Name: Emiko
Job title and employer: Recording artist, songwriter, President of The 6412 Ltd Entertainment (a full service artist management, consulting and development company). Aside from the above, I run and own a recording studio in midtown Manhattan and am the Founder and Executive Director of AAMIA, (the Asian American Music Industry Association).
What do you do for a living and how did you end up doing it?
I’m primarily a recording artist and songwriter. I started playing the piano when I was two and I have been in music all my life. I entered the world as a classical concert pianist but when I was 8, discovered Billy Joel and hatched a plan to move over to rock n’ roll! At 12, I made my first pop recording, at 15 I had my own record out and a tour with a band. Music is something I was born with, but as time goes on, I’ve realized that my dreams have expanded. When I was younger, I wanted to be a “rock star.” Now, I want to be a mogul. I’ve learned that the most successful people in my industry are the ones who stay current, innovative, and blaze their own paths. So, how did I end up doing this? I just don’t accept “no” as an answer! Seriously. “No” is an excuse to me—not an answer.
What are three of the most interesting things you have done or that have happened to you, career-wise or other?
Good question! Three of the most interesting things I have encountered in my career are probably meeting the man who jump started my career in pop music, signing a deal with a major label/publisher and then realizing that that isn’t the be all end all to my career. So many people get into the music industry with the hopes of signing a major contract. They go to networking events, panel discussions, etc., to “learn” how to get signed by a major label. If I knew that the process was completely different from what the panels tell you, I never would have believed it! And you know what? It IS completely different! But I guarantee you no one would believe me!
What do you like about your current career?
The thing I like best about my career now is that I am my own boss in all the facets of my work. I’m the bandleader, the studio owner, the head of the entertainment company, the manager, the educator, and the artist! Oh, and to be honest, that it’s 9:30 in the morning and I’m sitting at my kitchen table doing this interview in my PJs! That’s definitely a perk of it!
How does your career use your skills and what projects are you working on that best demonstrate them?
At the moment, I have so many projects in the air. I am in the process of making my new album, I manage two other artists, produce a third, and my company is about to sign a partnership deal with a major distributor. To be successful in my industry, I firmly believe you need so much more than talent these days! The more you know, the more you can do. Tasks that I encounter on a regular basis require me to be a clear and decisive communicator, an effective leader, super organized, and have the ability to create everything out of nothing, often times. I don’t have a background in finance or business, but I got a crash course in it early on, and it makes all the difference in the world!
What career successes are you most proud of having achieved?
There are so many that I am proud of—most recently I would have to say – signing the deal with the major publisher, the licensing deal, and starting my new album. Those are definitely successes to be proud of. But, what makes me realize that my hard work is paying off? The fact that I have two artists under my wing who trust my judgment, that I love working so hard for, and the fact that people recognize me as an “idea woman.” It’s when people start to know you for your knowledge and experience and not just your talent that you know you’re on the right track!
What training and education have you completed and what did you take away from these experiences?
Like I said, I started playing the piano when I was two. My first teacher was my grandmother, who was a Julliard graduate. I credit my education in music to the Levine School of Music where I had two of the greatest piano teachers in the world, Lois Narvey and Jeffrey Chappell. To be completely honest, the last grade I completed was 7th grade. By this point, my parents and I realized that my life was in music and therefore planned accordingly. I got a job at the Levine School working with their Childrens’ Chorus and stayed there until I met the 10,000 Maniacs. You want to talk about education?! The Maniacs gave me the best education I could get in the industry. I learned what it was to be a real-life, signed, touring musician from their guitarist, Rob Buck. I have to give a huge shout out to my old manager, Paul Miletti. He really taught me everything I know about the business and I really credit him for giving me the staying power and the legs to stand up in this industry!
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Thinking up more whimsical ideas to add to my plan, of course! Honestly, I don’t have a lot of free time. In my industry, you only get out of it what you put into it and I have severely lofty plans for myself, therefore, I am working every chance I get. That being said, when I am not working, I am usually at the dojo, training Shotokan Karate. Aside from that, I love to try new restaurants, go to comedy clubs, and spend time with my family.
In what ways are you making a difference in other people’s lives?
By leading by example and educating them as they go along. Case and point, when I produce an album for an artist, I have them in the studio with me every step of the way, even after they’ve finished “their part.” It’s their album, right? So, they should know how it gets edited, mixed, mastered, and packaged. The most important thing I learned is that to be a success, you have to be taken seriously. And to be taken seriously, you need to have all the knowledge you can. I try to impart this on everyone I work with as much as possible. Also, it raises the standards of the products they put out. In my world, the best can always be bested.
If you have children, how do you find the work/family balance?
I don’t have children, but I am looking to start a family in the next few years. Currently, I’m really lucky because I get to work from home whenever I want to so making time for family isn’t really an issue for me. When I go on the road, however, it is somewhat of a balancing act, yes, but there are twice daily phone calls, emails, and video chats on a nightly basis. I keep in touch. They are my support system.
