Emi Meyer

Born in Kyoto to an American father and Japanese mother, then whisked away to Seattle at the age of 1, Emi Meyer has grown accustomed to straddling cultures. After releasing her first Japanese-language album last year, co-written with hip-hop artist Shing02, the singer-songwriter is working in English again on her latest, Suitcase of Stones. Meyer's intimate, husky vocals inevitably draw comparisons to Norah Jones (and, when she switches into Japanese, UA), while her songs incorporate elements of blues, jazz and even reggae. It's an appealing mix, and with a series of TV commercials now under her belt, don't be surprised if this lady really goes somewhere.