Q&A: Emei is in Her Lovergirl Era With Love Song “Don’t Know About The World”
WITH AN ATMOSPHERIC SOUND AND DELICATE LYRICS — singer-songwriter Emei delivers ethereal track “Don’t Know About The World.” With the song, Emei is able to depict the uncertainty that revolves around each of us as individuals, while conscious that one thing is definite: love. Produced with Boy Blue, Emei was able to create a glimmering song that tickles your heart and makes you feel warm inside.
In the track, Emei shows off a side that her fans have not been exposed to as often. Usually, her music speaks up on topics highlighting mental illness or identity with high-energy production behind it. With “Don’t Know About The World,” Emei’s cards are all on the table and her vulnerability is shining through.
“I wanted this single to be a bit of a left turn from my previous singles,” she shares. “I wanted the song to be a window into my emotional world.”
Being able to see this side of an artist as praised and celebrated as Emei puts a whole new perspective on her as a creative, exhibiting her humanity and realness that we all have these worries when it comes to love. It's a scary concept to understand that someone will eventually become your comfort in this chaotic world we know nothing about, but their love and care will make it all that easier to make it through. Using her effective songwriting and Boy Blue’s impressive production, they were able to create an authentic love song.
Continue reading below to find out about Emei’s creative process, her experience as a Chinese American artist, and how her identity has shaped her to be the person she is today. Be sure to check out Emei’s latest album, Scatterbrain, and keep an eye out for any upcoming live shows!
LUNA: First off, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for us! How are you, how is everything?
EMEI: Good! I'm doing well, super excited about my new music and tour.
LUNA: Let's go right in to talk about your upcoming single, “Don't Know About The World.” What makes this song stand out from your discography?
EMEI: It's a ballad! What a concept. I normally write very fast-paced hyper-feeling songs, and this one definitely slows it down a bit and is Emei’s lovergirl era.
LUNA: Is it difficult for you to write about love/romance, considering “Don't Know About The World” is the first time you’ve been overtly open about it?
EMEI: Oh, for sure. Something about writing mushy love songs definitely makes me feel queasy sometimes (laughs). I think it's because I couldn't find a way to write about it that really felt authentic to me and my sound until this song.
LUNA: Although this is one of the few times you’ve written about love, it was done in such a delicate way, still staying true to your sound. Is there any genre, style, or even instruments that you’d like to experiment with in future projects?
EMEI: Thank you so much! Boy Blue produced this track and we definitely drew inspiration from all over the place. We've been playing a lot in the dance/hyperpop space and definitely see more of that coming in the future, but potentially mixed in with more organic sounds.
LUNA: When you're creating your music, do you tend to focus more on your writing or the sound/production of the track, or is it a balance between the both?
EMEI: A balance of both! When we first start the song, I definitely focus more on writing. Once the song is at a place where I'm excited about the core structure/writing, then I go in on production with the producer and get everything sounding the way it sounds in the final version.
LUNA: You're a Chinese American artist based in LA — how does your environment and where you come from shape the music you create? Do you often use influences from your culture?
EMEI: Definitely! I grew up listening to C-pop and I actually have a playlist on my Spotify profile that links all the songs I listened to growing up. I definitely am influenced by all those songs. I [also] really learned how to sing and perform in mostly Chinese American spaces, so I owe a lot of my comfort on stage to my community.
LUNA: You were on Chinese Idol when you were 15 — is there anything you’d say to your younger self on what you’ve learned now being a woman in the music industry?
EMEI: Speak up for what you believe. I think I definitely was scared of authority then and scared of anyone who was older and more established and tended to let them make my decisions for me. But now, growing up, I've realized I have to trust my own instincts and say/do what I'll stand behind.
LUNA: Lastly, are there any new projects in the works for you or anything you might be looking forward to regarding your career that you’d like to share?
EMEI: Oh, yes! My EP is finally out now and my first ever tour is starting next week. I just announced my European dates in the spring and added NYC and LA dates so I'm definitely very very excited for a lot.