They also keep me sane and connected to the world outside the circus that is my career!
If you were to start over again from college and still end up at the same job you’re currently at, what steps would you take differently?
I can’t say that I would do anything differently—well, except for one thing. After making my first album, I realized that we didn’t have a PR budget for it. The record has been selling for about 7 years now, but it would have done a LOT better if we had a PR budget for it. I take the responsibility in being rather short sighted on that one and have made sure that it has never happened again.
What barriers have you overcome to get to your present position today, and what lessons have you learned from your mistakes?
The two biggest barriers/challenges I am overcoming in my present position are finding a balance in my life between work and life itself, and also knowing what I’m good at and being okay with my level of expertise. In the entertainment industry, you’re only as good as what you did yesterday and everyone always thinks they know better than you, and that can create unnecessary mis-steps and clouded visions for a lot of people, but learning your craft and honing it to the master level and then standing firm in your position is a fight well worth it. It takes a lot of time and heartache, but leaves you in a much better position in the long run! It’s a very hard lesson to learn.
What’s the greatest career advice you have ever been given? What advice do you bestow on others?
The greatest career advice I have ever been given was by the guys in the band, Smashmouth. They said that everyday, I should do something, no matter what it was, to advance my career. Even if it was as small as making fliers for a show or answering that one extra email, I was propelling myself forward. I have lived by that advice ever since I heard it!
The advice I would bestow onto others is this: Be clear about what you want to do in your life, and be honest with yourself about it. Do NOT get lost in believing your own hype. You MUST be able to back it up, and every day, the best can be bested. The amount of success you garner is directly proportionate to the amount of work you put in. Don’t ever tell yourself you are “good enough.” Good enough isn’t good enough. Always seek to be the best, and you can be.
What accomplishments – both professionally and personally – do you hope to have achieved 20 years from now?
Hahaha! I recently got asked that in a TV interview and I will answer it the same way: I want to be so big that tabloids will dig through my trash. What a wonderful problem to have! Seriously, I’d love to have a family (I’m hoping for two kids), and support them through my music and my business. I want them to grow up knowing that they can be anything they want to be and that they can make the rules to their own empires if they put the work in. I’d like a Grammy, sure, who wouldn’t?! I’d like to own the controlling shares in Viacom. But really, when I think about it, I’d like to be known for my creativity and my honest, superior standards that I hold in my industry.
Job title and employer: Recording artist, songwriter, President of The 6412 Ltd Entertainment (a full service artist management, consulting and development company). Aside from the above, I run and own a recording studio in midtown Manhattan and am the Founder and Executive Director of AAMIA, (the Asian American Music Industry Association).
What do you do for a living and how did you end up doing it?
I’m primarily a recording artist and songwriter. I started playing the piano when I was two and I have been in music all my life. I entered the world as a classical concert pianist but when I was 8, discovered Billy Joel and hatched a plan to move over to rock n’ roll! At 12, I made my first pop recording, at 15 I had my own record out and a tour with a band. Music is something I was born with, but as time goes on, I’ve realized that my dreams have expanded. When I was younger, I wanted to be a “rock star.” Now, I want to be a mogul. I’ve learned that the most successful people in my industry are the ones who stay current, innovative, and blaze their own paths. So, how did I end up doing this? I just don’t accept “no” as an answer! Seriously. “No” is an excuse to me—not an answer.
What are three of the most interesting things you have done or that have happened to you, career-wise or other?
Good question! Three of the most interesting things I have encountered in my career are probably meeting the man who jump started my career in pop music, signing a deal with a major label/publisher and then realizing that that isn’t the be all end all to my career. So many people get into the music industry with the hopes of signing a major contract. They go to networking events, panel discussions, etc., to “learn” how to get signed by a major label. If I knew that the process was completely different from what the panels tell you, I never would have believed it! And you know what? It IS completely different! But I guarantee you no one would believe me!
What do you like about your current career?
The thing I like best about my career now is that I am my own boss in all the facets of my work. I’m the bandleader, the studio owner, the head of the entertainment company, the manager, the educator, and the artist! Oh, and to be honest, that it’s 9:30 in the morning and I’m sitting at my kitchen table doing this interview in my PJs! That’s definitely a perk of it!
How does your career use your skills and what projects are you working on that best demonstrate them?
At the moment, I have so many projects in the air. I am in the process of making my new album, I manage two other artists, produce a third, and my company is about to sign a partnership deal with a major distributor. To be successful in my industry, I firmly believe you need so much more than talent these days! The more you know, the more you can do. Tasks that I encounter on a regular basis require me to be a clear and decisive communicator, an effective leader, super organized, and have the ability to create everything out of nothing, often times. I don’t have a background in finance or business, but I got a crash course in it early on, and it makes all the difference in the world!
