emiko

Artist Information

Biography

Indulging a rare breed of rock n’ roll of the biggest kind, Emiko lives up to the rock legends as a trailblazer who sings, plays keys, takes her own solos, and is unafraid to say what others only dare to think. Having played piano since she was two and half, Emiko has transformed from classical piano prodigy to rock and roll starlet.

A three time featured performer of the Songwriters Hall of Fame New Writers Showcases, Emiko has graced the pages of Billboard Magazine, FM Sound, Music Connection, and other mainstream music publications. As a songwriter, Emiko has writing and production credits under her belt for SONY/ATV, V2, and song placements both nationally and internationally on MTV, VH1, CBS, E!, HGTV, A&E (and more) which have established the Emiko brand as a global entity. After the critical success of her debut album, “Here Lies Tinkerbell,” 2009 saw Emiko return to the studio to begin work on her sophomore release with 12 time platinum selling, Grammy nominated producer Tommy Faragher (the Bee Gees, Taylor Dayne) and Patrick Shaw (Alicia Keys, Shakira, Mandy Moore) . Emiko’s 2009/2010 World Tour, includes dates in the US, China, Japan, England, and Germany, highlighted by performances at the 2009 Special Olympic Winter Games in Boise, ID, The Pavilion at Sun Valley with Keb Mo’ and the Steelbridge Song Festival with the legendary Jackson Browne.

Emiko’s several award wins (including the 2005 and 2009 Overplay Song Competition Award) and nominations (2004 BRIT Award), coupled with her incredible chart success in the UK (1 for a record setting 17 weeks on the Overplay Pop/Rock charts) and Japan (3 and 7 on the YouMusic Pop Charts) has led to the fast and furious growth of her fanbase, securing her presence as an artist on the international level. The world around Emiko is also starting to take notice of her savvy business mind.

In July of 2008, Emiko was featured in “Young Working Woman” as one of New York’s most successful entrepreneurial women in business. Emiko is the President and Founder of The 6412 Ltd., a boutique entertainment company that represents up-and-coming singer/songwriters. With her snowballing success on the business side of the music industry, Emiko has been invited to speak at conferences such as the Vancouver Island Music Business Conference, Canadian Music Week, SXSW, Japan Music Week, ASCAP’s I Create Music Expo, The FTF Music Conference and more. In September of 2009, Emiko was named a part of the Board of Directors of the Center for the Performing Arts in Boise, ID because of her extensive work in music education outreach. Additionally, she is the Founder and Director of the Asian American Music Industry Association - an organization that is dedicated to bridging the gap between Asia and the Western World in today’s popular music industry.

Currently, Emiko makes her home in New York City with her band, the GeminiStation Project. Hard at work in the studio on her next album, it can surely be said that Emiko is one step closer to her favorite saying, “If there’s life on Mars, they’ll buy my album!”

Instrumentation

Emiko-piano, keyboards, vocals
Warren Kimmel- guitars and backing vocals
Joey Pandolfo- bass guitar and backing vocals
Vito Pandolfo- drums and backing vocals


Management:
RJ Bucaria and 7th Level Entertainment Group
email: rj.bucaria@7leg.com

Public Relations:
Ida S. Langsam for ISL Public Relations
email: islpr@aol.com

Head of Marketing for The 6412 Ltd.:
Dane Hoyt
email: dane@emikomusic.com

Discography

NEW ALBUM IN THE WORKS!!! (2009)
"Becoming Marina" (OA Ent. 2005)
"From There to Here" (OA Ent. 2004)
"Here Lies Tinkerbell" (OA Ent. 2001)
"Live at the Triad" (OA Ent. 2000)
"Scene of the Crime" (OA Ent. 1999)
"Songwriters Hall of Fame Best New Artist Showcase Compilation- Vol. 1" (SHOF 2003)
Overplay UK Rock and Pop Volume 1 (Overplay UK 2003)
BandTattoo Compilation Vol. 2 (BandTattoo 2003)
Indiegrrlpalooza 2004 Compilation CD (Indiegrrl 2004)

Links

• Emiko on Youtube
• Emiko on Reverbnation
• Emiko on Myspace
• Emiko on Linkedin
• Emiko in the UK

Audio

• 7 Steps Away
  Listen  
• Wish You Were Here
  Listen  
• Any Favours
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• Any Favours (Japanese Version)
  Listen  
• Winter
  Listen  
• Have Mercy
  Listen  
• By Next October
  Listen  
• Venice (Japanese Version)
  Listen  
• The Last Time
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• I Love You I Hate You
  Listen  

Video

Supermodel - 2009 Olympic Tour Photo Shoot

Photo Gallery

Press

• Songwriters Hall of Fame [+ Show ]
  

  “i’ve showcased literally hundreds of artists for the songwriters hall of fame new writers program o...“i’ve showcased literally hundreds of artists for the songwriters hall of fame new writers program over the past 13 years...they say no one’s perfect. well, i disagree...emiko’s perfect!”

