Meet Ümami of Carson, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ümami.

Hi ümami, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started singing when I was a kid, and have always had a love and affinity for music, but I didn’t start taking music seriously until 2023 when I released my first single. I also come from a musical family; my brother Andrew has been playing professionally for at least 15 years, and my mom was a touring vocalist and recording artist in the 80s and 90s. (Incidentally, my mom had taught me various classic jazz, R&B, funk, and pop songs against my will – this would go on to form my musical style.)
Over the past couple of years, I’ve collaborated with many artists and collectives throughout the Southland, including B&B Music Studio in Orange, singer-songwriter
Jarli (pronounced like the motorcycle), Long Beach-based 8 To Late, and have played at hotspots like The Mint in West LA and Good Time at Davey Wayne’s in Hollywood.
Today, in addition to a performance at the Segerstrom in Costa Mesa June 8th, I’m preparing to do an all-out live deluxe edition of my EP, Monday at the Matinee this August. It’ll be recorded in Long Beach at a historic former jazz venue now called At The Top, and tickets are projected to go on sale this June.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t really think there’s anything such as a “smooth road” (life happens to everyone), but I have a love/hate relationship with having to do everything as an independent artist; doing so allows me full control of my art and expression, but also demands comfortability with being perceived.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Onstage, people know me for singing, song-building, and band arranging. In the studio, I also arrange and record my own vocal harmonies (sometimes 20+ layers, sometimes even 50+). What sets me apart from other artists, is though I may not be ‘classically trained’, I still walk into a session and can direct every aspect of my tracks, from how the instruments are being played, to how the mixing comes out, even to how the video will be constructed. This results in my body of work having no set genre; you’re getting pop, grunge, jazz, R&B, alternative, and sounds that can’t even be described.

Essentially, ümami has no genre – only vibes.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Via Instagram and/or e-Mail!

TikTok: @sailorgoon_21 (mind the underscore)

IG: @sailorgoon21 (no underscore)

eMail: mgmt.sailorgooninc@gmail.com

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sailorgoon21
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mGOQZsYxhkpIACYAoBuUdqTi37lPVmZiw
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/64NmbwgYNcY01bgh5t4YGV

Image Credits
Logo: ümami and PL
Picture 1: Andrew Dickson
Picture 2: Francis Einkauf