Emi Maria is a Japanese Papua New Guinean R&B singer-songwriter, known for blending soulful melodies with rich cultural influences. Born on June 9, 1987, in Papua New Guinea, she moved to Kobe, Japan, at age five. There, influenced by icons like Janet and Michael Jackson, she developed a deep love for R&B. She kicked off her music career by writing lyrics in junior high and producing tracks in high school. In 2006, Emi Maria took to the stage, performing at the MTV Star Tour and various live venues across Kansai. A year later, she began featuring on albums of prominent Japanese urban artists, including Seeda and MC Moggy. Emi Maria released her first EP, Between the Music, on her own label in 2007. Preceded by her breakout single, "I Gotta (Summer Kiss)," her studio debut A Ballad of My Own arrived in 2008. Her major-label debut came in 2009 with the single "One Way Love," which peaked at number 37 on the Japanese Hot 100. This period marked her most notable collaborations, like the track "Luv Is..." with Jay'ed, and featuring on Seeda's Top 10 entry "Wisdom." 2010 saw the release of her single "Show Me Your Love" and her first major album, Contrast, establishing her as a promising talent in the R&B genre. That same year, she issued an EP titled Cross Over, which featured the track "Nobody Like You." Over the following years, Emi Maria delivered a string of well-received releases that included Blue Bird (2011), In My World (2014), and Euphoria (2015).