By Kurt Dusterberg
Emma Fornes credits her family for nearly every step in her budding music career.
The NC State University senior remembers taking part in her mother’s mommy-and-me music class as a toddler. By age 4, she was taking piano lessons. “My parents saw me light up with music,” she says.
At first, the piano was a mixed blessing for an elementary school kid who wanted to grab a pencil and try her hand at songwriting. “I would put a sheet of paper on the piano, and I would dig in,” Fornes recalls with a laugh. “You can literally see the lyrics and the chords. My dad flipped out because he saved up so much for that piano.”
Today, all is forgiven. Fornes, who goes by Emma Rae in musical circles, is taking the first steps in her professional career. The singer-songwriter has officially recorded one of her original songs, “The Chase.” The ballad is a remembrance of a past romance, full of mature vocals and elegant piano work. While the song has a contemporary feel, Fornes is grounded in another era.
“My dad was very insistent on oldies music being the best music,” she says. “I always looked up to Billy Joel and Elton John because I felt like they were pioneers for pop-based piano singers. Their work is honestly my holy grail.”
Fornes, who grew up in Apex, admits that writing lyrics is still a bit of a hurdle. “I’m a very music-first person,” she says. “I do struggle with lyrics. I’ve never been a super confident writer. A lot of it is learning what I want to say and the message I want to bring to the world.”
This summer, Fornes has plenty of gigs lined up. In addition to playing local eateries and private events, she will headline a Rhythm & Reels concert at the Apex Nature Park Amphitheatre on August 15. She’s even landed several restaurant dates at North Carolina beaches. It’s a good start for a musician with big dreams.
Photo caption: Singer-songwriter Emma Fornes will headline the Rhythm & Reels concert in Apex on August 15. Photo courtesy of Emma Fornes.
“There’s the lofty goal of making it, which for me would be touring around the country and around the world professionally with my own music,” she says. “But I have to pay my rent and put dinner on the table.”
For now, Fornes will go where the music takes her, with the same confidence she had when she wrote her first song, “Firefly,” at age 5. She recalls the lyrics easily.
Let me be your firefly
Just shining through the night
Let me be your firefly
Just making life so bright
“Honestly, it was really cute,” Fornes says. “I don’t think it was a bad song for a 5-year-old. But I think there was definitely some improvement to come.”
