Emei (musician) explained

Emei
Birth Name:Emily Li
Birth Place:New Jersey
Genre:Indie pop
Years Active:2021–present
Label:Amuse

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. She grew up listening to Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald, the Jackson 5, Sara Bareilles, and Taylor Swift,[1] and has been singing since she was 9 years old.[2]

As a teenager, Emei competed on Dancing with the Stars in China.[3]

Music career

When Emei was 15, she took a year off from school to compete on Chinese Idol and placed third. She attended Yale University, where she was a member of its a cappella group Mixed Company.[4]

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. 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.[5] 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."

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.

Discography

Albums / Extended plays

!Title!Year!Source
End of an Era2022[7]
Scatterbrain2023
Scatterbrain (Deluxe)2024
RABBITHOLE2024

Singles

As lead artist!Title!Year!Album / EP!Source
"9 LIVES"2024RABBITHOLE
"SUNNYD"Non-album singles
"ALL THESE KIDS"RABBITHOLE
“RABBITHOLE”
"Love Me Not"Non-album singles [8]
"Don't Know About The World"2023Scatterbrain
"Cynical"[9]
"Irresponsible"[10]
"Scatterbrain"[11]
"Backtrack"2022Non-album singles [12]
"End of an Era"End of an Era[13]
"Regrets"[14]
"Trust Issues"[15]
"That Girl"[16]
"Better People To Leave on Read"Non-album singles [17]
"Late to the Party"End of an Era[18]
"Distracted"2021Non-album singles [19]
As featured artist!Title!Year!Album / EP!Source
"Hold On Me (feat. Emei)"(NOTD, Emei)2023Non-album singles
"RE-IGNITION"(VALORANT, ARB4, Jazz Alonso, Emei)Non-album singles

Notable Tracks

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

References

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

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