[Review] Shimei Empress – live performance from Detroit “Art as expression is the key”

Shimei Empress as a live performer has a way of bringing about a certain set of good vibes, rhythm and soul, keeping those vocal snippets unique and presenting an overall style that is loaded with individuality. The video at hand showcases a fair few different performances and musical styles, ‘All People’ was almost certainly the most captivating – the stripped back nature of the music is one thing, the melody and the contrasting male vocal is another, and then Shimei Empress offers up a genuinely heartfelt and captivating string of lyrics, expressed in a gentle yet passionate way that really makes those words shine brightly.

Shimei Empress’ sense of self and identity is unquestionable, there’s also a definite level of confidence to the sound of her voice and her performance style, and this works well in bringing about a real live show experience, the sort that is most commonly confined to hip-hop these days. To fuse this with a feeling of depth and honesty is potentially a powerful combination. ‘All People’ leans in the right direction consistently, the desire to be different, and for that to be welcomed. Throughout all of her performances though the honesty is undeniable, it’s a sort of openness that is likely to appeal to a number of audiences.

Art as expression is the key, not merely the flashy, showing off style that is designed simply to gain attention. There’s a unique backstory to offer, everyone has that, but not everyone embraces it. When an artist offers it up without a second thought, that’s when you get something new, and special. Shimei Empress seems to take her truth and turn that into art and performance and musical purity, and this is something that will hopefully connect with many people who witness it.

By Rebecca Cullen

Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing