A Tuesday Tune - Night at the Opera

Emily Li (born October 3, 1999), professionally known as Emei, is an American alternative pop musician based in Los Angeles, California. 

Li was born on October 3, 1999, in New Jersey to Chinese immigrant parents. She grew up listening to Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald, the Jackson 5, Sara Bareilles, and Taylor Swift, and has been singing since she was 9 years old. 

As a teenager, Li competed on Dancing with the Stars in China. 

When Li was 15, she took a year off from school to compete on Chinese Idol and placed third. She attended Yale University, where she was a member of its a cappella group Mixed Company. 

In 2022, Li's single “Late to the Party” went viral, gaining 5.5 million streams on music platforms and 9.5 million views on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Her 2024 single with Whethan, “SUNNYD”, was also a smash hit. It was adopted by SunnyD, the orange juice company, as its song of the year.

In January 2023, she performed at the halftime of a Los Angeles Clippers game against the San Antonio Spurs. In November 2023, Li teamed up with production duo NOTD on "Hold On Me".

Li's stage name is "a cross between her Chinese name, An Mei, and her English nickname, Emmy."