The APX

Huffington Post says “The APX drops funk that goes beyond good and hits excellent." Grammy award winning musician Teddy Riley calls the group his “life support when it comes to funk", Kiss 104 FM Atlanta says "The APX is keeping REAL funk alive", and Creative Loafing describes their music as "Saturated in the funk... while still blazing trails of their own design.”

The A.P.X., which stands for “Am.Plified.Xperiment,” is a billboard charting nostalgic electro funk, soul, boogie & house music duo consisting of Detroit raised singer/songwriter Erika Dawn Rhodes and her husband Atlanta raised musician and producer Dee Rhodes. They have released two full albums including their recent iTunes top 100 charting “Amplified Experiment” which was considered for a Grammy in 2019. The duo has toured internationally with sold out shows in Paris, London, Toronto, Los Angeles, Oakland and more. Currently endorsed by Native Instruments, they write and produce their own records as well as direct and produce their own music videos. Their music has been featured on Netflix, CBS, Buzzfeed, Okay Player and more. The APX has amassed over 600,000 streams (including well over 400,000 for their hit collaboration “Your Touch,” alongside Tariq Nasheed’s band Mink Slide). Their single “Right on Time“ had an exclusive music video premiere on Huffington Post.

The Backstory:

Erika Dawn grew up in Motown Detroit Michigan as the youngest daughter of the late legendary civic leader and educator Leon H. Atchison. Before her twenty-first birthday she was singing and touring with international show bands traveling for residencies in Japan, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bahamas and also gracing the stages for icons such as Barack Obama, Diana Ross, Pat Banatar, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Mariah Carey and many others. Dee Rhodes, the son of Liberian immigrants, taught himself piano by ear at the age of 2 years old. Starting off as a child-prodigy solo jazz musician (known by the name “Santi”), his parents would take him to regular open mics and jam sessions around the city of Atlanta and as he grew, he would go on to perform in front of acts such as Usher and Stevie Wonder. As his career progressed, he started to work as a session producer alongside notable R&B musicians such as Jazze Pha, Stevie J, Jagged Edge, TLC and Tank just to name a few.

During the year 2013, Dee and Erika’s lives would align in the city of Atlanta where the two of them were simultaneously and accidentally double booked at the same appearances on three different occasions—and in the summer of 2014, they would not only start their first band together, but also a lifetime union in marriage. Erika Dawn and Dee Rhodes have become fixated on one thing-- finding joy in the little moments. Together as The APX (which stands for Amplified Experiment) they’ve shifted their energies into funk music that not only moves the soul but simultaneously facilitates and reflects their own growth as human beings. 

In 2016, The APX independently introduced their unique blend of electro-funk to an exponentially growing global audience and took the internet by storm with their unique cover-remixes. Harnessing the power of social media, they grew their following to a combined total of over 50,000 "funk-botz" who agree with their message to keep the funk alive. They managed to capture the eyes of icons like Nick Cannon, Jody Watley, Wayne Brady, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and more. With the growing demand, they were able to release their first studio project Electrik Funk, with the nostalgic single "Right On Time" to follow on the Electrik Funk (Deluxe Edition). The group has also enjoyed success on other record labels such as Island Records (PNAU Remix) etcetc, Tokyo Dawn Records and Sleepers Recordz. Electrik Funk Deluxe has garnered #1 status internationally (Netherlands and Tokyo), and their single “Lose Yourself to the Groove” was also showcased in the Netflix romantic comedy Nappily Ever After, starring Sanaa Lathan.

The APX has changed the zeitgeist by challenging it with their signature blend of hard-hitting beats, synth-driven Neo Funk, and electronic boogie. Since their arrival, the pair has amassed over half-a-million streams, achieved Grammy consideration for their sophomore album “Amplified Experiment,” headlined sold out shows worldwide, and toured with artists including Kindred the Family Soul, Robert Glasper, Leikeli47, NoName and more. Including the Rene & Angela inspired single “Jupiter,” Amplified Experiment includes a completely self-produced and masterfully crafted collection of songs that will make you dance, make love, relax or all of the above. Amplified Experiment is a breath taking catalyst, ushered in by Erika Dawn's soul stirring, nostalgic powerhouse vocals, accompanied by Dee Rhodes' heart-pounding, adrenaline injected, soulful soundtrack.

With the start of their new label House of Funk, The APX continue to encore their sound with a 2020 approach, fueled with the influence of the finest traditional 80's & 90's styled funk, house, & soul. What will they cook up next? Stay tuned, and as always: Stay Funky.