PHOSPHOR DIGITAL COVER
Emei
EMEI
Photography IRENE CHEN. Fashion JAIIN KANG.
Let’s start off with a fun game
If you could get your voice back at
sacrificed so much to come to
of Would You Rather. My first
the end of the adventure, would
America [so they could] have a
question for you is, would you
that change your answer?
better future for their kids, I’ve
rather switch lives with a person
[The] unicorn sounds so much
gotten more freedom to pursue
of your choosing for a week or
more fun — it’s a colorful pony —
music. I have [always had] their
switch lives with a random animal
so I would [choose] the unicorn.
support behind me. I think the
for a month?
Even if I don’t remember it, I
biggest thing I learned from them
[I would] definitely switch lives
would still get the endorphins and
is to work hard. I definitely work
with a person of my choosing for
dopamine spike that our adventure
very crazy hard. I’m a workaholic,
a week, but I don’t know who. It
would provide.
for sure.
Your final question is, would
You majored in cognitive science
you rather spend a day with any
in college. What sparked your
That’d be nice. I would totally
historical figure of your choosing
interest in that subject? I feel
agree with that.
or any fictional character of your
like music is very different from
Right? First of all, a month is so
choosing?
cognitive science.
much longer. What if it’s horrible?
I would automatically [choose a]
I got into cognitive science
And then it’s like, “What animal [do
fictional [character] because I’m
because I knew that I [didn’t want]
I choose]?” A dog could be nice,
not really a big history person [and
to study music in college. I went
but a month is a really long time.
a] fictional [character] sounds
to Yale, so I felt like I needed to
more fun. It would be really dope if
study something that was [more]
True. Dogs seem like they have no
I could spend a day with Hermione
traditional [so I could have] the real
cares in the world, so it might be
Granger and she could teach me
college experience. I was taking a
nice to be a dog for a month.
magic. I would want some magic
bunch of intro courses freshman
It seems very stress-free.
involved. [There are] lots of very
year when I was choosing what to
fantastical options.
study, and when I took [an] intro to
would have to be someone who is on vacation and rich.
Your second question is, would
[cognitive science] class, I was like,
you rather go on an adventure
You grew up in America for part
“Yeah, this is interesting.” It was an
with a unicorn but have no
of your life, but your parents were
on-a-whim decision, but I definitely
memory of the adventure, or go
from China originally. You’ve
enjoyed my time, and [I] learned
on an adventure with a mermaid
stated in other interviews that
a lot of stuff that I wouldn’t [have]
but sacrifice your voice like in The
your upbringing was a little
normally [learned].
Little Mermaid movie?
stricter and more structured.
[Would I have to] sacrifice [my
Do you feel like your upbringing
I don’t really know anything about
voice] forever or just for the
taught you any skills that you use
cognitive science or what that
adventure?
in your career or daily life?
entails, but what kind of career do
My parents are immigrants from
you think you would have if you
That’s a good question. It says
China. They immigrated to America
stuck with cognitive science and
sacrifice, so let’s just say it would
around 1988. Growing up was a lot
weren’t doing music?
be forever.
of “[keep your] head down [and]
Cognitive science is like
Then I would definitely [choose]
work super hard.” I feel like a lot of
psychology, neuroscience, [and]
the unicorn. Considering my entire
my work ethic and nature comes
linguistics [mixed together]. It’s
career is based [on] my voice, it’s
from them. My parents are also
multi-disciplinary, which basically
probably important [that I keep it].
very supportive. Because they
means that a lot of people end
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up doing [things] like consulting.
I feel like in America, that’s
playing with this idea for a while,
I honestly don’t really think it
equivalent to our American Idol.
and [I] definitely want to do it
matters what you major in in
I went to China every summer
eventually. When I [make and
college. I feel like everybody ends
growing up because my parents
release] my first album, I would
up doing all sorts of things after
are [from] there [and] my extended
love to have tracks that have a little
[college] anyway.
family is there. I was in China that
bit of Chinese in them and a little
summer, and I knew that I wanted
bit more of an Eastern [influence]. I
Was there anything specific
to do some sort of competition
grew up listening to Chinese music,
you wanted to do with cognitive
because I tend to improve a lot
so I definitely want to start doing
science?
when I’m under pressure. [At the
that [eventually].
