Considering Erica D. Hayes’ “sky is the limit” attitude, it only makes sense that before she became a go-to video director, she was pursuing a career in aviation. With countless hours in the lab and more than three years of film school under her belt, she has sharpened her signature techniques—clean edits, pointed direction and choice vocals to vividly narrate a story from beginning to end—to build a clientele that reads like a “who’s who” of Michigan’s most important artists. She has already established herself as a key figure in moving the state’s art scene forward, and at the ripe age of 20, her best years are still ahead of her.

“I've always had the passion of being a video director, because I was inspired by the fact that I could let people see my thoughts,” Erica recounts. When asked why she has gotten started so early, she attests, “I really don’t have a choice but to do it now. I've seen some of my favorite video directors get signed while as young as 21, so there’s no reason why I can't be in the same boat.”
Erica got her first big break when Kem, a gold-selling R&B/soul vocalist from Detroit, visited her high school. She videotaped Kem’s speech and interviewed him for the school’s radio station, impressing Kem’s management team so much that they offered her an internship. Erica established a rock solid business relationship with Kem’s team, and now handles virtually all of his video production work.

“I was able to get information that would have otherwise taken me 10 years to learn, just by sitting in on their meetings, taking notes and helping out with concerts,” Erica says. “I was able to network with a lot of industry professionals at a young age, and furthermore, turn those people into clients.”
Erica’s quality product and networking skills introduced opportunities with other clients, one of the most important of them being MonicaBlaire, a Detroit R&B singer who has developed a cult following with her booming voice and her energetic live performances. The summer after she met her at a Kem autograph signing, Erica shot MonicaBlaire’s EPK and music video for “Material Girl (Refix).” These two projects helped Erica connect with Detroit staples like Slum Village, Dwele, and Amp Fiddler, all of whom she has work in progress with.

Expect to see Erica’s storytelling ability on screen in several future projects. She has a top secret Kem pilot and other music videos in the chamber, a short film in post-production, and several documentaries in the works, with future plans to shoot commercials.

When she isn’t behind the camera, Erica captains turntables as DJ Bunny and coordinates events. Her DJ gigs get consistent crowds of 400 or more, and her planning has helped area up-and-comers while giving national staples like Chip Tha Ripper and Fly.Union new exposure in her hometown of Detroit. Along with keeping her busy, Erica’s other hustles accentuate her directing by helping her edit video montages rhythmically, and by keeping her in the pulse of the music scene.

“I’ve tried to follow other people in their paths, but it doesn’t work for me,” Erica insists. “I’ve found my passion, my niche, my specialty and I plan to continue to hone in on it.”