Whether your first album with UMI was Forest in the City (2022) or people stories (2025), it’s always the right time to get to know your favorite artist a little better. The lovely thing about UMI is that after listening to her music, she is exactly who you think she is – down-to-earth, peaceful, and incredibly humble. UMI is an artist who stands as an inspiration to us all, not just in the music scene, but in an overly chaotic and fast-paced world where all we need is a little serenity and togetherness.
1. Becoming UMI
Being raised in Seattle, Washington, did not result in UMI making the Emerald City her permanent home. However, it did shape her as a person and, consequently, an artist. Born to two musician parents, UMI grew up around music. Because of the rainy Pacific Northwest weather, she was often found inside with music always playing around her, whether she was at her mother’s Japanese school or church with her father. If they weren’t listening to Japanese pop together, UMI’s mother often played classical piano, while her father played the drums and was a musician in their church.
Spending time inside with melodies always floating along the walls became UMI’s norm. It wasn’t anything magical; it was just her daily life, and it quickly shaped her into becoming a musician herself.
2. Musical Evolution
When she was around the age of five, UMI learned to write, which instantly gave her the ability to write her music as well. Her new talent became known among her family, and she lined up her first concerts soon after: performances for her two younger sisters. As she grew up, so did her music. It quickly became something that was not just for fun, but a passion of hers.
UMI knew she wanted to share her voice, but due to her stage fright, she could not stand on a stage in front of a group of strangers. Luckily, she found a way around this. In high school, she started writing music more consistently and began uploading covers onto YouTube. Sitting at the bottom of her staircase, she gave viewers covers from artists like Rex Orange County, Frank Ocean, and Kehlani. Along with these came original songs and even videos to go along with them. This evolved over the years into her “New Moon Covers,” where she celebrated the new moon by uploading a cover of a song. Soon after, Forest in the City came to fruition.
3. Artistry of Albums
Many artists decide that they want to build an album and release it purely because it is time. With UMI, however, she lets the time come to her. Her debut album, Forest in the City, was a four-year process that consisted of mindlessly and purposefully writing, meeting old and new people, and collaborating with different creative groups with the intention of growth and artistry. There were around 100 songs that could have ended up on the album, but UMI carefully chose each of the 15 final tracks to represent who she was at that time in her life before she evolved into the next stage of herself.
It was a similar process with her EP, talking to the wind. The EP was built from stories UMI heard from the wind, ideas that nature has given her in her time outside. When she meditates alone with her surroundings, she often hears something new or something that guides her. UMI believes this is not an individual trait on her part — if we all took the time to listen, we too could talk to the wind and hear its stories.
UMI’s newest album, people stories, is a culmination of stories she has heard from her fans and friends over two years. Stepping into her newest era, she aims to rid people of loneliness through hearing tales that a stranger once held secret.
4. Mindfulness and Meditation
After listening to UMI’s music, it becomes clear that she has an appreciation for and an understanding of the natural world. UMI brings every aspect of nature into her music, from recording acoustic videos outside to collaborating with NATURE on her song with V, “wherever u r.” For the same song, UMI uploaded a meditation version onto her YouTube channel so listeners can follow along and practice breathwork with her.
The calming and flowing feeling of meditation is something that UMI has always incorporated into her music, but it has also become a separate mission for the artist. In 2022, UMI went on a meditation tour to bring the practice of breathwork and meditation to those who resonate with her and her music. This evolved into personal meditation and dance classes led by UMI herself, which were eventually given the name U+MI. U+MI is now an online platform that UMI runs that features podcasts, guided meditations, updates, and more.
5. Musical Influences
As someone who takes inspiration from everything she allows into her life, UMI is not afraid of learning from both her own experience and that of others. From the start, her parents influenced the type of music she was listening to, with her being exposed to a mix of gospel and Japanese pop music from a young age. Inspirations like Seiko Matsuda and Kobukuro stuck with her, and went on to influence songs and videos like “Mother.” This side of her life continues to flow into her visuals, melodies, storytelling, and way of being.
There are also her modern inspirations, such as Erykah Badu, Sade, Lauryn Hill, and Frank Ocean. From their sonic experience to the way they ground themselves in their music, these artists bled into UMI’s process and creative direction. Finding influence from them in her high school days, UMI covered many of their songs as she was getting started with her music career. Even now, she looks to them as role models in the music space and inspiration for her own creations.
6. Building a Community
UMI has attracted one of the most centered and grounded fan bases around, proving the concept of like attracts like. One of the things she looks forward to the most at her concerts and on her tours is not just playing the music, but also finding a connection with those around her. From hosting events in the cities she plays in to talking to her fans to hear their stories, UMI’s actions have formed a following of people who are just as generous and mindful as she is. Even UMI’s social media is a safe and calm space, with comment sections full of adoration and her responses filled with gratitude. To connect with the singer-songwriter virtually, her fans can comment and talk on her app U+MI, as well as buy tickets to her events.
UMI’s city events are all about finding peace in the hustle and bustle. In the past, living in larger city spaces like LA made UMI feel lost among the constant noise. To find her ground, she continued her meditative practice and worked the juxtaposition of an organic lifestyle in a fast-paced city into her work, even going as far as inspiring the concept of Forest in the City. Now, through her events, UMI teaches others living in more densely populated areas how to be present with themselves while surrounded by noise. It also offers fans the opportunity to connect with others in their area who have common interests and similar energies.
7. Hopes for the Future
Some may think that those who meditate and manifest wait for their dreams to come to light on their own, but with UMI, this could not be further from the truth. Every day, UMI makes a point to create new dreams for herself to get where she wants to go. When asked about her dreams for the future, UMI has said she sees herself at stadiums, traveling around the world with her music, dropping another album or two (cue people stories), a Grammy, acting/directing, building her business, and being happy and peaceful.
Now, UMI is doing just that. With global connections and friends, UMI has collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the world, toured Asia and North America, and launched her app U+MI. She has followed through with her dreams of directing with the “happy im” music video and the music video for “Down to Earth.” She has also become a master at creative direction, as seen through some of her most popular videos, like those in the “Love Language” series. UMI’s dreams are endless, and with every project she creates, her talent grows and becomes more plentiful.
Throughout her career, UMI’s spirit has only seemed to become stronger and kinder. Acting as a shining light in the music space, UMI’s music spreads peace and understanding — and it is never too late to tune in and become part of the movement.
To follow UMI’s music journey, you can find her on Instagram, TikTok, X, and Discord. To tap into your inner UMI, her music can be listened to on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify.
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