Erika Tai James is a Photographer based in Santa Barbara and working everywhere the music is playing.

From a young age, music has been influential in every aspect of my life, sparking childhood memories with a few simple notes. I follow the light, search out the color, textures and emotion of a subject, while incorporating my love for music culture and the artists involved in the scene. My passion lies in combining all of these elements in a single image, while telling a story that portrays the experience to the viewer in a way that makes them feel as if they were there in the moment.  

 I choose to feature musicians whose message in the music I support. Sharing their images is my part in making the movement move. I find joy in visually inspiring others to get out and experience the musical medicine that is being created today. Behind the scenes and during the performance, I try to make a personal connection with each artist that I photograph, allowing a co-creation with the musician, interacting with a friend behind the lens.  For me, conveying these experiences to the viewer, and sharing them directly with the artist is the ultimate sense of satisfaction and completion.