Check Out Emma Borzumato’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Borzumato.

Hi Emma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have been doing music since I was a little girl. I grew up in Fairfield, CT and in elementary school, I had a knack for learning piano by ear. My music teacher Mr. Noise (yes that was his actual name) told my parents that I was destined to be a star! We moved to Florida when I was 7, and I was always front-and-center in every choir production through middle and high school, where I continued honing my craft through voice lessons and music programs. I play piano and guitar, but singing and dancing were always where I felt most at home. I did ballet and tap for many years and was a big personality in my high school’s show choir. I also dabbled in theatre and musical theatre, which combined my love of music with my love of the stage.

Show choir will always be my favorite and has definitely shaped where I am with music today. I always knew I wanted to be in entertainment, and my show choir director pushed me to look into Belmont University to find my calling. Throughout college, I have been writing my own music and getting more into my “country-side.” Meeting some amazing friends and people in the industry while living in Nashville has shaped my songwriting and I am coming more into my identity as a performer! I wouldn’t be where I am today without the music teachers and friends I have made. They always pushed me to improve my talent and support my aspirations, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road, but that’s just how the industry is. I fell in love with Belmont University on my first tour of the campus. However, I never saw rejection in my college journey. I took a few days off of school during my senior year of high school to audition for Belmont’s Commercial Voice and Musical Theatre programs. We flew to Nashville and I had some rocky audition days, but regardless I never had a doubt I would get in. I was the top performer in my show choir and everything in my life had led to this moment. I received my program letter in the mail a month later, my parents had held it from me because we were finishing my senior show choir show and they wanted me to be in good head space. My parents sat me down after closing night and piled on apologies, and the worst part is I thought they were pranking me! I took the letter from them and was making a big deal about how “I know you are teasing me” and jokes. And then I opened the letter and saw the fateful words; “thank you for your interest in our programs”. I was absolutely devastated. I had gotten rejected before, for roles in shows and solo spots, and we had lost competitions for show choir before, but this stung deep in my soul.

However, I see it as a blessing in disguise and all part of God’s plan. I still chose to go to Belmont and make the best of it. I became a Music Business major and decided I would learn everything I could about the industry and forge my own career path regardless of making it into the program. I’ve never looked back since. I have gotten rejected plenty after that, and I will continue to get rejected long after, it is a part of the industry and it is something that just helps you move on to the next chapter of your professional life! I am stronger because of everything I didn’t get, and one day will get where I am supposed to be as long as I keep working hard and don’t lose my morale!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a country singer and songwriter. All my life I’ve sung a variety of genres; jazz, musical theatre, and pop. Country music is something I fell in love with when I moved to Nashville for college. The way country songwriters tell such an amazing and deep story is what attracted me to it. I felt genuine pity and heart that I couldn’t feel in other genres of music. I like to use my songs to tell a story, and most of them are written about difficult times in my life. Everyone can write a breakup song or a sad song, but for me, an angry or emotional song requires more depth. My style of songwriting is what sets me apart. I like to find the bittersweet humor and sadness of events in my life and form that into a really great song. I put lots of jokes in my songs because it’s an important stage of depression and denial people often overlook in songwriting. I don’t like to wallow in my grief, so I put a tinge of humor to make me and the listener feel better. It brings everyone together and gives a communal understanding instead of simple sympathy. One of my favorite songs is titled “Blue”, and I am most proud of it. The song is about a disintegration of a relationship with someone I was once very close to.

It was the first song I wrote about this person that was clearly personal and really showcased my fury over how the situation went down. It gave me closure and I was never ashamed of the words and music behind it, and it gave me a sense of confidence in myself as a person and as a musician! I want people to listen to it and feel my frustration, not just feel bad I went through a breakup. Music should make you feel passionate and strong feelings, which I feel “Blue” does. I cannot wait to release it soon and share it with the world! I am most proud of myself for the songs I’ve written and started producing with some friends this semester. It started as part of an audition for a showcase my university puts on. To prepare for this audition, I had to produce a few songs, really get serious with my social media platforms, get a band together and rehearse all within a month. It pushed me to get a fire within me and hit the ground running. I never felt so connected to my career so much in my college life. That preparation really sparked my confidence and led me to new friends who not only believe in my music but want to help me succeed. Confidence is something everyone struggles with, and it has been and will always be my biggest roadblock. But with my final semester of college approaching, I don’t want to sit by and waste opportunities. I have music in the works and production and release plans, and I could not be more excited to take bigger control of my creative life!

Any big plans?
In the future, I am looking forward to graduating in May! The college has been such a whirlwind and while I am sad to finish that chapter of my life, I am so excited for what comes next! I have music I am producing and finishing in order to release on all platforms, it will be my first ever music release which makes me smile just thinking about it! I am looking forward to getting out into the live music scene in Nashville in the spring, it’s something I have been waiting to do and all I want to do over winter break is write songs to have more to perform in front of an audience.

I also love meeting people; creatives, songwriters, and industry professionals. I would love to get a job with a touring band or music publishing company after college to gain more experience and knowledge about the entertainment industry. The world is an open door once I graduate and I am excited to see what it has in store for me!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmastjude/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@emmastjude