elra ermay
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"Elra Releases Emotive"

It was a joyous Monday evening for the select group of people gathered at the National Cultural Centre to celebrate the launching of Elra Ermay’s second album ‘Emotive’ this week.

Warm and personable, Elra personally greeted specially invited guests before delivering an expressive performance of some the material on her CD. Witnessing the exclusive performance was Elra’s family, friends and supporters, including the acting Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre and Minister Felix Finisterre.

Dressed in sparkling white, the singer took the stage with the capable Sugar Cane Band for an engaging delivery of ‘No Turning Back’. Elra then busted a few moves with back-up dancer Stan, during the upbeat ‘Could You Be’.

The small audience had the privilege of previewing the video for the poignant ‘Safe Again’. Although still in production, the short clip was nonetheless quite touching, with Elra’s stirring vocals enhanced by touching visuals.

Back on stage in gauzy brown gown with elbow length gold gloves and a gold flower in her hair, Elra channelled legendary jazz vocalist Billie Holiday with a captivating rendition of the patois ballad ‘E Quittez Mwen’. She then performed that rare thing among Caribbean musicians, a duet, pairing up with Ronald Glasgow for the sweet and romantic ‘I’m Here to Stay’.

Joe Dubois noted that this “labour of love” showcases Elra’s undeniable vocal skills and technique. The CD, which the singer personally financed, includes jazz, reggae, ballads and inspirational music.

It is not often that an artist accomplishes the difficult task of producing an album that eclipses the success of the first. However, manager of the Hewanorra Music Society (HMS) Etienne who says that last year Elra received a royalty cheque worthy of her work, observed that ‘Emotive’ was a great follow up to first album ‘Longing’. This “beautiful” album that makes the best of her great soprano voice and in which she continues to demonstrate her versatility and maturity he says, is one any artists could be proud of.

Two singles from the 11 tracks CD has already been released. ‘No Turning Back’ and ‘I’m Here To Stay’ are already capturing the public’s ears, boosted by her memorable performance at this year’s Queen Show.

Elra’s delightful experimentation with her creole jazz number "E Quittez Mwen" has seen her selected by international judges to participate in the Francophonie games in Niger Africa, later this year. This is only the latest notch in the belt of a performer who is recognisable in Saint Lucia and the region.

Elra’s talent has been on display since her schoolgirl days, winning her the Nicholas Frederick award for Best Chantwelle at the Ave Maria Primary School and pushing her onto the national stage during her secondary school years at the St Joseph’s Convent. Elra performed with the Trinidad Theatre Workshop when they staged Derek Walcott’s ‘Ti Jean and His Brothers’ and ‘Dream on Monkey Mountain’ in St. Lucia.

The St. Lucia School of Music has recognized her unique vocal skill with several voice awards and in 1994 she was the winner of the first Christmas/New Year Song Contest. Elra represented St. Lucia at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in 1999 and wining first place in the original works category and second in the Broadway category. In 2004, she was a finalist on the Digicel Rising Stars regional singing contest.

She produced her first CD ‘Longing’ in 2000.




- The Weekend VOICE, Maria Fontenelle


Discography

"EMOTIVE" (c)2005
1 What you feel
2 No turning back
3 Safe again
4 All they need
5 E Quittez mwen
6 Could you be
7 I'm here to stay
8 Thin ice
9 Tomorrow
10 Leaves a woman like me
11 Could you be (Remix)

"LONGING" (c)2000
1 Longing to hear
2 Deriere tout homme
3 Loving you comes naturally
4 Just call on him
5 I will sing

Photos

Bio


Elra Ermay is a dynamic and fearless young lady who is charting her way towards the sweet sounds of musical success. Her latest CD Emotive, released earlier this year, is an eclectic labour of love that showcases her undeniable vocal skills and technique as she experiments with jazz, reggae, ballads and inspirational musical forms throughout the 11 tracks. Opportunities to showcase her music have already begun to present themselves. Her creole jazz number “E Quittez Mwen” left such an impression on some international judges that she was chosen to participate at the Francophonie games in Niger Africa, later this year.Yet another of her compositions “All They Need” has won her a finalist position in the Song of the Year contest. This versatile performer has a remarkable and creative journey as a promising singer and songwriter.

Born in Choiseul St.Lucia,Elra’s talent was evident from very early during her schoolgirl days at the Ave Maria Primary School when she won the Nicholas Frederick award for Best Chantwelle. The St. Lucia School of Music has recognized her unique vocal skill with several voice awards and in 1994 she was the winner of the first Christmas/New Year Song Contest. Elra’s crowning achievement happened in 1999 when she represented St. Lucia at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. She won first place in the original works category and placed second in the Broadway category and on the heels of this achievement, she produced her first CD in 2000 entitled Longing.

Also in 2000, Elra began her studies at the University of the West Indies where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management Studies. Three years later she graduated with first class honours but even this academic success has not managed to woo her away from her first love—music. She has been a member of bands performing on the hotel circuit and the folk group Hewannorra Voices. Currently she is a member of Our Lady’s Choir and quite recently, was one of the finalists on Digicel’s Rising Stars: A pan Caribbean star search contest.

Not yet thirty, Elra Ermay represents the best of St. Lucia’s burgeoning young musical talent with her drive and passion for what she does. Emotive is a tangible symbol of her commitment to this passion for musical creativity and her courage to pursue that passion wherever it goes.