The power of the internet.
Emily Zamourka, a Russian-born singer who has been homeless and living in Los Angeles, recently became an online singing sensation. Footage of her singing in LA’s Koreatown district last month was captured by a police officer and quickly did the rounds, becoming dubbed the ‘Subway Soprano’.
The 52 year old found herself on stage properly for the first time over the weekend, showing how strong the effects of social media are these days, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Invited to perform at the opening of LA’s Little Italy by local councilman Joe Buscaino, Zamourka impressed and since she initially came to attention, two GoFund Me campaigns have raised almost $95,000 for the 52 year old.
“I’m not a professional singer,” she said at the event. “[but] I’m very critical to how I’m going to sound or how I’m going to perform. It has to be delivered right.”
“It’s not easy, so that’s why today I will apologise in front of everybody, because they probably thought I’m going to bring a [bigger] repertoire or something. It’s going to be the same song that they know me from the subway [for].”
Along with the fundraising, Councilman Buscaino’s staff are working to secure long term housing for Zamourka, while Grammy-nominated producer and composer Joel Diamond (Tom Jones, Gloria Gaynor) has put a potential record deal on the table.
“I actually wrote a deal memo to her.” he said. “I don’t even know her. I’ve never done that in my entire life, and it’s crazy.”
