Cheri Farina has built a career that incorporates both faith and finesse. Her upcoming seven-song EP, aptly titled Remember and scheduled for release in November, exemplifies those qualities and serves as a signpost for all that's yet to come from her. Although she's considered an emerging voice in Christian music, her songs share a universal appeal, a reflection of her passion, purpose, and prowess.

"I decided to title my album Remember, as that is the overarching theme of all my songs," Cheri says. "I am remembering stories from my life, while also holding on to my faith in God and recognizing the role He played in those circumstances and relationships that shaped my journey." Consequently, the new EP fulfills a lifetime dream. "I began this journey in March 2024," she explains. "Over the past ten years, I've sung at many churches as a volunteer. In fact, I've always wanted to be a singer. I recall singing in preschool and auditioning for solos as early as I can remember. Standing on stage always made me a bit nervous, but once I got going...I was good to go."

The upcoming release was preceded by a series of singles -- "Disillusion," "Press Pause," "New Creation," "Life is Beautiful," and "Joy to the World," each of which featured the assistance of producer Max Anliker on keys, guitars, synthesizer, and synth bass, as well as drummer Reuben Garza on the track "Joy to the World."

Remember finds Cheri enlisting the talents of producer Dean Miller, with tracking and mixing by Rory Rositas, assistant engineers Tate Sablatura and Joanna Finley, and mastering by Alex McCullough for True East Mastering. Tania Hancheroff, Adam Cunningham, Kristen Rogers, and Brad Benge supplied backing vocals, Tim Galloway played acoustic guitar, Sam Hunter and Louis Espaillat were on bass, Evan Hutchings and Shawn Fichter played drums, Tim Lauer and Gabrielle Klein contributed keys, and Troy Lancaster played electric guitar.

Cheri's searing and soulful vocals and the resolute determination she invests in her music reflect the fact that the songs she shares clearly come from a very personal place. The tender and touching "Never Alone" expresses the faith found in trusting God when burdens seem too heavy to bear. "You're the One" moves and grooves with sheer exhilaration. The heartfelt "I Will Love You" shares clarity and conviction in equal measure.

"My first song, 'Press Pause,' was an anthem I wrote to myself," Cheri explains. "It's about believing in one's self and letting go of doubt. It continues to inspire me and lift me up when I'm in search of self-affirmation. 'Disillusion' served as my testimony to what it took to overcome the hardships I dealt with in my youth, and how God revealed Himself to me, expressed His love, and forgave me for my sins. After releasing these two songs, I became certain that I wanted to keep going. I found the affirmation I needed through my prayers and soon became confident that I was indeed on the right path. I had sacrificed many years for my family, and now it was my turn to do something for myself. At the same time, I felt I had something meaningful to give, sharing what's in my heart and my faith through music."

That opportunity came last November when Cheri's song "Life Is Beautiful" caught the attention of Dean Miller. He had come across a reel Cheri had made to promote the song on Instagram. He contacted her and expressed interest in playing the role of her producer. That led to Cheri recording three tracks this past January at OceanWay Nashville.

"After recording my very first scratch vocal, I sat down and took a long look around the room to soak in the reality of what had occurred," Cheri recalls. "That's when it hit me -- I am good enough! I'm so grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to work with Dean, Rory, and the studio musicians."

In the months since, Cheri has made further contacts in the music industry. Producer and director Will Gawley contacted Cheri through Instagram, and soon after, the two initiated a series of discussions that will lead to a debut music video for the song "You're the One" that drops this month.

"I have a team of people that support and assist with my goal to gain momentum as my career unfolds," she continues. "It includes my amazing, super supportive husband Mark and my two boys, Ethan, who's thirteen, and Charlie, who is nine. They are my biggest fans!"

Nevertheless, the journey hasn't always been easy. Her teenage years were hard for her due to family circumstances. Early on, she found her escape through music. She started singing in a community church as part of their youth ministry. Yet while she found it fulfilling, she knew she wanted more. "I kept that desire to myself," she admits. "I was insecure about my abilities. I had received lots of compliments about my voice throughout my life, but I also heard some negative comments as well. I had a bad habit of allowing them to eat me up inside. Part of me wasn't sure that I could be a singer because I doubted myself and I wasn't sure I was good enough to do it." In the meantime, she devoted herself to being a stay-at-home mom. As time went by and her children got older, she started singing again on a regular basis at church as well as at weddings and other special occasions.

Then, in the early months of 2023, a series of family tragedies found her taking a long, hard look at her life and the need to reconcile her own hopes and dreams before it was too late. She came to understand that making music was something that she really wanted and, in fact, needed to do in order to feel wholly fulfilled.

She decided to take piano lessons in order to further grow her craft and her piano teacher offered to help produce her songs. She says she could barely contain her emotion and excitement. "My EP expresses the belief that it's never too late to chase your dreams," Cheri insists. "People tell me they're shocked to learn I am pursuing my music career at my stage of my life. But they also say how inspiring my journey is. That in itself is very rewarding."

Not surprisingly then, many of Cheri's songs reflect life experiences. "New Creation" is a personal reflection on the peace she found when she gave her life to Jesus at age thirteen. "Little Baby of Mine" is about her miscarriage. "I Will Love You" describes the wonderful relationship she shares with her husband. In "Never Alone," Cheri references the way she was able to get through her pain through her faith in God.

"I think it's important to write from personal experiences because it brings authenticity, uniqueness, originality, and relatability, as well as an emotional impact," Cheri says. "By sharing the struggles along with the triumphs, it may inspire and encourage others that are facing a similar situation. I also find it therapeutic from my own personal perspective."

So far, her efforts seem to have paid off. Her song "You're the One" made it into the Top 100 in the 2025 USA Christian Songwriting Competition, hosted by WorshipCollective.co and featuring Australian producer Luke Munns.

"Working with Cheri has been a real pleasure," her EP producer Dean Miller says. "She's a total pro. Her songwriting skills are as great as her vocal skills. The songs we recorded together exceeded my expectations. She holds her own with some of the most well-known studio musicians in the world who played on this project. The songs have an emotional quality that I know will resonate with her fans and those who have yet to discover her music. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with her."

Her listeners concur, many praising her angelic vocals and the uplifting optimism that radiates throughout her songs. Others cite the joy of her journey and the way she's found peace through her passion and pursuit.

"My hope is to build a sustainable career as a recording artist, make some money doing what I love, and to glorify God," Cheri says. "I love it when I learn that my music has made an impact on someone's life. That's the hope that keeps me going. The EP is the culmination of lots of hard work, perseverance, and promise. I'm thankful to be pursuing a musical career as I had always dreamed of doing. Because there is only one me, I know I have something unique to offer."