Many artists in the music business like to find ways to cut corners
to get to the top.This method is fine for an artist that just wants to
be a one-hit wonder, but for anyone who wants to leave a lasting
impression, consistence and quality are key components—
and these qualities take time. Asian-American pop star Chelsea Emata,
known to the public as “Chelsea E.,” believes that everyone needs
to pay their dues. Chelsea has always believed in her heart that
she was born to do this and despite her ups
and downs from signing to a label to going solo,
she remained headstrong, citing her favorite quote by Machiavelli,
“The hard route to the top is often the best.”
Chelsea was born in Cagayan De Oro, a small province
in the Philippines. She moved to the US by the age of five
and at eight, she had instantly found her love for music while
singing along to the classic Barbara Streisand song, “Memory,”
over and over in her bedroom. This passion led to her
performing musicals in front of thousands of people by
the age of ten. Since Chelsea’s family saw her undisputable
talent at such an early age, they lovingly encouraged her
love for music while incorporating it into her education.
She was enrolled at Pacoima Middle School Magnet for
the Performing Arts where she first studied musical theatre.
She then attended Los AngelesCountyHigh School for Arts
where she studied musical theatre, voice, and dance.
By the time Chelsea was thirteen–
she was already a seasoned performer. Her major influences:
Barbara Streisand, Whitney
Houston, and Mariah Carey, helped her mold her vocals
and gave her impressions of lasting careers to strive
for in her music career.
Chelsea went on to play the lead in several major musicals including,
“Chorus Line”[Connie Wong], “Fame the Musical” [Serena Katz], and
performed alongside musical prodigy Josh Groban in
“Fiddler on the Roof” [Hodel] and “Finian’s Rainbow
[Necessity Girl]. During this time, a talent agent discovered her
and decided that Chelsea would be the perfect fit for an all-Asian
female pop band that was in the process of forming. During her
junior year of high school, Chelsea officially became a member
of SX4. The girls of SX4 were quickly signed to a European label and had three singles distributed under BMG in the
“Gangland Album” by the legendary Kool and the Gang.
After several years, conflicts of interest began to surface
within the group, and they decided to disband. Chelsea says,
“I loved being in an all girl band– there were many elements
I enjoyed about it, the group effort, learning and singing
harmonies, and performing with my friends. It was a great experience.”
After the girls went their separate ways, Chelsea decided to
pursue her education further and attended The Academy
of Radio and TV Broadcasting in Huntington Beach,
California. She had retained her contacts from the days
when she was in SX4, got in contact with producers and
made the decision to move forward as a solo artist recording
her debut album “Greenlight Girl.” 

Greenlight Girl” is a combination of pop, acoustic, and urban sounds.
Her style of music is classified in the pop category, as
she prefers to sing songs that highlight her vocal
range. Her music has been compared to the styles of
Natasha Bedingfield, Nelly Furtado,
Fergie and Pink. Excerpts from her private journal inspire
her lyrics, and she describes
her debut album as being “a musical diary.”
Chelsea shares, “When I am hurt, angry, or
upset, I find the only way to regain sanity is to cry it
off, and then add lyrics and melody
to the situation.” Chelsea’s lyrics take listeners through
heartbreak, relationship woes,
love at first sight, and disappointments in love.
In 2008, Chelsea’s album “Greenlight Girl” will be
available on iTunes. Disarming,outgoing, sexy, flirty,
talented, and a rising star in the independent music
scene, be prepared for Chelsea E. to change
the face of pop music– as she is quickly becoming the
most watched Asian American female to be on the rise in the music industry.