Emi Meyer

Bicultural jazz singer Emi Meyer explores her Japanese side

Saturday 20th June, 03:00 AM JST

By Kevin Mcgue

TOKYO —

Emi Meyer is a perfect example of why bicultural people in Japan shouldn’t be called “half,” but rather “double.” In the case of this pianist and singer-songwriter, “multi” might actually be more fitting.

Born in Kyoto to an American father and Japanese mother, Meyer was raised in Seattle before heading to LA to study ethnomusicology. She self-produced her debut 2007 album, Curious Creatures, and her unique vocal style won critical accolades as well as spots in music showcases like Seattle’s Northwest Folklife Festival.

Now, at the precocious age of 22, she is following in the footsteps of bicultural songwriters like American Rachael Yamagata by expanding her musical activities to Japan, touring the country, playing the prestigious Kobe Jazz Festival, and unveiling new songs in Japanese. It is a whirlwind start to a career that gives us much to savor and plenty to look forward to.

Growing up in Seattle allowed Meyer to pursue a variety of interests and exposed her to a wide range of music. “There is a nice mixture of tradition and innovation in Seattle, resulting in thriving niches and subcultures,” she says from her current home in LA. Although the city became the center of worldwide attention with the rise of Nirvana and the Sub Pop label, Meyer contends that it still has less of a music-industry presence than LA. “It was nice to be sheltered from that as I developed my passion for music.”

That passion began with classical piano as a child, which was soon influenced by an interest in jazz. It wasn’t long before Meyer began experimenting with singing along to her improvised jazz piano. The result was a natural and soulful vocal styling, adding further depth to her poignant lyrics.

“There is one good song on every person’s tongue,” Meyer broods on a track from “Curious Creatures.” Indeed, songwriting seems to come naturally to this young artist. “When I write a song, it’s like I have this emotional or conceptual itch that I’m trying to scratch, and I put together notes and words that feel right,” she reflects. “I usually don’t have the final direction or purpose of the song in mind.”

Studying ethnomusicology has helped Meyer gain new appreciation of the songwriting process, although she is cautious about throwing such influences into the mix. “My studies raised the idea of ‘exoticization,’ and I am determined to make sure I understand an instrument’s sound and origins before I include it in my music,” she says. “I want to respect the tradition and people it represents.”

Writing new songs in Japanese, which appear as bonus tracks on the recently released Japan edition of “Curious Creatures,” added yet another dimension to the creative process. “In Japanese, I work in the opposite direction,” she explains. “I start out with a distinct message I want to communicate and work from there to develop the lyrics.”

In addition to several upcoming solo concerts and in-store performances, Meyer is also the opening act on the tour of another bicultural artist, Yael Naim, the French-Israeli singer-songwriter whose music was hand-picked by Steve Jobs to promote the MacBook Air. “I am a huge fan,” Meyer wrote on her blog, “so every show will be a deluxe combination of being a performer and fan.”

This year, Meyer has been getting a lot more experience playing for Japanese fans. “Audiences are subdued during the show, which can be unnerving,” she admits, “but they articulate their appreciation after each song.”

Emi Meyer plays Club Quattro, June 22-23 (with Yael Naim) and June 30 (solo).

This story originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp)

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Latest 15 of 31 Total Comments Show All

Wolfpack at 11:59 PM JST - 21st June

Ethnomusicology? Say what? Seems that Meyer has a pre-occupation with racialism and is playing up race when the music should simply speak fot itself. It would be better to focus on musical genres instead of the ethnic/racial origins of music.
Ah_so at 04:55 AM JST - 22nd June

Come on 9 songs for 2,500yen is daylight robbery.

2500 yen has been the going rate for a J-CD since the mid-90s. In Britain the price has virtually halved.

