Night At The Opera transforms Emei’s personal chaos into a theatrical alternative pop spectacle. Through sharp humor, dramatic production, and unapologetic vulnerability, the Chinese-American singer-songwriter places life’s messiest moments center stage while beginning a new chapter with Atlantic Records and Ricky Reed’s Nice Life Recording Company.
Night At The Opera Raises the Curtain on a New Era
Emei introduces the project’s candy-coated world through its title track, “Night At The Opera.” Organ, strings, and off-kilter beats build the song’s dramatic backdrop while she delivers bold lyrics with a playful bite.
Instead of hiding the turmoil unfolding behind the curtain, Emei turns it into part of the performance. She captures that attitude with references to “the pain, the gag, the drama” before asking, “Have you never seen revenge looking cute in an A-line dress?”
An opera Emei attended for her birthday inspired the track’s grand concept. After watching the production, she wanted to create something equally dramatic while revealing the unpolished realities of her own life.
“I put pressure on myself to put who I am on display and show everyone the worst of what was going on in my life,” Emei shares. “This song is about how everything was falling apart, but I’m acknowledging it must be great to watch from the outside.”
However, Emei refuses to let the audience remain passive. If listeners plan to watch her transform personal turmoil into entertainment, she expects them to dance, sing, and join the show.
Watch Emei command the spotlight in the official “Night At The Opera” music video.
A New Chapter With Atlantic Records and Nice Life
“Night At The Opera” marked Emei’s first release through Atlantic Records in partnership with Nice Life Recording Company. Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Ricky Reed founded Nice Life in 2014 and has worked with artists including Lizzo, Leon Bridges, Camila Cabello, Phantogram, and Jon Batiste.
Reed first saw Emei perform inside a sold-out San Francisco club. After the show, she immediately asked him for feedback, revealing the ambition that later helped shape their partnership.
“Her ambition to execute at the highest level continues,” Reed says. “That, paired with a deep vulnerability in her art, a scrappy DIY ethos, and a limitless love for her army of outsiders, is why we’re so excited to welcome her into the family that is Nice Life and Atlantic Records.”
The partnership offers Emei a larger platform while supporting the colorful identity and hands-on approach that have defined her career. Visit Emei’s official website for more music, videos, and upcoming tour information.
Emei Embraces Every Messy Emotion
Across the five-track Night At The Opera EP, Emei leans into the dramatic instincts that have shaped her work from the beginning. Rather than choosing between humor and vulnerability, she lets both qualities share the spotlight.
That theatrical confidence comes from years of performing. At 15, Emei placed third on Chinese Idol before appearing on China’s Dancing with the Stars. She later earned a cognitive science degree from Yale University and began uploading original music online.
In 2022, “Late to the Party” gained momentum on TikTok and introduced a wider audience to Emei’s clever, emotionally direct songwriting. She continued that rise with “Scatterbrain,” which helped her collect hundreds of millions of streams and earn recognition from Billboard, People, Wonderland, Ones To Watch, and Spotify.
Meanwhile, Emei strengthened her connection with listeners through energetic live performances. She sold out shows across the United States, Europe, and Australia before carrying that momentum into her latest creative era.
Take Your Seat for Night At The Opera
With Night At The Opera, Emei refuses to clean up the chaos before opening the doors. Instead, she dresses it in bright colors, adds a dramatic score, and invites listeners to enjoy the spectacle beside her.
The project turns emotional exposure into a source of confidence. Even when everything appears to fall apart, Emei keeps dancing beneath the spotlight and encourages her audience to do the same.
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