Music has long been an important part of senior Danielle Merlati’s life.

“I do not know where it came from. It has just been something that I love to do,” Merlati said.

Merlati, who recently recorded a song with an accompanying music video with a small record company, has been taking voice lessons for several years. 

“In middle school I started (with a voice teacher), and then we kind of tapered off on that,” she said.

Merlati then auditioned for American Idol.

“I tried out the year before in St. Louis. They picked one out of like 250 to actually try out in front of the judges, so it didn’t really go anywhere,” Merlati said.

While not being able to audition for the judges, Merlati was discovered there by her current voice teacher. She recorded her song Cherish Their Love through her current teacher.

Merlati is a country singer, which she believes sets her apart from the others.

“A lot of people around here don’t like country music, so that is probably the biggest thing,” Merlati said.

This idea has affected her when it comes to performing at school.

“I would say that the school wants to see something more like with the variety show, with Broadway or something fun like that, and I just sing country,” Merlati said. “I just stay true to that.”

Although Merlati is currently a solo singer, she has not thrown out the possibility of joining a band.

“Right now I just sing by myself with background tracks, but if I could get a band, that would be kind of cool,” she said.

When it comes to her goals in music, Merlati wants to incorporate it with her career choices.

“I may minor in music therapy,” She said. “I want to be a nurse, so music therapy can be a part of that.”