'American Idol' eliminee Emily Piriz: I felt like I was sleepwalking

American Idol ousted Emily Piriz during last week's live results show on Fox, determining the thirteenth season's Top 11 finalists.
 
Emily, an 18-year-old student from Orlando, FL, became the second finalist sent home from American Idol's thirteenth season after she received the fewest home viewer votes cast following the week's performance show, which featured the Top 12 finalists performing songs that best defined what the word "home" means to them -- whether it be their town, a family member or simply what it represents. 

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Emily's elimination became official after Idol judges Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban announced they weren't going to prevent her departure by using their one "The Judges' Save" of the season. Emily had been in the bottom three with M.K. Nobilette and Jena Irene.

During a Friday conference call with reporters, Emily talked to Reality TV World about whether she regrets her song choice and how she feels about the apparent wipeout of female contestants so far. To read what she had to say, click here. Below is another part of Emily's interview.

What's the best piece of advice one of the judges gave you that you'll take with you?

Emily Piriz: You know, they've all given me great advice.  I think, basically, to be confident in myself.  Keith told me that the other night, to be confident and not to doubt myself, and I think that's definitely something that I'm going to remember and I'm going to keep with me.


What do you see your first album in the future being like?

Emily Piriz: You know, my first album, I definitely see it being a pop/rock kind of vibe.  I want some funky songs on there that have a little edge to them, but I definitely also want to be behind the piano and do a few softer songs.  So, yes, my first album is definitely going to be all me.  It's going to reflect who I am.

So, what's next for you?

Emily Piriz: I'm going to be going back home, so I'm going to finish high school and graduate.  Then I'm planning to move out here to California and just continue to pursue music.

And when you look back at the whole experience of the show, what comes to mind?  Was it overall very good?  Do you have regrets?  How do you see it?


Emily Piriz: I see it as, you know, the best experience of my life.  No regrets at all.  I'm happy with everything that I did.  It was such a learning experience and I was able to meet so many great people and make such great friends that I will keep forever.  So, I'm just really grateful to have had this experience.

The theme for next week is "Songs of the Cinema."  If you had been performing next week, did you already know what song you were going to perform?

Emily Piriz:  I did.  I was going to do "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

During your run on Idol, were there any contestants in particular that you bonded with the most?

Emily Piriz: I mean, honestly, I bonded with everyone.  MK and I had a close bond because we were roommates.  Jena and I had a great bond.  I had a great bond with [Sam Woolf], [Alex Preston], [Dexter Roberts] -- I mean, really, all of us were so close.  We all hung out together every night.  But MK and I were roommates, so I guess we had that extra bond.


The video from your boyfriend was so sweet.  How has he supported you in your music journey before and after American Idol?

Emily Piriz: Matt?  He has supported me through everything.  Before American Idol, he would go to shows with me, open mics, and he would sign me up.  I supported him with him going into the Marines. 

We've been there for each other since day one.  I had no idea they were going to show that video, so that was nice to hear from him and to see his face.  But, yes, he's supported me since Day 1 and I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend.

What's your best advice for other couples in a long distance relationship, especially if one of them is in the military?

Emily Piriz: Just to trust each other and keep it free, don't suffocate each other.  You know, Matt and I have a great relationship because we love each other and we trust each other and we're not, you know, "What are you doing this second, what are you doing that second?" 


We support each other.  He's supporting my dream of American Idol and going to pursue my music.  You just have to be happy for each other with whatever you're doing.

I want to know what kind of guidance Randy Jackson is giving you kids in the mentoring sessions and how much influence he has over you and your song choices.  How much of what you're doing each week on Idol is his influence and how do you think that goes into play with what you're hearing from the judges?

Emily Piriz: As far as song choice goes, it's basically all on us.  You know, we have three choices and we sing it in front of Randy and some of the producers.  They'll tell us their thoughts, but ultimately the choice is up to us. 

Then, on Monday, we have a rehearsal and Randy's there and he watches us on the stage, performing it out.  And he'll come up to us and tell us great things, things we have to fix.  He really helps us get prepared for the live shows on Wednesdays.

With the theme of "Home," do you think that maybe some of the songs should've been more tailored to your states or more geographical?  Maybe artists from the states?  Gloria Estefan is from Miami, FL, for example.  I'm just throwing that out there.


Emily Piriz: I guess.  The themes are kind of broad, but I think that's a good thing because it kind of allows every person to put a little bit of their individuality [into it], you know?  With the theme "Home," that can literally mean anything, any song that really reminds you of home.  So you kind of get a feel for how that person kind of grew up or how that person feels about their family.

I just wanted to clarify something you said.  When you first choose your song, you're only given three to choose from?  You can't deviate from that?

Emily Piriz: No, there are pages and pages and pages of lists you can choose from.  But a few days before, like Friday, you have to narrow it down to your three top choices that you want to choose from that are your possibilities.  So you work those three out and pick which one you want the most... No, no, they let us choose.

What did it feel like to you when you first stepped in front of the huge Idol audience?  What was going through your head?

Emily Piriz: Oh my gosh, it was a dream.  It really didn't even feel real.  It felt like I was sleepwalking.  I didn't expect all the people to be standing around the stage. I didn't know that was going to happen.  Just to hear people screaming and cheering for you, it's something I've dreamt of since I was a little girl, so it really was just a dream come true.

What are you going to look forward to back in Orlando when you get home?


Emily Piriz: Oh, I'm going to look forward to my big, comfy bed.  I'm going to look forward to home-cooked meals.  You know, just hanging out with my family and my friends.  I mean, I made a second family over here, my Idol family, but nothing compares to the real thing.

But your family was with you all the time, right?

Emily Piriz: Well, my parents would fly back and forth.  So they would only be there show nights and Thursday nights, and I only saw them for a few hours.

We see you guys getting really close on the show and you were saying how they become like an Idol family, a second family.  So how hard was it to have to leave everyone, and what do you think you're going to miss most about American Idol?

Emily Piriz: It was really hard.  I mean, last night, they had a car waiting for me and they told me I only had 45 minutes and I was like, "Forget it, let the car go, I'm going to take a taxi.  I don't want 45 minutes." 

I stayed for, like, four hours just sitting, talking, and just enjoying each other's company.  Because, honestly, these are some of the best people I've ever met in my life.  It was really hard to say goodbye.


I'm just going to miss being able to spend time with all these amazing people.  I mean, not only are they so talented, they just have such kind hearts and everyone is such a good person.  It's so great being around them.

Above is a portion of Emily Piriz's recent interview. To read what she had to say to Reality TV World during a Friday conference call with reporters, click here. Check back with us soon for the concluding portion.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski