On April 1, College Street Music Hall leaned into R&B with a lineup that felt equal parts nostalgic and fresh—JoJo headlining, Emmy Meli opening.

Wait, Emmy who? Yeah, let’s get that out of the way.

You probably heard “I Am Woman” on TikTok about four years ago. It blew up fast—became an empowerment anthem, soundtracked countless reels and videos, and pushed Emmy Meli into the spotlight almost overnight. But what stood out most during her opening act wasn’t the viral song—it was her sincerity, presence, and depth. You could feel her gratitude for the platform and fans that helped launch her career. But in an industry where trending sounds vanish as quickly as they pop up on our FYPs, it was clear that Emmy has done the work—both as an artist and as a human.

Her stage presence was smooth, intentional, magnetic. She paused between songs to talk about self-worth, growth, and the messiness of becoming. Her words weren’t polished soundbites—they were grounded and real. She saved “I Am Woman” for her encore. And what a deeply moving moment it was.

Imposter syndrome is the kryptonite of creatives—photographers and musicians alike. I can only imagine how many people have doubted her staying power, including herself. But to perform in a music hall full of strangers, with the entire crowd singing back to the woman who first gave them that empowering anthem? That’s a different kind of power.

Emmy didn’t just open the night—she reminded us that real strength, real talent, stands on its own. Long after the world has moved on to the next trending sound bite

EMMY MELI | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

SET LIST

• Sacred
• Muse
• Happy Ending
• Hands Off Me
• God’s Favorite
• Breakthrough
• Daydreaming
• I AM WOMAN