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EMMANUEL FRAYER

Emmanuel Frayer is nothing if he's not consistent. He was five years old when he first picked up a set of drumsticks and nine when he started playing the piano. Since those early formative years, music has been his calling and it continues to be his calling to this day.

At the age of 21, the Tacoma-born singer/songwriter/musician has never strayed from his love of music or from his desire to make songs that move not only the feet but the heart and soul as well. "I've always had the love and the passion for music," he says. "God gave me the gift and I just took it and ran with it."

So determined was Emmanuel to indulge his creative urges after attending Pierce Community College he decided to devote more time to his craft. But even though he abandoned his academic endeavors in one arena, he pursued them in another. "Right after I left college I made the decision that I was going to really pursue music full time," he explains. "I took it like it was school. I read a lot of books about the music business and I decided to take it seriously like I was in school, really study the game and really work on my craft."

It wasn't long before Emmanuel and some of his friends decided to form a record label of their own. "We all put our heads together and built the whole label together. The whole music struggle is something we all went through together." It was that struggle that sowed the seeds for what is now 5th World Entertainment. Emmanuel's debut release for the label, "Life & Love," is a stellar collection of songs about real feelings and real situations, a coming out project unrivaled by that of any other label of its kind.

"The album is about everything that a human being goes through," he offers, "different emotions that people go through, whether it's everyday struggle or working 9-5. It's not just love, love, love; it's talking about different pieces of love; things that human beings can relate to."

Co-written by Emmanuel and his cousin Michael Cole and produced by Tri-Quad Productions, which comprises Cole and Chris Fuller, "Life & Love" features an array of songs culled from Emmanuel's personal experiences and the experiences of those around him. "A lot of people come to me with their problems or their stories," he says, "and I create songs from them. Some of the experiences are from my life; some are from other people's lives."

The first single, "Swagga," is a "stepping out song," while "Hell and Back," is a slice of inspiration for anyone facing troubled times. "This song is talking about going through so much pain and struggle and being able to get through it."

Other standouts include "Promise," the perfect ode to love, and "Temptations," a cautionary tune about infidelity.

While Emmanuel delivers R&B the way many of his icons did back in the day – raw, real and honest – he is quick to point out that his music is one of a kind. "I always prayed that I would have my own sound and be my own unique artist," he says. And it looks like his prayers – and the prayers of true lovers of R&B – have been answered. The corporate heads of 5th World Entertainment agree. "A lot of people say you cannot reinvent the wheel," he says "but what we're trying to do when it comes to Emmanuel is reinvent the wheel, show people that you don't have to sound a certain way to be in a certain genre. Emmanuel displays the smoothness of an R&B artist, the energy of a rock artist, and the spirituality of a gospel artist. Mix those four things in one bucket and you get Emmanuel."

Just like back in the day when he had his heart set on playing the drums and the piano, Emmanuel still has a passion for music. He says he's found a good thing and he plans to stick with it – and pass it on. "What I want people to take away from this album is the fact that they can relate to it and play the songs back to back all the way through. A lot of people in the game have gotten lazy as far as making good music is concerned. They'll have one or two good songs and that's all you'll have on the album. Consistency is what I feel people will get from my album."