Wednesday, July 11, 2007

From YNG to NYC: Local Singer Makes it Big

By Kelli Cole

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This Youngstown native now calls New York home

Most people would say that being a singer/celebrity/superstar doesn't fall under “normal.” But for 22-year-old Emii, lead singer of Cherryfix, life is just that.

The Youngstown native loves video games, rents movies, spends time with her cat and enjoys sleeping in. She hits the snooze button like the rest of us.

The only difference is that after she wakes up, it's probable that she'll sign an autograph or two before the day is over. Despite that, and the touring, and the photo shoots and fans, Emii describes her life as “ridiculously normal.”

During a phone interview, she talks like an old friend. As I apologized for putting her on hold, she quickly informed me she was just watching “The Chronicles of Narnia” so, no big deal.

Anything but a diva, she talks about her singing career as if it were something she just up and decided to do. Maybe that’s because she did.

The star is known to her family and friends as Emily Rose Morris. (And yes, she received “plenty of crap” for that name.) She was raised in Youngstown, where she spent the bulk of her life. At a young age, she began singing and writing music. And she has proof.

“I actually not too long ago was exposed to a tape of me singing and dancing to Paula Abdul,” she said with a laugh. Not long after that, she realized singing was a passion. She spent her teen years more in a studio than high school hallways.

“I went to Ursuline for a month and then was home-schooled. You can't really spend time on music [while in school]. I was able to spend more time in the studio. I really don't feel like I missed out on high school. Except the drama. I can't complain that I missed out on the drama,” she laughed.

In 2004, she moved to The Big Apple, where she joined Cherryfix.

Her mom, like most, didn't want her to leave, she said. But now she’s OK with the decision.

Aside from her busy schedule, the boredom that creeps up when she leaves the big city keeps her from visiting her hometown more often. During one Christmas visit, she got dinner from Sheetz — the only place open.

She comes from a family of musicians who she says should have joined her in New York.

“My sister is an opera singer. I have two cousins who are fantastic musicians who I keep trying to drag out here. We've got some interesting talent in our family,” she said.

She speaks of her sister's success with pride, although their styles of singing are worlds apart.

“We both took opera. I took opera for two years so... suddenly I went into R&B and rock. I'm definitely not an opera singer,” she said.

After her flirt with the operatic world, she was influenced by System of a Down, Incubus and other heavy metal bands, as well as some R&B singers. Vocally, she practices by singing Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey, but said they weren't direct influences on her musical style.

She spends a lot of time in her New York apartment snuggled up next to her cat, Imhotep, which means bringer of peace.

Emii was modest when asked about stalkers and said her bandmates experience the majority of unwanted stalker behavior. But when asked if stalkers are out there, she answered “Oh my God, you have no idea!”

“There's this one girl,” she dished. “She's legal. You expect people over 18 not to stalk people. She's propositioned my keyboard player. Tried to lure him into a hotel room. And then, on our Web site, she'll pop up sometimes ,on emmieonline.com and I'll have to moderate her comments.... She's the most harmless, but most interesting problem we've ever had with a Cherry Fix fan I'm sure the guys have equally interesting problems, they just don't tell me.”

The band’s audience is pretty much balanced between the genders, she said.

“That's the best thing about Cherryfix. There's a lot of guys, but they're just cool. I can actually hang out with people after the show without being like 'Oh my God, they're gonna grope me',” she said.

“I've seen [bandmates] get hit on by little girls,” she added sympathetically.

It’s clear she loves her bandmates Tim, Dan and Curt. She describes them as normal too, and says if anyone ever wanted the four of them to star in a reality TV show, they'd have to script some pretty weird things because they’re not dramatic at all. In fact, she says, they’re all cool and laid back.

Then with a laugh, she retracted her statement, saying cool may be an exaggeration.

Aside from the fact that it has always been her dream, Emii's favorite thing about touring is “just the people, you know? The fans that come to the show.”

She especially enjoys seeing the kids in the crowd when they perform at a school. She enjoys being the alternative to the schools hiring what she calls “old fogey” bands. And while performing for students, the band promotes positive choices while endorsing the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) organization at schools across the country.

In addition to singing, songwriting, promoting albums and helping teach kids good values, Emii is working on another musical project.

“There are two projects, Cherryfix and one under the table — not mainstream,” she said.

She’s working on that latter project with composer and pianist, Oleg Sarkisov on “Melolagnia” which by definition means “a lust for music.”

She said there’s no animosity within the band about her having a solo side project because it's extremely different from anything she's worked on with Cherryfix.

“The Melolagnia stuff isn't in competition with Cherryfix, if that makes sense. Since Cherryfix is my mainstream project, Melolagnia is purely for my love of music to create even more art with more talented people. There really is no conflict,” she explained.

Being a songwriter seems to come naturally to Emii. She says a lot of her songs are about life in general, but she doesn't like to focus on love. Songs from the band's last album “Logic Won't Help You” like “Fall Out,” “Runnin' On Empty,” “Take you Down” and “Spotless” don't seem like love songs at all, but instead tell stories of determination and perseverance. “Fall Out” seems destined to become an iPod favorite as a great song to get pumped up for a workout. The lyrics:

“Keeping the distance/ proceeding with caution/ the dangerous curves ahead, you might wanna watch your step/ I'm angry at what once was/ but curious as to what could be/ it's easy for me to take a chance on you, but will you take a chance on me?/ don't deny it, let it take you/ don't say it can't be done 'cause I did it on my own/ take my hand, we can both let go./ Savoring every touch. I promise it won't take much./ Unlock your thoughts, they're your secrets/ Fall out.”

Of all her songs, Emii says, “I write in terms of life experiences that everyone can understand. Life experience just sums everything up. I don't concentrate on love... it gets boring. But with the other stuff it goes into politics, it goes into everything,” said Emii.

“Spotless,” is a little softer, more melodic song, and its enchanting harmonies trick you into thinking you're about to hear a love song. It's deceivingly romantic.

Emii’s favorite song on the latest album is undecided. “It's a toss up between 'Fallout' and 'Better off Alone.' Although we did cover 'Call Me' by Blondie. I heard it after we recorded it. It sounds so damn good. I don't know how because I'm not big on doing other people’s songs, but we figured what the hell... Blondie was cool back in the day.”

As for what you can expect from Emii in the near future? Cherryfix will be performing during parts of the Warped Tour, including a show in Boston. The band's album is nearing its release date, although they haven't chosen a title for it yet. However, it will be available at FYE stores in September.