UMG: Could you introduce yourself ?

Elisa Fiorillo: My name is Elisa Fiorillo and I sang on the song "Don't Be Afraid" that was featured on the video game "Metal Gear Solid". I've been a singer in the music industry for the past 18 years. You can check out my website www.elisafiorillo.com to learn more about me.

UMG: What have you already done for your job, which is very important, according to you?

Elisa Fiorillo: I have had the pleasure of working with many talented people in my career. I must say that one of my biggest accomplishments was writing a song on my 2nd album entitled "I Am" called "Purpose In Your Life". It was a song about teenage suicide that I wrote after a fan had written me a letter telling me that she wanted to kill herself. I ended up sending her a letter and the lyrics to the song to help her see that her life was very valuable and that she should never take her life into her own hands. Over the years we have stayed in touch and just recently I met her and she has a beautiful life now. A great husband, a beautiful daughter...and she is beautiful as well! I have a picture on my website that you should look at. Her name is Tamara and I'm so glad that my music had such a positive affect on her life.

UMG: What are you making at the moment ? (If you can tell us about the project you are making at the moment)

Elisa Fiorillo: I tend to get involved in many projects at once! I am finishing up a Country music album right now that will be for sale on my website by hopefully by Fall 2006. Then it's back to the studio to start recording a new album of songs that are very much in the same vain as the song I sang on Metal Gear Solid, "Don't Be Afraid". I just love Jazz. I love moody music that you can just throw yourself completely into and get lost in the music and melody. I hope to finish that project by October 2006. The album will be called, "Labor Of Love".

UMG: What would you like to do in the future in your job? (If you can tell us about your projects or wishes, or your "dreams" about your career).

Elisa Fiorillo: I would love to continue getting involved in many facets of music. I enjoy all music and want to experiment and grow as a singer until I can't sing anymore! Elisa Fiorillo: Hopefully that will never happen!!! My dream would be that my Jazz album will take off and I will get enough recognition to allow me to tour performing live in Jazz venues all around the world.

UMG: Have you ever play to a game of the MGS series ? ( Please explain why or why not) If yes, what do you think about it ?

Elisa Fiorillo: I have not had the opportunity to play Metal Gear Solid as of yet. I'm not very good at video games unfortunately! My husband on the other hand loves to play! I guess I will just have to make him teach me how to play! It does look like fun and the animation is really wonderful...and the music too...hee..hee!

UMG: How come you made a song for a video game ? Did Konami contact you? Or were you looking for it?

Elisa Fiorillo: I actually was working with a songwriter/producer named Rika Muranaka. I had just finished working with her on a Jazz album that I put out in Japan on King Records called "Teach Me Tonight". We had such a great time working on that project and when the call came from Konami to do some music for Metal Gear Solid, Rika immediately called me to sing on the track "Don't Be Afraid". I was very happy that she called me and that I could be involved in such a wonderful project.

UMG: Was the recording great ? Do you have a good feeling of such an experiment?

Elisa Fiorillo: I enjoyed the recording process very much indeed. Anytime a singer has the opportunity to sing with a 40 piece orchestra "LIVE" is simply an awesome experience! I sang "Don't Be Afraid" a total of five times from beginning to end with the orchestra and they went with the best performance. The song kind of reminded me of one of the old James Bond themes so when I sang it I pictured James Bond and a beautiful lady dining at a ritzy restaurant and just closed my eyes and got into the moment.

UMG: Would you like to sing again for another game, if it is possible ?

Elisa Fiorillo: I would love to sing for another video game! Bring it on! I'm there! Just tell me where and when and I'll be at the studio ready to sing!

UMG: Is that different to sing for a game than for something else ?

Elisa Fiorillo: The only thing different about the experience I had recording the song "Don't Be Afraid" and other times that I've been in the studio recording songs for other projects is that I got to sing it "live" and we went with the entire performance from beginning to end. Sometimes in Pop music especially, they will have you sing the verses first...then the chorus's...and rarely do they let you get a spontaneous performance. They piece it together too much where it starts to become very sterile. Personally I like to sing "live" and that is why the performance on "Don't Be Afraid" is very special to me...because it was a "live, untouched and spontaneous" performance.

UMG: Would you like to say something special to all the fans who will read this interview ?

Elisa Fiorillo: To all the fans of Metal Gear Solid...thank you for enjoying the performance of "Don't Be Afraid" as much as I enjoyed singing it. I hope to sing on more video games in the future. I promise that I will try to learn how to play Metal Gear Solid soon...my husband loves the game and I will have him teach me! If you want to follow up to see what I'm doing in my music career, please feel free to visit my website for up to date news www.elisafiorillo.com. Thank you for the interview and I hope to hear from you all on my Be-Bop Lounge Message Board !

UMG: Thanks to you, Elisa.