Few things could easily sum up Emily Li’s, who more commonly goes by the stage name Emei, recent trip to the Philippines than when a fan gifted her a fanart of her eating chicken inasal. The Asian-American musician was in the country earlier this August as part of Warner Music’s Listen Up Showcase, where she performed at One Ayala. For her first time in the country, it made for a memorable first impression. “I loved it. It was so much fun,” she tells MEGA Asia. “I think it might be the highlight of the trip.”
Such is the life of a rising pop star born to Chinese immigrant parents in New Jersey who at one point walked away from the music scene only to be called back into it because of how much she missed it. In a time when the new generation of pop artists is taking the genre to exciting new heights, Emei is up there, infusing pop with her personal lyrics and theatrical inspirations.
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From Chinese Idol to American Pop Star
Most teens think about school or friends, but Emei was busy making a name for herself on Chinese competition shows. As a teenager, Emei moved to China, where she, among other things, competed on Dancing with the Stars in China and Chinese Idol, the latter of which she finished in third place. By many accounts, she was already a working musician in China. But when she returned to the US, a realization hit.
“I actually got back, and I was like, ‘I’m not doing entertainment. I’m tired, I’m burnt out.’” However, music wouldn’t be out of Emei’s life for too long. Soon enough, she got back to doing what she loved. “I just love it. And I don’t think I could do anything else because it’s always been something I’ve been so passionate about.”
Adding to Emei’s lore is that she graduated from Yale University studying Cognitive Science. “I do think knowing more about human psychology is always helpful when you’re marketing and performing to people all the time,” she says. But for Emei, what really left a mark on her time at the Ivy League university, especially as a musician, was the experiences she had outside of her degree.
“I had a band on campus and organized a lot of shows. And I feel like all of that experience has made me a better artist. If something isn’t happening, I’ve gotten quite good at making it happen. And I think that started at Yale. And just being surrounded by such ambitious, smart people. All my friends are just so impressive, and I feel like I was driven to work harder because of them.”
Emei on Embracing Her Inner Theater Kid
Emei’s music journey began in earnest in the 2020s, with her first big moment happening in 2022 when her single Late to the Party went viral on social media. What followed was her 2023 release Scatterbrain, which remains Emei’s most streamed single on Spotify to date with 83 million streams and counting. A listen to any of her music reveals why she’s been building an audience over the years. With her unique point of view, strong voice, and bold creativity, Emei knows how to make an anthem by combining pop production with honest lyricism. It’s a trait of hers that’s felt throughout her latest EP, Night at the Opera.
It’s a vibrant collection that comes in at a lean 15 minutes and five songs long, but gets its point across. Notably, the album marks Emei’s return to her musical theater roots, which is wonderfully executed in the EP’s opening track. “It was so fun. It was freeing. I felt like I could just be myself,” Emei shares on working on the album. “I think that growing up as a theater kid, there was an element of feeling like I was trying too hard and not being one of the cool kids and being kind of embarrassed about it. And I feel like with this project, I’ve been able to just be myself, fully leaned in and not embarrassed about any of it.”
Beneath Night at the Opera’s eccentricities, though, lie stories envisioned during a difficult period of Emei’s life. It was a challenging time for the artist, not the least of which was her dealing with the loss of her grandmother. In a way, the album wasn’t just a return to her roots, but also a way to heal from the grief.
“It was definitely difficult. When you’re going through something hard, it’s like I’m going to sessions with a lot of strangers and being like, ‘This is happening in my life.’ But I also think that the art kind of helped me through it because every day I had something to say. I was definitely just very sad, and the music was a big part of getting me through that time.”
The result is a project that is expressive, honest, fun, and brimming with theater. That extends to the era’s visual identity. Emei worked with stylists Maripo$a and Kiona Vickroy to come up with looks that give a Gen Z take on what a night at the opera could look like without coming off as a parody or a costume. “I think I know what I want and I know what I don’t want. But the stylists around me have taught me so much. That’s always been a big part of Emei, honestly. Being on stage, being in music videos, I like to be extra. I don’t really like to be casual.”
Extra has often been used to describe theater kids in a demeaning way. But as a proud theater kid herself, Emei knows that musical theater kids aren’t the stereotypes thrown at them by school bullies. “I think that there was so much community in high school growing up. You could express yourself creatively, and casts are like family. In high school, I did theater literally every single year. Some of my best friends are from being together in the cast and doing dress rehearsal really, really late at night.” She adds, “I think that’s kind of rare in school to have a moment where you can really shine.”
Musical theater has also benefited Emei now that she’s a full-time musician. Aside from having a pool of inspiration to pull from, she credits the vocal training she received when she was younger as tools she uses to this day. “I grew up singing a lot of classical music, a lot of theater, and it’s helped me so much on stage and on tour. My vocal training has helped me through just being able to sing and not worry about it.”
A Night at the Opera
Emei has always had big dreams for herself. When she was little, she saw herself headlining stadiums, particularly in New Jersey and New York, where she grew up. But it never occurred to her that her music would take her all across the globe. During a recent tour through Australia and Asia, Emei was met with fans wherever she went who enthusiastically watched her perform. “It’s been really cool because it’s been so international, being able to tour in Australia, being here in Asia,” she expresses. “It’s broadening the people that I’m getting to meet, and that’s completely surpassed anything that I’ve ever thought.”
With Emei’s continued rise as one of pop’s next emerging voices also comes another Asian American artist to watch for. Her stage name alone is a homage to her heritage as it’s a mix of her English name, Emily Li, and her Chinese name, Li An Mei. “When I grew up, I really did not feel like there were that many of us. And if there were, they were like white-passing, like you didn’t even know they were Asian. It is so important for kids to be able to see themselves in a position that they want to be one day because it tells them that it’s possible.”
It’s not every day we get to see female Asian popstars unapologetically own their voice, and for Emei, it’s an honor to be among the growing ranks. “We’re very lucky to be in a time now where there is genuinely a big wave of all sorts of Asian artists getting higher and higher, and I just feel very lucky to be doing any of it in a small scope.”
Emei serves as an example of what happens when you let your own artistry shine. And if there’s anything she can impart to the next generation, it’s to let your art speak for itself. “Don’t compare yourself to other people. Just go for what you want. Don’t think about what other people think. Literally just set your goal and move towards that,” she advises.
Check out Emei’s new EP here. And if you need a place to start, she recommends first-time listeners check out Night at the Opera and Bloom first.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured Image and Photos: Courtesy of Secret Signals, EMEI (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Emei, whose real name is Emily Li, is an Asian-American pop musician born to Chinese immigrant parents in New Jersey. Her stage name blends her English name with her Chinese name, Li An Mei, and she’s known for combining pop production with theatrical, personal songwriting.
Night at the Opera is Emei’s five-song, 15-minute EP marking her return to her musical theater roots, written during a difficult period that included the loss of her grandmother, blending expressive, honest lyricism with theatrical production.
Yes. As a teenager, Emei competed on Chinese Idol, finishing in third place, along with Dancing with the Stars in China, before returning to the US and eventually building her career as an American pop artist.
Scatterbrain, released in 2023, remains Emei’s most streamed single on Spotify with 83 million streams and counting. Her earlier single “Late to the Party” first went viral in 2022, marking her breakout moment.
Emei performed at One Ayala in August as part of Warner Music’s Listen Up Showcase, marking her first visit to the Philippines, which she described as a highlight of her trip.
