Phosphor Magazine, Digital - Emei

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

9

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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