mei ehara live in Berkeley: A mesmerizing debut on Faye Webster’s US tour

On a warm September night, a sellout crowd of 8,500 folk and indie fans gathered at the historic Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA, to see Faye Webster on her Underdressed at the Symphony North American tour. Before Webster took the stage, the audience was treated to a pleasant surprise: an opening performance by mei ehara. For mei, this wasn’t just an opportunity to introduce herself to a new crowd—it was a pivotal moment in her career and a step forward for the growing presence of Japanese artists in the West. As a lesser-known figure in the U.S. music scene, touring with Webster marked a significant leap for mei, highlighting the broader movement of Japanese musicians gaining traction in the U.S.

The pairing of mei ehara and Faye Webster is no coincidence. Webster, a longtime fan of mei’s work, first collaborated with her on the 2021 track ‘Overslept’, featured on Webster’s album ‘I Know I’m Funny haha’. The connection between the two artists, both known for their introspective and emotional songwriting, seemed natural, and Webster has often spoken publicly about her deep appreciation for mei’s talent.

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mei promptly took the stage at 8 PM to deafening cheers from the packed amphitheater. Backed by a full band, she launched into songs from her two albums, Ampersands and Sway, delivering her top tracks back-to-back. mei effortlessly flowed between the melancholic ‘Choke on the Smoke’ and the more upbeat ‘Day to Night’, while the funky bassline of ‘Time Flies’ had heads nodding across the venue.

mei’s soft vocals, paired with the laid-back sound of her music, had the audience engaged. As I made my way around the crowd, it seemed that everyone was watching her set with full attention, despite this likely being their first time hearing her perform. Between songs, fans shouted, “I love you, mei ehara!” during quiet moments, and she responded with warm smiles.

I made my way to the top of the lawn to get a good view of the entire show just as mei performed her most recent release, ‘Mada Hayai Kudamono’ (‘The Fruit not yet ripe’). As the song played, fans raised their phone flashlights and waved their arms in unison, creating a sea of twinkling lights across the venue. As her set came to a close, she sincerely thanked the audience and Faye Webster for bringing her along, while one of her band members hit a few poses for the crowd, earning even louder cheers.

Later in the night, mei returned to the stage for a special moment when Webster invited her to perform their dreamy collaboration, ‘Overslept’. The crowd’s response to the duet was electric, with a huge roar of cheers erupting when mei took to the mic, underscoring the genuine connection between the two artists.”

mei’s performance felt like the perfect precursor to Webster’s, and by the end, it was clear she had made a lasting impression. A challenging feat for any opener, especially one relatively unknown in the U.S. For mei, this night could mark the beginning of her rise—not just as an international artist, but as a trailblazer for other Japanese indie acts seeking to carve out a space in the American music scene.

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