Eunmi Lee, a New York State Council on the Arts grant recipient and an NYU Steinhardt Jazz Studies alumna (MM ’22), reflects in this video interview on her musical journey from South Korea to New York, describing how her early experiences working across theater, media, and contemporary music eventually led her more seriously into jazz. Rather than following a traditional path from a young age, she came to jazz with a sense of exploration, which continues to shape her artistic voice. Her studies in the Netherlands and later in the NYU Steinhardt Jazz Studies program exposed her to a wide range of musical influences and collaborators, helping her develop a more global perspective. Moving to New York in 2020 presented both challenges and opportunities, but it ultimately became a defining period of growth, allowing her to immerse herself in a vibrant creative community and refine her identity as both a pianist and composer.
Throughout the video, Lee emphasizes composition as a deeply personal and introspective process, which is reflected in her debut album Introspection, a collection of entirely original works spanning small ensembles to large orchestral arrangements. She speaks about blending her Korean heritage with contemporary jazz in a way that feels organic rather than forced, aiming to create music that honestly represents her experiences and inner world. Her artistic philosophy centers on curiosity, emotional authenticity, and storytelling, with music serving as a vehicle for self-discovery and connection. Overall, the interview portrays her as an evolving artist who draws from diverse cultural and educational influences to craft a distinctive, thoughtful voice in modern jazz.