No. I was planning on doing music
time], Chinese Idol [was] looking
the whole time, so I basically chose
for singers who [were] interested
You’re making music as a solo
a major specifically because I had
[in auditioning]. When it came up,
artist right now, but back when
to choose a major, and I didn’t want
I said, “Yeah, why not?” It was
you were in college, you were in a
to study music. It was for learning
one of those things where I didn’t
group called Grove. I’m sure there
things that I wouldn’t normally [be
expect that much of it, and then
are a lot of similarities between
learning].
it became a four-month-long
your solo career and being in a
endeavor. It was definitely a very
group, but what do you feel like
I feel like every artist or musician
intense experience, but I learned a
are some of the differences?
has a moment where they realize,
lot from it.
[When we made that] band in
you know what, I want to do
college, we weren’t taking it super
this as a career. What was that
How do you feel like that
seriously. It wasn’t for a career [or
moment for you?
experience has impacted your
anything like that]. We were all
I’ve been performing since I was
career?
musicians that wanted to play and
nine. When I was around fifteen, I
I’m much more comfortable on
perform, and it just [so] happened
took a gap year from high school
stage. I love performing, and it’s
that a lot of us were in the same
and did Chinese Idol. I ended up
one of my favorite things to do,
dorm. It was very natural. [It was]
getting third place [in] it, and [I
[but] I don’t think I would feel that
like, “Oh, do you guys want to
got] signed [to] a television deal in
way if I [hadn’t gone] through
rehearse every week and play
China. That was the first time that I
what was basically four months
these shows for fun?” The biggest
was [introduced to] entertainment
of performance boot camp when
difference [between Grove and my
as a career. I was young, and at the
I was fifteen. I feel very lucky
solo project] is that [one] was for
time, I wasn’t totally sold [on doing
that I’m not stressed about the
fun and [the other] I’m spending
this as a career]. I felt like it was a
performance aspect when I’m
my full time [and] energy on. Being
lot of pressure, and I didn’t love it.
touring.
in Grove was a lot of fun. We had
When I came back to high school,
a lot of fun [playing] a lot of really
I started writing music. Starting
You have had success here
fun basement shows. I’m very
to express myself creatively in
in America, China, and
grateful for that time.
a songwriting format made me
internationally as well. Would you
realize that this was what I wanted
ever want to make something
TikTok and social media in
to do.
creatively that blends both your
general have become a really key
Chinese and your American
component for musicians to build
How was the Chinese Idol
audience?
an audience and gain support. You
opportunity presented to you?
Oh yeah, absolutely! I’ve been
have seen a lot of success with
PHO S P HOR • EMEI
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your music on TikTok. What do
maintaining output. So, [make] sure
where my inner child’s excitement
you feel like are some of the pros
that you’re still writing all the time,
comes out. For example, my North
and cons of starting a music
[make] sure that you’re still posting
America tour is almost sold out,
career on social media?
TikToks, [and make] sure that
which is so crazy. There’s only one
A really big pro is that it gives you
you’re performing. [You] just [need
date left that isn’t.
the opportunity to reach a lot of
to keep] maintaining whatever got
listeners and [build an] audience
you there. [Make] sure that [you
Congratulations!
that you otherwise wouldn’t even
continue] to do that.
Thank you! Sometimes, I get
know how to connect with. I
caught up [in] all the stress and
am selling tickets to my Europe
Your music talks about some of
all the things that I have to do on
tour right now, which is so crazy
the struggles you’ve faced in your
a daily basis. I get stressed [and]
[because] I haven’t [even] been to
early twenties, as you’re figuring
overwhelmed, but then I remember
most of the cities that I’m going to
out who you are and facing the
that there are this many people
be touring in. That was because of
expectations people may have of
who decided that they’re going
social media.
you. How would you describe the
to spend their [night] coming to
One of the cons is that I have to
Emei that started performing and
see me sing. They’re going to
post on TikTok every single day. I
singing as a child versus the Emei
spend money to get a ticket to
have to spend an hour or two every
I’m sitting here talking with right
see me sing, and singing is my
day making content and posting it.
now? How have you evolved?
favorite thing to do. [It has] been
In a different time, not even [that
I started singing when I was nine.
my favorite thing to do since I was
long ago], musicians could focus
My first performance was when
nine years old. In those moments,
on their music, performing, and
I was nine. I was super nervous.
my baby self comes back, and [I’m]
being creative. [They didn’t have
[When I was performing] on stage,
like, “All these people are coming
to] focus nonstop every single day
everything about it had to be
to hear [me] sing!” And then I get
on promotion and marketing. That
choreographed. I had to raise my
very emotional and very grateful.