• MTV
  

  "I got sucked in! Emiko totally sucks you in! Incredible live!"

• Washington Post
  

  "Cathartic and catchy...RAW ROCK!!!"

• FM Sound Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  Emiko has a funky, fresh sound that combines sensitive, interesting lyrics with cultivated musical s...Emiko has a funky, fresh sound that combines sensitive, interesting lyrics with cultivated musical skill and strong energy. Her songs are honest and interesting while remaining catchy and accessible.
  
  Emiko’s rare blend of talent and fresh creativity has its origins in a strong musical background. She was considered a musical child prodigy, and was performing classical music by age six. She released her first album at age sixteen in 1997, and her latest album, Here Lies Tinkerbell, was released by OA Entertainment in 2001. Among her long list of accomplishments, Emiko´s song
  
  ”Brand New Man” was incuded in the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame compilation CD, and the artist was named number 7 of Radio Crystal Blue’s Top 25 Artists of Spring 2003.
  
  
  
  My favorite song on the album is “The Tongue,” which is about the complicated meaning of a kiss. The melody is haunting, deepening the emotional dimensions of the simple and poignant lyrics. The clean piano-vocal combination leaves room for the emotion that the song has to offer.
  
  
  
  The lyrics of “Emergency Man” are the words of a girl keeping her distance in order to protect herself from another run-around: “Don’t taste me then decide that you don´t like it...Don´t make me love you and then break me in half.” “Temper¨”is a narrative of a power struggle where anger takes the forefront, hearkening back to the storytelling of Alanis Morisette. The chorus lifts each verse into the next, making a song about a difficult situation feel more hopeful and forward-moving.
  
  
  
  The lyrics of “Speak” are simple and poignant: “Speak and I will listen, touch me and I will feel.” The song combines a straightforward vocal melody with piano, guitar, drums, and layered vocals to produce a fuller sound than some of her other tracks. The piano comes in over the other instruments to build tension and feeling.
  
  
  
  Emiko’s songs are catchy and memorable without sacrificing content. The choruses always add emotion and movement, making the different elements of each song come together in an interesting and enjoyable way. Emiko has a fresh, energetic musical talent, and her honest, creative lyrics combined with superior skills make her a diamond in the dust of female pop/rock. Here Lies Tinkerbell is an excellent album that is sure to bring this artist closer to her dreams.
  
  

• A fantastic journey of infinite sonic adventures and emotional explosions [+ Show ]
  

  Emiko is a young Japanese-American songwriter who gives "rock and roll" a fresh, new meaning. She en...Emiko is a young Japanese-American songwriter who gives "rock and roll" a fresh, new meaning. She entices the listener with her viceral piano playing, bright harmonies, and "naughty-girl" lyrics (not to mention all that leather!) while leading them through a fantastic journey of infinite sonic adventures and emotional explosions. Currently promoting her newest record, "Here Lies Tinkerbell" Emiko encourages you to "clap your hands if you believe!"

• UK Review [+ Show ]
  

  "Peter Pan's addicted to LSD," declares Emiko on "Stuck in Neverland". Well how else do explain a li..."Peter Pan's addicted to LSD," declares Emiko on "Stuck in Neverland". Well how else do explain a liking for green tights and pixie boots? But it's boy trouble of all kinds that features big on most of 'Here Lies Tinkerbell'. Indecisive boys on "Emergency Man", stroppy boys on "Temper", noncommittal boys on "The Tongue" and Napoleon Bonaparte on "Mal Maison".
  
  But there's no twee Britney-style "Does he really like me?" musings here; this is raw, articulate, confessional stuff. "You seriously expect me to relax if you're holding back so much?" Emiko asks on "Lay". The lyrics are direct and evocative in a way that Alanis Morissette seems to have forgotten about.
  
  Intense as it is, 'Here Lies Tinkerbell' opens its heart against a rich and varied musical background. There's the spiky blues of "Emergency Man", the haunting slow-grind of "Speak" and the simple piano-led "Heroine". "Lay" gives us meandering Marlene Deitrich cool before exploding into a killer chorus, while Emiko even finds time to bring the funk on "Knitting Factory". But I suppose if you've been playing music since the age of two and a half, you're bound to put on a pretty good spread.
  
  There's even a little sampled porn on the closing "Brand New Man". But it's this track's subtle storytelling that stands out. A man tries to eradicate every trace of the woman he shouldn't have let get away: "You see your mother every weekend, because it's better than being alone." Peter Pan may be whacked up on glow sticks, but this is where we meet the new Lost Boy. And it's typical of the album; arena-sized tunes have never felt so up-close and personal.

