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/erica-cody-is-jumping-through-hoops-6l62khc8s |access-date=15 June 2020 |work=The Times |date=16 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Elle |title=Don't Touch My Hair: Introducing Erica Cody, The Next Big Thing In Irish Music|url=https://stellar.ie/life/dont-touch-my-hair-introducing-erica-cody-the-next-big-thing-in-irish-music/69887 |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=Stellar |date=12 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== During her time at Billie Barry Stage School, she had her first live gig at age 15 as the support act for WizKid.<ref name="Bruton">{{cite news |last1=Bruton |first1=Louise |title=Erica Cody: Our New VBF |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/erica-cody-our-new-vbf-1.3843015 |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> She released ''Addicted'' in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title='I'm only as good as my last show' - Erica Cody on her insane drive (plus her solid advice for new artists) |url=https://www.her.ie/style/im-only-as-good-as-my-last-show-erica-cody-on-her-insane-drive-plus-her-solid-advice-for-new-artists-463490 |website=Her.ie |accessdate=15 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Erica-Cody played at Longitude, Electric Picnic, as well as supporting Jessie J<ref name="Lindsay">{{cite web |last1=Lindsay |first1=Erin |title=R&B star-in-the-making Erica Cody tells us where she's really from |url=https://www.image.ie/life/rb-star-erica-cody-146905 |website=IMAGE.ie |accessdate=15 June 2020}}</ref> and En Vogue in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Molloy |first1=Abby |title=Hot for 2019 Irish Acts: Erica Cody |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/hot-2019-irish-acts-erica-cody-22765695 |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=Hotpress |date=29 January 2019}}</ref> She released her EP ''Leoness'' in April 2019. Her style has been described as close to that of TLC and Aaliyah. Cody's experiences of racism in Ireland led to her launching a campaign called Don't Touch My Hair (DTMH).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walsh |first1=Kayla |title=Singer Erica Cody opens up on growing up mixed race in Ireland |url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/singer-erica-cody-opens-up-16548120 |website=RSVP |accessdate=15 June 2020 |date=23 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Van Nguyen">{{cite news |last1=Van Nguyen |first1=Dean |title=Erica-Cody’s Retro R&B Probes Modern Irish Identity |url=https://www.dublininquirer.com/2019/04/17/dean-erica-cody-s-retro-r-b-probes-modern-irish-identity |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=Dublin Inquirer |date=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Marcantonio |first1=Julia |title=Erica Cody Releases New Song 'Where U Really From' |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/erica-cody-releases-new-song-u-really-22769184 |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=Hotpress |date=22 March 2019}}</ref> She was one of the artists featured in Hot Press's Lockdown Sessions in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erica Cody – Digital Concert |url=https://journalofmusic.com/listing/09-04-20/erica-cody-digital-concert |website=The Journal of Music |accessdate=15 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2020, Cody took part in the Black Lives Matter protests in Dublin and spoke publicly about racism she and others have experienced in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bryant |first1=Aoibhin |title='It's tough being a person of colour in Ireland' — Erica Cody speaks out against racism |url=https://extra.ie/2020/06/02/news/irish-news/racism-ireland-erica-cody |website=Extra.ie |date=2 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Erica Cody: 'It's easy to excuse casually racist behaviour' |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/analysis/erica-cody-its-easy-to-excuse-casually-racist-behaviour-1003565.html |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=www.irishexaminer.com |date=6 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Miner |first1=Adele |title="I promise you this is not ending here" Erica Cody speaks out about the Black Lives Matter movement |url=https://vipmagazine.ie/i-promise-you-this-is-not-ending-here-erica-cody-speaks-out-about-the-black-lives-matter-movement/ |website=VIP Magazine |accessdate=15 June 2020 |date=2 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Neill |first1=Kevin |last2=Black |first2=Rebecca |title=Thousands stage peaceful protest in Dublin over Floyd death |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/thousands-stage-peaceful-protest-in-dublin-over-floyd-death-1002870.html |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=www.irishexaminer.com |date=2 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She also spoke about how her father's family in America have been affected by racism and prejudice. She was named one of Irish Country Magazine's ''Women to Watch in 2020''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Singer Erica Cody gave a powerful interview on racism in Ireland |url=https://irishcountrymagazine.ie/singer-erica-cody-gave-a-powerful-interview-on-racism-in-ireland/ |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE |date=3 June 2020}}</ref>
In 2020, Cody was part of an Irish collective of female singers and musicians called Irish Women in Harmony, that recorded a version of the Cranberries song "Dreams" in aid of the charity SafeIreland, which deals with domestic abuse which had reportedly risen significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown.<ref name="it-1">{{cite news |last1=Bol |first1=Rosita |title=Irish Women in Harmony record Cranberries song in aid of Safe Ireland |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/irish-women-in-harmony-record-cranberries-song-in-aid-of-safe-ireland-1.4283348 |accessdate=3 July 2020 |work=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> Portraits of her, taken during lockdown in spring 2020, appeared in the book ''Twilight Together: Portraits of Ireland at Home'' by photographer Ruth Medjber.
Cody made a cameo in an episode of the 2021 Netflix series ''Fate: The Winx Saga''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://evoke.ie/2021/01/22/showbiz/did-you-spot-these-irish-stars-in-netflixs-fate-the-winx-saga|title=Did you spot these Irish stars in Netflix’s new drama Fate: The Winx Saga|journal=Evoke.ie|first=Fionnuala|last=Moran|date=22 January 2021|accessdate=22 January 2021}}</ref>
In 2022, Cody appeared on the fifth series of the Irish version of ''Dancing with the Stars''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/national-news/707025/nicolas-roche-erica-cody-and-missy-keating-announced-as-dancing-with-the-stars-contestants.html|title=Nicolas Roche, Erica Cody and Missy Keating announced as Dancing with the Stars contestants|website=www.leinsterleader.ie}}</ref> She reached the final of the competition with her professional partner, Denys Samson finishing as runners-up to eventual winners, Nina Carberry and Pasquale La Rocca.<ref>{{Cite web |website = rte.ie |date=2022-03-27 |title=The Dancing with the Stars Final - as it happened |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/0327/1288759-dancing-with-the-stars-final-live/ |language=en}}</ref>
She was selected to compete in the Irish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Love Me Like I Do",<ref>{{cite web |title=Erica Cody revealed as Ireland's first Eurosong hopeful |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2024/0108/1425288-erica-cody-revealed-as-irelands-first-eurosong-hopeful/ |publisher=RTÉ |date=8 January 2024 |access-date=8 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> ultimately coming fourth.
== Discography == ===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of EPs, with selected details ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | ''Leoness'' | * Released: April 2019 * Label: ECM |- ! scope="row" | ''Love & Light'' | * Released: October 2021 * Label: ECM |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6h9boYU490q7cRC64QsEBI Erica Cody on Spotify] * {{IMDb name|12255872}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cody, Erica}} Category:Living people Category:Black Irish people Category:Irish hip-hop musicians Category:Irish people of African-American descent Category:Musicians from County Dublin Category:People from Fingal Category:People from Northside, Dublin Category:Singers from Dublin (city) Category:1996 births Category:Irish contemporary R&B singers Category:Alumni of the BIMM Institute