Emei (musician)

Emei
Emei in 2023
Emei in 2023
Background information
Birth nameEmily Li[1]
BornNew Jersey
GenresIndie pop
Years active2021–present
LabelsAmuse
Websitebeacons.ai/emei

Emily Li, professionally known as Emei, is an alternative pop musician based in Los Angeles, California.

Early life

Emei was born in New Jersey to Chinese immigrant parents.[2] She grew up listening to Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald, the Jackson 5, Sara Bareilles, and Taylor Swift,[3] and has been singing since she was 9 years old.[2]

As a teenager, Emei competed on Dancing with the Stars in China.[4]

Music career

When Emei was 15, she took a year off from school to compete on Chinese Idol and placed third.[1] She attended Yale University, where she was a member of its a cappella group Mixed Company.[5]

In 2022, Emei's single “Late to the Party" went viral, gaining 5.5 million streams on music platforms and 9.5 million views on TikTok and Instagram Reels.[2] Her recent song with Whethan, "Sunny D", is a smash hit and was adopted by Sunny D, the company as its song of the year.

In January 2023, she performed at the halftime of a Los Angeles Clippers game against the San Antonio Spurs.[1] In November 2023, Emei teamed up with production duo NOTD on "Hold On Me".

Emei's stage name is "a cross between her Chinese name, An Mei, and her English nickname, Emmy."[5]

In November 2024, Emei released her third EP, RABBITHOLE.[6] She described it as "“All of [the songs] are like going through this journey of going down into panic and anxiety and then coming out of it.”

Personal life

In 2022, Emei graduated from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science.[5]

Discography

Albums / Extended plays

Title Year Source
End of an Era 2022 [7]
Scatterbrain 2023 [8]
Scatterbrain (Deluxe) 2024 [9]
RABBITHOLE 2024 [10]

Singles

As lead artist
Title Year Album / EP Source
"9 LIVES" 2024 RABBITHOLE [10] [citation needed]
"SUNNYD" Non-album singles [citation needed]
"ALL THESE KIDS" RABBITHOLE [10] [citation needed]
“RABBITHOLE” [citation needed]
"Love Me Not" Non-album singles [11]
"Don't Know About The World" 2023 Scatterbrain[8] [citation needed]
"Cynical" [12]
"Irresponsible" [13]
"Scatterbrain" [14]
"Backtrack" 2022 Non-album singles [15]
"End of an Era" End of an Era[7] [16]
"Regrets" [17]
"Trust Issues" [18]
"That Girl" [19]
"Better People To Leave on Read" Non-album singles [20]
"Late to the Party" End of an Era[7] [21]
"Distracted" 2021 Non-album singles [22]
As featured artist
Title Year Album / EP Source
"Hold On Me (feat. Emei)"

(NOTD, Emei)

2023 Non-album singles [citation needed]
"RE-IGNITION"

(VALORANT, ARB4, Jazz Alonso, Emei)

Non-album singles [citation needed]

Notable Tracks

Released within Album / EP only
Title Year Album / EP Source
"SUGARCOAT" 2024 RABBITHOLE [10] [citation needed]
"THE PART" [citation needed]
"Agree to Disagree" Scatterbrain (Deluxe)[9] [citation needed]
"You Are Bad" [citation needed]
"Human Being - Demo" [citation needed]
"711" 2023 Scatterbrain[8] [citation needed]
"Dear Emily" [citation needed]
"Picky" [citation needed]
"Ferris Bueller" 2022 End of an Era[7] [citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Meet Emei: 'That Girl' Making a Name for Herself in the Music Industry". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  2. ^ a b c Tran, Teresa (2023-01-23). "Emei Is the Chinese American Pop-Rock Artist We've Been Waiting For". JoySauce. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  3. ^ Callwood, Brett (2023-05-22). "Emei Digs Fearless - LA Weekly". www.laweekly.com. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  4. ^ "Alternative Pop Singer Emei Drops New Single "Late To The Party" and Lands Cover Of Spotify "Fresh Finds"". Mundane. 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  5. ^ a b c Peed, Andrea Thompson (2022-05-19). "Already a singing sensation, Emily Li broadened her academic horizons". YaleNews. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  6. ^ Khan, Fatima (2024-10-25). "EMEI'S 'RABBITHOLE' EP AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 15". Verge Magazine.
  7. ^ a b c d "Ones To Watch". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  8. ^ a b c Scatterbrain, 2023-10-20, retrieved 2024-03-11
  9. ^ a b Scatterbrain (Deluxe), 2024-07-12, retrieved 2024-11-27
  10. ^ a b c d RABBITHOLE, 2024-11-15, retrieved 2024-11-15
  11. ^ Staff Writers (2024-07-16). "Emei Australia 2024 Tour". scenestr.com.au. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  12. ^ Robinson, Chloe (2023-12-05). "Emei Delivers a Powerful & Penetrating Show in Los Angeles on The Cynical Tour". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  13. ^ "'Irresponsible' is a creative and abundantly fun new release from Emei". Clout. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  14. ^ Bowenbank, Starr; Lynch, Joe; Havens, Lyndsey; Lipshutz, Jason (2023-02-06). "10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Lizzy McAlpine, Caroline Polachek & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  15. ^ "Emei will keep you on your toes with newest single, "Backtrack"". // MELODIC Magazine. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  16. ^ Polsely, Victoria (2022-10-27). "Emei shares existencial new single "End of an Era"". Earmilk. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  17. ^ Radic, Randy (2022-09-28). "Emei Releases Multihued New Single "Regrets" - Guitar Girl Magazine". Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  18. ^ "Full Lyrics And Analysis Of Emei's Song 'Trust Issues - Magnetic Magazine". Magnetic Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  19. ^ Severs, Sophie (2022-08-10). "The Never-Ending Pursuit of Perfection with Emei's "That Girl"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  20. ^ "Emei Finds "Better People to Leave on Read" on Cutthroat New Single". Ones to Watch. 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  21. ^ Thomson, Zangba (2021-10-15). "Emei releases an alternative pop tune, entitled, "Late to the Party"". Bong Mines Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  22. ^ Emu, Eilonwy Has An (2021-08-21). "Get "Distracted" and dance with Emei x LEXIM". My Emu Is Emo. Retrieved 2023-08-07.