definitely skews how musicians
hand at the fourth beat of this
[create] their work because right
[specific] note. [Everything was]
What advice would you give to
now, everything is tied so strongly
very choreographed, because I felt
other people, whether they’re
[to] social media. I make a TikTok,
so uncomfortable on stage. I also
teenagers or in their early
and then I go to my session. I can
didn’t even know that songwriting
twenties, who are trying to figure
never just [do my] sessions without
was a thing. I didn’t even know that
out what they want to do in life?
thinking about social media. Social
I could create music the way that
That is the time that you [should]
media definitely [has its] pros and
I do [now]. I feel like it was just a
take risks. Honestly, [that’s] how
cons. I don’t know if I would even
budding interest at the time. I was
I think about your early twenties.
have a career [without] social
so excited about singing, and [I]
We don’t have dependents.
media, so it’s tough to say.
knew that I loved to sing in front
I don’t have children, [and] I
of people, but [I] didn’t actually
don’t have people who depend
Once you gain momentum on
know what that meant in regards
on what I’m doing. This is the
TikTok, Instagram, or another
to the rest of my life or [the] career
age that you should try to do
social media platform, what do
I could possibly have. Now, I know
absolutelyeverything that you want
you think is the most important
a lot more. I’m excited about where
to be doing, and [you should] try
thing for people to do to maintain
everything is going, and I feel like
to take risks. I feel like the older
that momentum?
my younger self [is] still [a part of]
we get, the harder it is to do those
Maintaining momentum is just
me. There are still moments
things. [It’s harder] to go out of
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“the norm” [and] what is expected
write something around [the
really special in their own different
of you. This is the time to go for it.
lyrics], “Don’t know about the
ways, and they create a little
You [can] always have a normal,
world, but I know that I love you.”
bit of a storyline. I’m excited for
safe job and do the safe, normal
There are certain people in my
everybody to listen.
things once you’re older.
life where everything is worth it because I have them around me
It’s always exciting when you
That’s something a lot of people
to make my life better. It was a
create something and you can
forget. I feel like there’s this
vulnerable [and] fun session, and I
hear the evolution between
societal pressure in high school
love the song.
that and the first thing you did.
or college to know everything
It’s always like, “I can’t wait for
you want to do with your life and
Going off what you just said, it
everybody to hear how much
have it all figured out right then
sounds like it was a vulnerable
cooler this is!”
and there. But you don’t have it
experience to create and record
It’s very satisfying. I’m super
figured out. It’s always better to
that song. It has a very personal
pumped about it!
experiment than do something
and intimate feel about it. Were
you don’t want to do for thirty to
there any specific topics or
For anyone who isn’t already
fifty years of your life.
experiences that inspired your
familiar with you or your music,
That’s the thing. I feel like people
creative process?
what do you think is the most
forget that life is so long. There are
I went into the session thinking, “I
important thing for them to know
so many times that you can switch
want to make a ballad. I’m feeling
about you and your music?
what you’re doing. What you’re
in my feels today.” I showed up and
The most important thing [that
doing right now doesn’t have to
was like, “I want to write something
people need to know about me] is
be the thing you do for the rest of
like this.” We [were playing]
that I’m obsessed with everything
your life. [You should keep] trying
around, I was talking about how
I put out. That is a key thing to
things until you find what you love
lucky I am to have my best friends
know about me if you’re one of my
to do, and then [you should go] for
in my life, and then [we] went for it
listeners or [part] of my [audience].
it.
[and created the song].
Everything you’re listening to [is something] that I’m proud of.
In addition to your upcoming
What can fans expect from this EP
People tend to understand me
tour, you recently released a few
compared to your previous EP?
more by listening to [my] music. I
singles. Could you share more
I love this EP. I’m so proud of every
write a lot. This year, I’ve already
about the creative process behind
single song on it. I feel like I have
written [close to around] eighty
your latest single, “Don’t Know
elevated to a certain degree. I
songs, and very few of those [will]
About The World”?
[understand] more [of] what I want
see [or have seen] the light [of]
“Don’t Know About The World” was
to write about and what I wantto
day. I’m very, very intentional about
a really special song. It’s one of my
sound like. It’s a journey that you
which songs come out. That’s the
first ballads. It’s a slower song, and
have to follow. [Obviously], the
thing that I want people to know
it’s not as upbeat or “Boom! Boom!
first EP is very special to me.
[about me]. Every song is super
Boom! Boom! Boom!” like a lot of
It describes my transition from
intentional, and I hope they love my
my other music is, and that was
college to young adulthood. This
music as much as I do.
exciting to me. I love the stuff that I
EP is [about me] learning about
normally do, but this one felt more
myself and becoming the person
vulnerable for me. I went into the
that I am today. I’m super excited
session knowing that I wanted to
about it. I think all the songs are
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