pianist / composer

All of these songs are about my experience of the pandemic while living in New York City. I had never written lyrics or sung on an album before. But I was thinking about certain incidents every day, and for two of the songs, the lyrics came to me with the melodies like an emotional release.

The woman with a purple wig is me. To protect myself from the violence against Asian women, I had to hide my identity, wearing a wig, mask, and sunglasses. In the beginning, I was filled with fear. Writing this song helped me to regain my emotional balance.

I also felt I had to speak out about racial violence against all groups of people. We all need to stand up and work together for peace and understanding. This is why I wrote lyrics for “Colors are Beautiful.”

These songs are not about anger. I wrote them to encourage everyone, including myself, to see the world in a more positive way.

Originally, I assumed that another vocalist would sing these songs. But when I played my simple demos for my friend and mentor, William Parker, he said: “Eri, it’s your story. It will be more powerful if you sing yourself.”

I wrote “Ends to Start” because during the pandemic many things came to an end. But endings are not always completely sad, as sometimes they can give opportunities for new, good things to start.

Eri Yamamoto

May, 2022

A WOMAN WITH A PURPLE WIG　  (music & words by Eri Yamamoto)

One day, I bought a wig on the internet.

My favorite color - purple wig.

One day, I bought a wig on the internet.

It’s only twenty bucks - purple wig.

Did you know that a purple wig has a special power?

It hides my head, so you don’t see my real hair.

The sunglasses hide my eyes, so you don’t know what I’m thinking.

The mask covers my mouth and nose, it’s perfect.

I hope you don’t see me at all.

I’m just a woman.

Don’t hurt me.

Don’t hurt me.

Someday, I wanna walk like a free bird.

Just wanna sing to the world.

I’m just a woman.

Don’t hurt me.

Don’t hurt me.

I’m just a human.

Don’t hurt me.

Don’t hurt me.

COLORS ARE BEAUTIFUL 　   (music & words by Eri Yamamoto)

Colors are beautiful, don’t you think?

Colors are beautiful.

Red rose, black diamond

Yellow moon, white snow

Brown earth, and blue sky.

I see so many colors in my palette.

Colors are beautiful, don’t you think?

Colors are beautiful.

Orange leaves, gold sunset

Purple night, silver stars

Grey clouds, and green eyes.

I see so many colors in this world.

Colors are beautiful, don’t you think?

Colors are beautiful.

All colors are beautiful.