What career successes are you most proud of having achieved?
There are so many that I am proud of—most recently I would have to say – signing the deal with the major publisher, the licensing deal, and starting my new album. Those are definitely successes to be proud of. But, what makes me realize that my hard work is paying off? The fact that I have two artists under my wing who trust my judgment, that I love working so hard for, and the fact that people recognize me as an “idea woman.” It’s when people start to know you for your knowledge and experience and not just your talent that you know you’re on the right track!
What training and education have you completed and what did you take away from these experiences?
Like I said, I started playing the piano when I was two. My first teacher was my grandmother, who was a Julliard graduate. I credit my education in music to the Levine School of Music where I had two of the greatest piano teachers in the world, Lois Narvey and Jeffrey Chappell. To be completely honest, the last grade I completed was 7th grade. By this point, my parents and I realized that my life was in music and therefore planned accordingly. I got a job at the Levine School working with their Childrens’ Chorus and stayed there until I met the 10,000 Maniacs. You want to talk about education?! The Maniacs gave me the best education I could get in the industry. I learned what it was to be a real-life, signed, touring musician from their guitarist, Rob Buck. I have to give a huge shout out to my old manager, Paul Miletti. He really taught me everything I know about the business and I really credit him for giving me the staying power and the legs to stand up in this industry!
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Thinking up more whimsical ideas to add to my plan, of course! Honestly, I don’t have a lot of free time. In my industry, you only get out of it what you put into it and I have severely lofty plans for myself, therefore, I am working every chance I get. That being said, when I am not working, I am usually at the dojo, training Shotokan Karate. Aside from that, I love to try new restaurants, go to comedy clubs, and spend time with my family.
In what ways are you making a difference in other people’s lives?
By leading by example and educating them as they go along. Case and point, when I produce an album for an artist, I have them in the studio with me every step of the way, even after they’ve finished “their part.” It’s their album, right? So, they should know how it gets edited, mixed, mastered, and packaged. The most important thing I learned is that to be a success, you have to be taken seriously. And to be taken seriously, you need to have all the knowledge you can. I try to impart this on everyone I work with as much as possible. Also, it raises the standards of the products they put out. In my world, the best can always be bested.
If you have children, how do you find the work/family balance?
I don’t have children, but I am looking to start a family in the next few years. Currently, I’m really lucky because I get to work from home whenever I want to so making time for family isn’t really an issue for me. When I go on the road, however, it is somewhat of a balancing act, yes, but there are twice daily phone calls, emails, and video chats on a nightly basis. I keep in touch. They are my support system.
They also keep me sane and connected to the world outside the circus that is my career!
If you were to start over again from college and still end up at the same job you’re currently at, what steps would you take differently?
I can’t say that I would do anything differently—well, except for one thing. After making my first album, I realized that we didn’t have a PR budget for it. The record has been selling for about 7 years now, but it would have done a LOT better if we had a PR budget for it. I take the responsibility in being rather short sighted on that one and have made sure that it has never happened again.
What barriers have you overcome to get to your present position today, and what lessons have you learned from your mistakes?
The two biggest barriers/challenges I am overcoming in my present position are finding a balance in my life between work and life itself, and also knowing what I’m good at and being okay with my level of expertise. In the entertainment industry, you’re only as good as what you did yesterday and everyone always thinks they know better than you, and that can create unnecessary mis-steps and clouded visions for a lot of people, but learning your craft and honing it to the master level and then standing firm in your position is a fight well worth it. It takes a lot of time and heartache, but leaves you in a much better position in the long run! It’s a very hard lesson to learn.
What’s the greatest career advice you have ever been given? What advice do you bestow on others?
The greatest career advice I have ever been given was by the guys in the band, Smashmouth. They said that everyday, I should do something, no matter what it was, to advance my career. Even if it was as small as making fliers for a show or answering that one extra email, I was propelling myself forward. I have lived by that advice ever since I heard it!
The advice I would bestow onto others is this: Be clear about what you want to do in your life, and be honest with yourself about it. Do NOT get lost in believing your own hype. You MUST be able to back it up, and every day, the best can be bested. The amount of success you garner is directly proportionate to the amount of work you put in. Don’t ever tell yourself you are “good enough.” Good enough isn’t good enough. Always seek to be the best, and you can be.
What accomplishments – both professionally and personally – do you hope to have achieved 20 years from now?
Hahaha! I recently got asked that in a TV interview and I will answer it the same way: I want to be so big that tabloids will dig through my trash. What a wonderful problem to have! Seriously, I’d love to have a family (I’m hoping for two kids), and support them through my music and my business. I want them to grow up knowing that they can be anything they want to be and that they can make the rules to their own empires if they put the work in. I’d like a Grammy, sure, who wouldn’t?! I’d like to own the controlling shares in Viacom. But really, when I think about it, I’d like to be known for my creativity and my honest, superior standards that I hold in my industry.
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