Oh, and this "double" thing is just irritating beyond belief. If "haafu" is considered demeaning, it is because the very concept of mixed race children is looked down upon. "Haafe" is otherwise a pretty good word and the standard word used in English for informal descriptions of mixed-race people. Remember, a half and half makes a whole.
space_monkey at 06:05 AM JST - 22nd June

50(per)cent!
space_monkey at 06:06 AM JST - 22nd June

Jamerican
DeepAir65 at 06:59 AM JST - 22nd June

2500 yen has been the going rate for a J-CD since the mid-90s

probably why I don't buy J music. No wait, that's because it is awful!!!

Japan has got to be the only country in the world where imported CD's are considerably cheaper than domestic! Way to fight piracy....
IchyaWarFare at 07:49 AM JST - 22nd June

nothing wrong with half...I do not get this double crap though...meh, to each his own.
pointofview at 11:23 AM JST - 22nd June

> maksonoil

Double is a stupid word. How about just American Japanese or Japanese American?

Good point. I think so too.

Emi should have discussed some of her influences and song ideas.

Emi said:

"Audiences are subdued during the show, which can be unnerving,” she admits, “but they articulate their appreciation after each song."

Very true. When I perform for a Japanese audience they are very attentive. They certainly give you a chance. This helps me stay focused.
Makkun70 at 11:23 AM JST - 22nd June

She's 22, so I guess she ripped up her American passport last year as per the Japanese law on nationality, no halfs in their eyes is there...?
tkoind2 at 12:15 PM JST - 22nd June

Race is too much an issue in Japan. Haffu etc... is it really annoying.

She is a singer. Period.
notimpressed at 01:02 PM JST - 22nd June

half ..double....mixed...blah blah blah...Last I checked we are all 100% human...pathat: I concur. one day we will be so mixed that it will be a moot point. It should be already but...
Zumokamo at 10:12 PM JST - 22nd June

You guys insult Japanese music only because you cant understand it. You are here in a site wherein news of japan is being showcased and all you can do is be racist against it. You know what you are seriously stupid to think that by insulting the things Japan shows out that you can possibly better the culture of your own pathetic country.
teleprompter at 10:41 PM JST - 22nd June

"Bicultural Jazz" has got to be a new low in this stupid and invidious obsession with race, imaginary pedigrees and the still-lingering Meiji Era quasi-religious rite whereby art/music is reduced to something like a sacrifice to be made at the Altar of Culture, Where Only Some Shall Be Deemed Worthy.
grandtheftauto at 10:43 PM JST - 22nd June

Remember, a half and half makes a whole. Therefore Ah So by your argument a "half" isn`t complete.Not as good as a whole. My daughter is mixed and it pisses me off no end to hear people referring to her as a half. She has parents of different ethnicities...therefore she is mixed.
JoeBigs at 10:53 PM JST - 22nd June

teleprompter at 10:41 PM JST - 22nd June "Bicultural Jazzhas got to be a new low in this stupid and invidious obsession with race, imaginary pedigrees and the still-lingering Meiji Era quasi-religious rite whereby art/music is reduced to something like a sacrifice to be made at the Altar of Culture, Where Only Some Shall Be Deemed Worthy."

Race sells, everything else is only worth a sen. Just like any where else, race sells. Japan is no different than the States when it comes to labels. The only difference is that this is not the US of A...

So if she wants to call herself,"the last of the Mohicans" and it makes her money/yen then why blame her?

Money is money no matter where you are from.....
GaijinDad at 08:48 PM JST - 26th June

The term "half" is absolutely not ok. The implications are that mixed-race people are somehow "less," and therefore inferior, or that it's only their Japanese side that matters.

Like grandtheftauto, I have two mixed-race daughters, and I agree - it pisses me off when people refer to them by the demeaning term "half." As if it's only their sacred Japanese DNA that matters, & not that filthy Caucasian blood they got from me. I supposed it shouldn't piss me off - there are plenty of ignorant people in every country, and there always will be.

If we can agree that people are people and that it should be their character and their actions that matter, not their race, then it seems pretty obvious that you shouldn't refer to people as a fraction derived from their ethnic origins.