Emi Tawata, born on June 26, 1984 in Okinawa, is a Japanese singer. Her music is a mix of soul, R&B, jazz, blues and funk.
Biography
Early career
In early 2005, Emi Tawata traveled to Vancouver to study language. During her time there she became a member of a street jazz band and inspired by the experience, decided to become a singer. Upon returning to Japan in 2006 she started composing her own songs, debuting them in a small live house in Okinawa. In April 2007 she participated in a music audition sponsored by MSN and won the Special Jury Prize. This gave her the opportunity to meet Japanese producers like Coldfeet and Ryota Nozaki and led to the release of her debut single Negai No Sora. Negai No Sora peaked at the No. 1 spot on the Okinawa Indies chart, under name タワタエミ. The track was later released on her debut mini-album Infinity under a newly formed label named Techesko. The mini-album charted at the No. 110 spot on the Oricon chart.
Major label debut and beyond (2008–2010)
A few months after the release of ∞infinity∞ she released another mini-album named Love&Peace which included a collaboration with DJ Kawasaki titled Into You. Shortly after her second mini-album plans were made for her tour Emi Tawata & The Soul Infinity: Sweet Soul Tour 2009. During her tour, on March 18, 2009, Emi released her 3rd mini-album Sweet Soul Love. Along with this mini-album came a collaboration with the popular apparel brand Soulsmania. On May 12, 2009, her official website announced Emi's first Maxi-single Toki no Sora would be released on June 24. The leading song is an ending song from the TV quiz showSekai fushigi hakken and theme song for the roadshow movie Chikujou se Yo. On June 30 it was announced that Emi would be featured in two songs from the popular techno twins Ryukuydisko, Starlight Waltz feat. 多和田えみ and てぃんさぐぬ花 feat. 多和田えみ. Both songs are included on the albumPleasure. On August 22, 2009 Emi announced on her blog that she would release her first full-length album Sings along with a single Namida no Oto on November 4. She supported the releases with a tour titled Emi Tawata & The Soul Infinity: Sings of Souls live 2010. On January 23, 2010, Emi announced a new single release for March 23 named Lovely Day. After a long period of touring through Japan came the release of a live album and DVD released on June 23.
Hiatus, label transfer and new mini-album
After being on a unannounced hiatus for 1 year, Emi's official website announced that she would be the singer during the Romeo&Julia play that would tour through Japan. On July 14, 2012 she announced that there will be a new mini-album released on September 26, 2012 named "Sing You". This would be the first album to be released under the label Sony Music Entertainment. In the announcement she confessed that the new songs "were a new challenge for her".
