Rei Ami
Sarah Yeeun Lee, known professionally as Rei Ami, is a South Korean singer and rapper. Initially presenting a rap sound, she released her debut studio album, Foil, and later rose to prominence with the song "Freak" with Sub Urban in 2020, which gained virality on TikTok. She is also known for providing the singing voice for the character Zoey in the film KPop Demon Hunters. "Golden", one of the songs she co-performed for the film, topped the Billboard Hot 100, as well as charts in several other countries.
Early life
Lee was born on May 25, 1995 in Seoul, South Korea and relocated to Germantown, Maryland, United States with her family at six years old. She graduated from Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland in 2014. From a devout Christian household, she would start music with the instruments piano and guitar. Her parents paid for tutoring making sure she would perform at church services. Rei graduated from University of Maryland, College Park in 2018, before she started her musical career.Career
In 2019, Lee filmed the visualizer for her breakout single "Snowcone" with a budget of under $100, which projected to her success, signing to Visionary Records.2020–2024: ''Freak'' and ''Foil''
The official music video for "Freak" by Sub Urban, featuring Lee, was released on March 13, 2020, alongside the former's EP, Thrill Seeker. The video, which was directed by Andrew Donoho, has a circus-themed background. Rei Ami is depicted as a snake-human hybrid. On YouTube, the video has had over 292 million views and over 3.5 million videos on TikTok.Her debut mixtape, Foil, released on June 25, 2021, showcases her versatility, featuring collaborations with artists like Aminé on "Do It Right", and Lolo Zouaï on "Cherry Chapstick". The project underscores her ability to seamlessly navigate between assertive rap verses and melodic pop hooks. Lee was also featured on Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show.
2025: ''KPop Demon Hunters'', new music
Rei Ami is featured on the soundtrack of the 2025 film KPop Demon Hunters. She provides the singing and rapping vocals for the character Zoey, in the songs "Golden", "How It's Done", "What It Sounds Like", and "Takedown".As of December 2025, she was working on a new album, with plans to release the singles in 2026.
Personal life
Beyond her musical endeavors, Rei Ami has been candid about her personal challenges, including an erroneous diagnosis with depression during her freshman year of college and her 2022 diagnosis with bipolar disorder. She credits music as a therapeutic outlet that has helped her navigate mental health struggles.Rei Ami is a self proclaimed anime fan, and in a TikTok, attributed her stage name to the Sailor Moon characters Rei Hino and Ami Mizuno.
Discography
Mixtapes
EPs
Singles
As lead artist| Title | Year | Album |
| "Make It Mine" | 2019 | rowspan="5" |
| "Snowcone" | 2019 | - |
| "Dictator" | 2019 | - |
| "Runaway" | 2020 | - |
| "Mac & Cheese" | 2020 | - |
| "Do It Right" | 2021 | Foil |
| "That's on You!" | 2021 | Foil |
| "F.R.A." | 2021 | Foil |
| "Ricky Bobby" | 2021 | Foil |
| "Hot One" | 2021 | rowspan="2" |
| "Plaything" | 2022 | - |
| "Body Bag" | 2023 | Shhh |
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Details |
| "Freak" | 2020 | rowspan="2" |
| "Bye" | 2020 | - |
| "Rainy" | 2023 | This Mixtape Is Fire Too |
| "I See Red" | 2024 |