Erika was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, and grew up in the neighboring small town of Mountainside. She attended Kent Place School in Summit, New Jersey, and then went on to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Drama. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked steadily as an actress and singer and fronted her own successful alternative rock/pop band, Velvet Chain - best known for their work on the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" TV show and soundtrack album. She recently relocated to New York, where she continues to work on stage and in film.In addition to "Buffy," Velvet Chain has also had songs used on MTV's "Road Rules" and "Live Through This," VH1's "Sparkle Lounge," HBO's "Sex and the City," ABC's "Big Shots," and E!'s "Fashion Television," among others.