Oregon Music News

It is apparent when speaking with Priscilla Ahn that she balances within herself the magic and whimsy often associated with a child and the wisdom and celebration of life that can only be found by living. Her natural, seemingly overflowing creativity is welcomed through a purposeful ease of living, and she chooses to be creative and play with that creativity every day.

She’s successful at a young age and in a somewhat natural, pure way. She works hard, but she also lives a lifestyle that sustains her true self — one that includes plenty of home time, nature, friends, good food and the love of her husband. She also dedicates herself to collaboration, which means she’s continuously learning, and growing.

Her new album, When You Grow Up, is most definitely named after her own journey through self reflection, and that balance we all find between youth and adulthood. This creates beautiful music that is also fun to listen to. Ahn’s sweet melodies and charming instrumentals help draw you in, and cradle you as you listen to her lyrics, and reflect.

Today is the first day of a new tour, where are you starting?

Yeah! I’m in Washington, D.C. right now [9/27/11] and the show is in Arlington tonight. I’ve played this club once before.

Are you excited to be on the road?

I’m really excited! My best friend is the bass player, and the keyboardist is another good friend. I just feel lucky to be on the road with friends and traveling around to see familiar faces.

Where will you go?

It’s a three-week tour, so not too crazy. But, I’m starting on the East Coast and will play a few places here, then through some of the midwest before heading west, of course to Portland and Seattle. Before Portland we will be in Vancouver, B.C.

Are you familiar with Portland?

Yeah, I love it! I have lots of friends in Portland, and I hope to catch up with them and spend some time in the city in between driving to shows in Vancouver and Seattle.

Listening to your lyrics and the whimsical feel of your music, it seems you are a creature who really appreciates the simple things in life, and a calmer, reflective lifestyle. With your busy year in the public spotlight, how does that fit in with you natural personality?

Some years I’m out a lot, doing a lot of promotion. It gets hard to enjoy those simple pleasures, like taking a walk, or picking flowers. Whenever I forget though, my husband, my best friend, is really great at bringing me back down to earth. Sometimes I get stressed out, or worry that people might think I suck or something, and he’s amazing at helping me stay positive and grounded.

That’s so great. What does he do?

He’s an actor and a writer.

Speaking of writing, what inspires yours?

Anything around me. Traveling, talking in my surroundings, which I used to be a lot better at when I was younger, because everything was new. Anything, people watching, movies. I really love watching movies, especially old French films, international films. All of this stuff funnels in somewhere and funnels back out later. I don’t force myself to sit down and write a song every day, but I do try to force myself to do something creative every day; read a book, draw.

Tell us about your new album, When You Grow Up.

It was written over the past three years, after the release of my first album, A Good Day. It’s largely about growth and is a result of me doing a lot of self reflecting, and thinking about who I am, and how to grow and be a better person. One night a lightbulb went off that I should name the album When You Grow Up because that’s what it seemed to be talking about.

I made this album in England with Ethan Johns, and that was amazing. It was a whole new experience, and I was totally against it at first. I’d always worked in L.A. before and love making albums in L.A. because all of my friends are there, and they can come into the studio and play with me. But it was actually a really great thing to be in a foreign place, because it helped me focus more on the music and getting the album made. There’s a lot of love and energy put into it.

You mention collaborating with friends, is that something you do often? Who do you work with?

I did a lot of collaboration on the new album. Charlie Wahdams and I wrote “I Don’t Have Time to Be in Love” together. It was originally going to be a duet, so that gave us the idea to work together on writing more duets, and hopefully release an EP of love songs in time for Valentine’s Day.

Eleni Mandell and I wrote “Ooh La La”, Sia and I wrote “I Will Get Over You,” and Jake Blanton and I grew up together and have written and toured together, but now he’s touring with The Killers and so who knows when I’ll get to see him again. All of these people I’m friends with but I’m also a fan of their music. I feel really lucky that I get to work with such amazing artists.

That is a great group of musicians; you are one of them! When you aren’t making music, what do you like to do?

I started taking a pottery class at the beginning of the year. I sorta suck at that, but I’m glad I tried! [Giggles] Now that it’s fall, I’m really wanting to make soups, and make the house smell like pumpkins, and just do a lot of cooking and be a home maker. So, when this tour is over, I’ll be doing a lot of that. I’m a home body.

Sounds lovely. Okay, to close it out, three silly questions. Favorite snack?

Oh, that’s a hard one. There’s so many things that come to mind. I guess lately it’s been cheese. I have a favorite cheese shop, and so I’ve been going there and getting things to nibble on lately.

Favorite makeup?

Hmm, I don’t wear a lot of makeup. But there is this powder I have, that I got in Europe after losing my makeup on a flight. It’s made by Vichy, and they don’t make it any more. I’m so bummed because I LOVE it. But now I just bought Bare Escentuals mineral powder, so we’ll see.

Okay, and favorite book?

Wow, that’s really hard. I guess the most recent favorite is the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. It’s by the Japanese writer Haruki Mirakami. It really blew my mind.

See Priscilla Ahn at the Alberta Rose Theatre on October 15th at 8pm. All ages, with accompaniment of adult, tickets $13.00.