Introspection by Eunmi Lee

As a pianist and composer, I have gained valuable experience in enjoying my inner observations by describing emotions, images, and phenomena through musical materials. The album 'Introspection' consists of seven original compositions entirely composed and arranged by me, which I have written since 2017.

"Gimmick" I often feel that when people talk to someone or want to be noticed or attractive in a situation, there is another ego that each person uses. I have tried to express these images in a tune. In some ways, it could be a picture of me when I open up my ego, my "gimmick" that only I have.

"Suspicion" This tune was initially composed as a chamber piece and created to experiment with compositional ideas outside the functional harmony. Part of composing is to try and employ other materials besides the ones I usually use. I may be okay with habitually picking up and arranging functional harmonies, but expanding my journey of exploration outside of my comfort zone always excites me. Just as in life, a multilateral approach is sometimes necessary to form a reasonable suspicion.

"5.19" I believe experiencing various cultures is akin to the excitement of reading thrilling books or trying new foods. The same applies to meeting and interacting with new people. Throughout this process, I feel both enchanted and unfamiliar when encountering distinct images different from my own. This tune captures the emotional changes I experienced while immersing myself in new cultures and meeting new people in the Netherlands on May 19th, a few years ago.

"Narcissism" As times rapidly changed and the COVID-19 crisis unfolded, I found myself with much more time to explore social media. While delving into social media, I pondered whether everyone needs to possess a certain degree of narcissism to adapt to that world. This is because nearly all individuals on the internet appear to be happy. This tune depicts modern individuals who gaze into their cell phones, using them as mirrors that reflect their images onto the internet through various platforms.

"Mr. Weird" Sometimes, when I'm immersed in my thoughts or emotions, I imagine what it would be like if I were somebody else observing me. Inside my head, it feels like I'm the only one who's preoccupied, serious, dramatic, and confused. However, I'm certain that it would appear completely different if I were to observe myself from the outside, like watching someone else in the park. The individuals I might encounter in the park could seem like peculiar or 'Mr. Weird' characters, slightly different from myself. Yet, they could be looking at me and having the same thoughts. I wrote this big band piece as an exciting and humorous exploration of others and myself.

"Wavelength" I believe that there is always empathy in the human mind. I think that even though each person has a different personality, ideology, country, or race, there is something akin to a 'wavelength' of the mind that we can sense as human beings. A compassionate heart and a respectful attitude towards one another arise from this wavelength of the heart. Since 2020, I have faced challenging times during the COVID-19 period in New York, but the kindness of people has stood out to me amidst these difficulties. I composed this piece with the hope that these positive impressions would consistently resonate in my mind.

"Azure" If someone asks me the color of my heart, I would like to answer without hesitation that it is the color of the azure sky. I would draw a blueprint for my future that I want to be a better person tomorrow. The idea of the song's starting point began with the idea of a melody that naturally sings on the white keys of the piano. I wanted to sing a natural and hopeful message like the new freshness I felt when I looked up at the sky.

Eunmi Lee is a New York-based Korean jazz pianist, composer, and educator who is fearless in experimenting with blending her cultural background with contemporary Jazz.

eunmileemusic.com