• Emiko Rocks College Campuses!!! [+ Show ]
  

  My students really enjoyed your show. I have been doing student activities at UMM for 27 years and l...My students really enjoyed your show. I have been doing student activities at UMM for 27 years and last Friday night was the first time my audience asked for an encore. Best wishes to you and your band members. It was a pleasure to work with you!
  
  
  Peder K. Moe
  Coordinator of Student Activities
  University of Maine at Machias

• New School Rock n' Roll [+ Show ]
  

  Re-inventing good old fashioned rock and roll, Emiko is one part introspective songwriter and one pa...Re-inventing good old fashioned rock and roll, Emiko is one part introspective songwriter and one part rock goddess. Emiko is a girl who truly lives up to rock legend. She's a trailblazer who sings, plays keys, takes her own solos, and is unafraid to say what others only dare to think. Having played piano since she was two and half, Emiko has grown from Classical pianist prodigy to rock and roll starlet. Though Emiko makes her home in New York, she was educated between the US and Japan and writes and records in both English and Japanese.
  
  
  Bold counterpoint
  
  Multi-award winning Emiko’s intense, bold lyrics lament lost love. Themes of heartbreak, frustration, and fear are an enticing counterpoint with music that is hooky, stylish, and irresistable. The critics concur that Emiko is one to watch: she is a three time featured performer of the Songwriters Hall of Fame New Writers Showcase, she has appeared in Billboard Magazine, and she won the Overplay UK Rock Songwriting Competition in 2005. She was also nominated for a 2004 Brit Award in the Unsigned Category.
  More than just making a living
  
  Emiko was chosen for the AAHP (Artist Against Hunger & Poverty) campaign for World Hunger Year, making her the only unsigned artist touring on an international level under the same banner
  with such superstars as Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, and Michael McDonald. She is currently working with legendary guitarist Steve Lukather, Stuart Ridgway, and occasionally rubs shoulders with Phil Ramone. When Emiko is not on tour or finalizing preparations for her new album, she directs the Asian American Music Industry Association. The AAMIA was founded by Emiko in 2005 to help bridge the gap between Asia and the Western World in today’s popular music industry.
  
  According to MTV - "Incredible live!!!! She totally sucks you in!"
  
  According to CD Baby - "A wild, interactive, and honest experience.
  Hyper and in-your-face as much as she is understated and haunting, Emiko's sound is big enough to fill an arena even when she is just whispering in your ear."
  
  
  
  

• The talent to write some amazing lyrics and tunes.... [+ Show ]
  

  Emiko is a wicked Japanese-American songwriter with the talent to write some amazing lyrics and tune...Emiko is a wicked Japanese-American songwriter with the talent to write some amazing lyrics and tunes. This album I´m holding captures Emiko at her best and believe you me this album is well worth hearing. There is a lot of talent to be heard on this album and given the right promotion this lady could go very far. What makes Emiko´s music fresh and urgent is her music is driven by piano/keys rather than guitars. The guitars take a back seat and compliment the sound of the piano/keys more than anything.
  
  ´Here Lies Tinkerbell´ kicks off with ´Emergency Man´ and you can feel the emotion from the moment it starts. This carries on through eleven other tracks such as ´Lay´, ´Weird´, ´Trust In Us´, ´Heroine´ and the closing track ´Brand New Man´. When you listen to this album you quickly discover there are no fillers. I like the way the sounds have been constructed which gives Emiko the edge over many female artists out there. Every song has been given the same love and attention as the next.
  
  Lyrically and musically this album has so much to offer and this is just the beginning for this young artist. I believe there will be so much more to come from her and in time she will prove this. So come on give Emiko a chance - She is fresh and her lyrics and music rock! It would be lazy journalism to try and compare Emiko to some one else but I have to be honest and say it would be totally unfair too! Emiko has so many ideas that she is probably one of few artists with so much imagination and originality.
  
  Just pick up ´Here Lies Tinkerbell´ and find out for yourself! (6412/OA) 9.5/10
  

• Sensation, deep and Penetrating [+ Show ]
  

  Emiko is a young Japanese-American songwriter who gives "rock and roll" a fresh, new meaning. He...Emiko is a young Japanese-American songwriter who gives "rock and roll" a fresh, new meaning.
  
  Her unique type of rock music embraces and mesmerizes you, totally involves you and leaves you a slave forever. The music is sensational and the text of her songs deep and penetrating.

Setlist

Emiko's shows range from 45 minutes to 2 hours.
Set-lists include songs from "Here Lies Tinkerbell" as well as new material and cover songs.
A setlist is available upon request.

Basic Requirements

Calendar