An Interview with Emily Froehling

Today, we want to introduce you to our lovely and amazing guest, Emily Froehling, a German singer performing wonders in Japan. Imagine trading the russelled up streets of her hometown for the quiet beauty of Japan’s Yamagata. That’s the vibrant painting of Emily’s life since her arrival in Japan in August 2023. A full-time singer in her country with a heart full of wanderlust, her journey has been a kaleidoscope of vibrant jumbles of excitement, challenges, and her adventurous spirit. Let’s walk alongside her, listen to the music of her experiences, and discover more about a melody that’s in a brand new language.

Greetings Emily, we are so happy to have you here! First of all, can you please introduce yourself?

I’d love to! But before I dive in and forget, thank you so much for having me and giving me the space to share my story. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on everything that has happened so far on my journey.

My name is Emily, I’m 29, and I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I’m from Oldenburg, a town in northern Germany. Both my parents are musicians, and I always knew this was the path I wanted to take. I started at the age of 10 with my first lead role in a musical, followed by several TV appearances and concerts. I never stopped working, and it led me to explore all kinds of musical styles, which really shaped me as an artist.

Nowadays, I’m using my voice in many different ways — from singing to performing, composing, working as a vocal coach, and writing articles for various clients, including a global children’s rights organization.

We would love to hear what became the reason that drove you to Japan, or was it just your desire to travel and explore that led you here?

As cliché as it sounds — love! My partner plays professional basketball overseas, and when we found out the next season would take us to Japan, I was so happy. I knew I wanted to follow him, but I also saw it as a huge opportunity for personal growth and a new, exciting chapter for my music.

Before we visit your music and singing journey, how did you adapt to all the different tastes and cuisines in Japan from your hometown? Also, how did you find Japanese people and culture?

Great question! I’ve always loved Japanese cuisine, so the food transition was actually pretty smooth. Growing up, sushi was always a special treat in my family — something fancy that you didn’t get to eat every day.

And what can I say? It didn’t disappoint. I’m low-key obsessed with 7-Eleven sushi now (don’t judge me!). One dish that was a bit out of my comfort zone was beef tongue. It tastes really good, but the name still weirds me out a little.

As for the culture and people, I’ve found Japanese people to be incredibly polite, kind, and wonderful – but also distant. That’s actually an interesting similarity I recognize from German culture. All in all, the Japanese people are polite, calm, and generous — and I’m still excited to keep learning more about the culture every day.

Coming to your passion for singing, now you are a recognized singer in Japan, but did you struggle a lot at first with landing a job as a singer in a new country? What difficulties did you face?

Absolutely!!! I came to Japan on a working holiday visa, which was perfect because it gave me the chance to explore different opportunities. One of the first things I did in Yamagata was to visit a local coffee shop (I love coffee shops — they’re my safe space anywhere in the world). I started chatting with the owner, who immediately connected me to a bass player, who then introduced me to a guitarist. Within a week, I had my first Japanese band and a gig lined up.

I went to jam sessions and took a few trips to Tokyo to dive even deeper into the music scene there. One of the best gigs I’ve had so far was a Christmas show — not just because I’m obsessed with Christmas, but because the local TV station filmed it. So yes… I low-key made it onto Japanese TV!

But it would be a huge lie to say it hasn’t come with challenges. The language barrier is real, and the visa limitations also make it hard to fully establish myself. So I’d say I’m still in the process of adjusting and figuring it all out.

So as a singer, what differences did you first notice in the Japanese and German music cultures?

I actually got the chance to meet up with a Sony Music Japan agent in Tokyo after sending him some of my music. We met at a co-working space, and after a quick “Nice to meet you” (douzo yoroshiku — one of the first phrases I learned in Japanese), He told me,
“If you want to make it here, you need to sing in Japanese. And to be honest, you’re kind of too good a singer for the Japanese market.”
It was a strange compliment — I appreciated it, but it also left me feeling a bit conflicted. Sometimes it feels like the language barrier limits my chances in the Japanese market.
One of my dreams is to get into the anime music world, as both a
composer and a singer. I can absolutely see myself doing it, even as an English-speaking artist and writer. Fingers crossed!

The whole experience has made me reflect a lot on who I wanna be as an artist. I’m lucky to express myself in so many creative ways, but I still often find myself thinking deeply about identity and direction — which I think is pretty common when you put yourself out there creatively.

When you first started singing, did you change your chorus and performance style a bit for the crowd here in Japan to be more engaged?

Yes, I definitely made some small changes. I’ve started learning Japanese because I really want to connect with my audience. It’s not easy, but it matters to me.

One of the first songs I learned to sing in Japanese was ‘’Let It Go” from Frozen, which honestly felt like the perfect start! I even think it sounds better than the original version. My Japanese friend helped me with the pronunciation — I sent her voice notes, and I really hope she deleted them by now.

What would you like to say to foreigners who are visiting Japan for the first time? What would you recommend for food, visits, and stay?

Where do I even start?
Japan’s nature is some of the most breathtaking I’ve ever experienced — mountains, waterfalls, hot springs — there’s so much to explore. If you’re in Yamagata, definitely go to Yamagyū (a local yakiniku place). When my brother came to visit, he said it was one of the best meals of his life — and he’s still talking about it.

Also: connect with local people. Don’t be afraid to start a conversation, even if it’s just a few words in Japanese or using Google Translate. People here are incredibly kind, and you’ll fall in love with the culture and the calmness that surrounds it. I’ve never felt so safe anywhere in the world — that’s a huge plus, too.

We would love to hear any fan encounters that stuck with you that you still remember to this day.

One of my very first supporters was a girl and her dad. They stopped my partner and me to ask for a picture, and ever since then, they’ve come to almost every game and every gig I’ve played. It means so much to me — I’ll never forget that kind of support.

Also, do you have an amusing anecdote from your early days in Japan?

Oh yes! One time, I ran into a 7-Eleven to buy some eggs and kept saying “eigo, eigo!” — thinking I was smart for knowing the Japanese word for it. The staff looked a little… actually, very confused.

Later, I found out “eigo” means English, so basically, I was saying “English! English!” over and over again. All I wanted were some eggs!

Let’s just say… You won’t get very far here with only English (or the Japanese word for it) alone — learning the language is definitely worth it!

Lastly, what would you love to say to our readers, or anything else you want to let us know?

Thank you so much for reading my story — it truly means a lot. If you feel like it, check out my account and my music, and come along for the journey. There’s so much more to come!

Japan has shaped me in more ways than I ever expected, and I’m forever grateful for the experience.

Thank you so much, Emily, for taking out your precious time for us and answering the questions! We really appreciate your insights and are glad you joined us for this interview!

Follow Emily Froehling on:

Website: https://emily-froehling.tilda.ws/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emylymusic_/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilyfrohling3323

Featured Photo Credit: Emily Froehling

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