Emily Li, professionally known as Emei, is an American 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 2024 single with Whethan, “SUNNYD”, was also a smash hit. It was adopted by SunnyD, the orange juice 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 “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]
In 2024, Emei lost her grandma who was a big part of her childhood. The song "ginger tea" is a dedication to her.
Discography
Albums / Extended plays
| Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| End of an Era | 2022 | [7] |
| Scatterbrain | 2023 | [8] |
| Scatterbrain (Deluxe) | 2024 | [9] |
| RABBITHOLE | 2024 | [10] |
Singles
| 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] |
| 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
| 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
- ^ 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.
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