Emily Li, professionally known as Emei, is an alternative pop musician based in Los Angeles, California.
Emei | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Emily Li[1] |
Born | New Jersey |
Genres | Indie pop |
Years active | 2021–present |
Labels | Amuse |
Website | beacons |
Early life
editEmei 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
editWhen 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
editIn 2022, Emei graduated from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science.[5]
Discography
editAlbums / Extended plays
editTitle | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
End of an Era | 2022 | [7] |
Scatterbrain | 2023 | [8] |
Scatterbrain (Deluxe) | 2024 | [9] |
RABBITHOLE | 2024 | [10] |
Singles
editTitle | 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] |
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
editTitle | 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
edit- ^ a b c "Meet Emei: 'That Girl' Making a Name for Herself in the Music Industry". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Callwood, Brett (2023-05-22). "Emei Digs Fearless - LA Weekly". www.laweekly.com. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c Peed, Andrea Thompson (2022-05-19). "Already a singing sensation, Emily Li broadened her academic horizons". YaleNews. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ Khan, Fatima (2024-10-25). "EMEI'S 'RABBITHOLE' EP AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 15". Verge Magazine.
- ^ a b c d "Ones To Watch". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ a b c Scatterbrain, 2023-10-20, retrieved 2024-03-11
- ^ a b Scatterbrain (Deluxe), 2024-07-12, retrieved 2024-11-27
- ^ a b c d RABBITHOLE, 2024-11-15, retrieved 2024-11-15
- ^ Staff Writers (2024-07-16). "Emei Australia 2024 Tour". scenestr.com.au. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ Robinson, Chloe (2023-12-05). "Emei Delivers a Powerful & Penetrating Show in Los Angeles on The Cynical Tour". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "'Irresponsible' is a creative and abundantly fun new release from Emei". Clout. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Emei will keep you on your toes with newest single, "Backtrack"". // MELODIC Magazine. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ Polsely, Victoria (2022-10-27). "Emei shares existencial new single "End of an Era"". Earmilk. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ Radic, Randy (2022-09-28). "Emei Releases Multihued New Single "Regrets" - Guitar Girl Magazine". Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ "Full Lyrics And Analysis Of Emei's Song 'Trust Issues - Magnetic Magazine". Magnetic Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ Severs, Sophie (2022-08-10). "The Never-Ending Pursuit of Perfection with Emei's "That Girl"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ "Emei Finds "Better People to Leave on Read" on Cutthroat New Single". Ones to Watch. 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ Thomson, Zangba (2021-10-15). "Emei releases an alternative pop tune, entitled, "Late to the Party"". Bong Mines Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ Emu, Eilonwy Has An (2021-08-21). "Get "Distracted" and dance with Emei x LEXIM". My Emu Is Emo. Retrieved 2023-08-07.