Girl with the lion tattoo
Tattoos always attract the curious. Well, it depends on what these are – having a crudely done Sigue-Sigue Sputnik or Batang City Jail ink will have most people avoiding you like the plague.
Thankfully, the beautiful singersongwriter Emmanuelle Vera has none of those.
“I got my first one, which is the word sauveur (savior in French), I think, when I was 15,” she said in an interview. “It was spur of the moment lang, actually. Break time sa school and I just decided to get one.”
The 22-year-old has seven tattoos in all. And she has them on the right spots, too.
“I didn’t get them to look cool or rebellious. My tattoos serve a purpose. They are like reminders,” Emmanuelle maintained.
Her favorite is the huge lion head on her ribcage, which she said is “a symbol of courage.”
No, she’s not trying to scare anyone with it.
“Actually, it is a reminder of my geeky side. My favourite book of all time is ‘The Chronicles Of Narnia.’ So, the lion is actually Aslan, the main character.”
She also has several, more “inspirational” tattoos drawn on her skin including the biblical verses, “He must become greater; I must become less,” and “Be still and know that I am God.”
Lest one thinks she is some holierthan-thou zealot (or some latter-day Max Cady), Emmanuelle said, “I don’t subscribe to a certain denomination. I don’t want to box myself in. But I definitely have a relationship with God and my tattoos are like a reminder to keep working on it.”
“I also have the word eternity on my arm as a reminder that everything is temporary,” she added sounding worldly for her age.
Among her latest tattoos are the words “Love” and “Serve” on each wrist both done in white ink.
Why have tattoos that nobody will notice, we asked.
“They’re for me,” Emmanuelle surely, making her mark in showbiz since 2010.
She first tried her hand at acting by appearing as antagonist to Sarah Geronimo’s character on “1DOL.”
Emmanuelle has also appeared in several episodes of “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “100 Days To Heaven,” “Pangako Sa’Yo,” “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita,” and “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” Her first movie was the indie “Kuwento Nating Dalawa,” an entry to the 2015 World Premiere Film Festival.
Asked about these forays, she said, “I like acting. I like it that I get to be somebody I am not at least even for a short minute of my life.”
But it is singing she likes best and Emmanuelle was only too happy to have been afforded the chance to cut her eponymous debut album in 2012. Although she earned some semblance of success with her single “Happy,” a cute slice of teen pop that earned constant rotation on radio, the singer knew even then she need do more to satisfy her inner artist.
Aiming to develop herself further, she joined “The Voice Of The Philippines” a year later.
“I really wanted to be part of the contest going far as to ask my then recording company to release me from my contract with them,” she related.
Her stint on the show, however, was short-lived, with Emmanuelle losing out to co-competitors early on during the battle rounds. It was a huge heartbreaker for the young, still developing artist, but, if anything, it served to fuel her passion for music even further.
“I became more determined. I was not about to give up my dreams easily. But I knew I need to step back and figure out who I am and who I want to be musically-speaking.”
It was then she rediscovered her R&B roots. “I found out I was more comfortable with it, I could express myself more,” she said.
Emmanuelle has since written several songs in that vein “pero not pure R&B but with a bit of pop feel to it.” She now hopes to re-introduce herself to fans as edgy, indie singer-songwriter.
“I’m thinking parang Kehlani,” she pointed out, referring to similarlytattooed American singer-songwriter. “It’s like not strictly R&B, not strictly pop either.”
As part of her reinvention, Emmanuelle has agreed to appear as cover girl of this month’s issue of FHM.
“It’s parang new year, new me but the same goals, I still want to be known as singer-songwriter first and foremost.”
Does this mean she is foregoing her acting career?
“Not necessarily,” she answered. “I’m hoping to break the mold in a way na I could be an accomplished musician who is also a good actress.”
Emmanuelle shared she is going to do a webshow soon. She’s not telling what it’s all about, though.
“Basta it’ll be something different,” she hinted. (With report from Jojo P. Panaligan)