Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2015 Resolutions


- eat less fish 
- drink less alcohol 
- micro-manage less
- study more Korean and Japanese
- meditate every day for at least 10 minutes
- learn how to cook more things
- give 

This year I've decided to do less drinking and partying, and instead do more reflecting and cleansing to prepare for the New Year.  This has been one of the most exciting years of my life, personally, and in my career.  I have a lot to be thankful for.  I hope I can give back to everyone as much as they've given to me.  I'm taking "off" the first 3 days of 2015 to really reflect and envision what I would like to accomplish in the New Year.  This also includes cleaning out my home.  Usually people get this done before the end of the year so they can start the new year with a clean slate.  But I was in my hometown eating my Mom's Korean food and playing with kittens until this morning....so I'll have to start tomorrow!  

The exciting and also, at times, nerve wracking part of being a full-time singer-songwriter, is never knowing what's around the bend.  Where will my next job come from? WHEN will it come? Will it be successful?  All things I've learned not to worry too much about in the end.  And I know I've said before, but I'll say it again; I'm always surprised when people tell me to never stop doing what I'm doing.  And this year, thanks to many of you, enough people have told me to keep going.  So go on I shall!  The best I can!!  I'm excited what will come in 2015!  What experiences and songs will be created!   So here's to a beautiful, clean, and unknown  
2015!  

I'm wishing you all a beautiful, refreshing, and healthy New Year full of possibilities, wherever you are in the world and in your life.  

Peace + Joy + Love

p.a.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

PJ's All Day


This has been me ever since December 17th, when I arrived to my parents' house.  Maybe substitute the HOT COCOA for KOREAN FOOD.

Isn't this Desktop wallpaper so cute??  It's from Design Love Fest.  The wallpaper designs on her blog have been my laptop wallpapers for a while now.

Also, have any of you heard of Oyster?  The new "Netflix" of digital books?  I was wondering what you think of this idea?  At first I really liked it, but then I immediately worried for bookshops....again.  I know Barnes & Noble is the corporatest of the corporate as far as buying books goes... but at least they're still selling actual, 3-dimensional books.  Even at the airport, I'll wander around a Hudson Books, knowing they're all the same.  But still, there's something friendly and familiar about them.  Then again, my backpack load has lightened A LOT ever since I put some good reads onto my iPad.  But reading an iBook, or an eBook, still somehow feels like I'm just reading the internet....again.  And lying in bed, when I fall asleep, a cold, heavy, metallic iPad slams into my face.  I still favor books over eReads, making lists on scraps of paper and pen over using Notes on my phone, actual cards over eCards (even though I totally sent eCards this year because I didn't have enough time!).  So there you have it.  I'm caught somewhere in between nostalgia + tangibility and convenience.

And how about the good old fashioned Public Library?  I've started venturing that way more lately.  For all those books I'm curious to read, but don't want to commit to buying, or adding to my ever-growing stack of books-collecting-dust pile.  The Library is free, remember?  I recall walking to the Public Library as a kid, sitting in the corner with a pile of books I'd devour right then and there, and the countless others I took home with me.  Joke books, Amelia Bedelia, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein...  I brought home "The Hunger Games" from the library a little while ago.  The germaphobe in me -- which has grown exponentially since becoming an adult and traveling on planes, trains, and rented automobiles -- didn't feel too comfortable bringing this borrowed book, which has been who knows where, into bed with me.  So I got 'old school' on it, and made a book cover out of a Whole Foods brown paper bag (recycling!) and slapped one of those on there.  Voilà!  And now that I'm a new HUGE fan of Frankie Magazine, each edition comes with an adorable calendar with a super cute design that is perfect to use as a book cover!

Anyway, there's my rant on books, eBooks, Public Libraries, germs, and recycling.

I hope you all are finding some rest and love with loved ones, or within yourself.

Love,
p. a. 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Bath Time Epiphanies



I just took a long bath, and came up with so many new, fun projects to share with you in the New Year!  I hope they all happen!  I'm writing them down in my diary, and To Do List.  

私はお風呂今夜を取って、今、私は多くの新しいアイデアを持っている!
私は新年にあなたとそれらを共有することができます願っています。
私の日記にそれらを書いています。



오늘 밤, 나는 목욕을 가지고 가고 새로운 아이디어가!
나는 새해에 여러분과 공유 할 수 있기를 바랍니다.
내 일기를 쓰고 있어요.



今夜,我洗了个澡,并有新的想法!
我希望我可以和你在新的一年分享。
我写他们在我的日记。


love,
p · a


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Winter Asia Tour 2014


Hi everyone! 

This blogpost is very special, especially if you're a polyglot, because you'll be able to read it in 4 different languages!  

I'm so excited for my upcoming Winter Tour, taking place in 5 different countries in SE Asia!!  These are going to be very special shows, because I'll be traveling with a full band, playing new songs, old songs, songs from the newly released Studio Ghibli anime "When Marnie Was There", as well as a new compilation album entitled "Best".  I hope you all can come!!
You can purchase tickets here.
See you soon!!  

Love,
p.a.

Hello, 大家好

很開心又可以到台灣及中國表演,自從上一次活動已經一年多了,所以好興奮能再來這裡跟你們見面!

當然這次表演將會非常精彩,會有樂團及專輯中的大提琴手一起演出,另外還會表演10月份已在台灣上映的吉卜力工作室動畫「回憶中的瑪妮」的歌曲。

重點,我會努力準備一首中文歌給送給你們,祝我好運~!

希望你們都可以來,這將是個特別的表演!

你們可以在這裡訂票

要來喔,愛你們啦~~

普莉西雅


みなさん、こんにちは!

12月に、とても素敵な2つの会場(森ノ宮ピロティホール<大阪>とめぐろパーシモンホール<東京>)でライブが出来ることにすごくワクワクしています。来日公演では、映画「思い出のマーニー」歌集アルバム『あなたのことが大すき。』等、これまで私のアルバム全てで参加しているチェリストも含めたフルバンドでの演奏になります。発売したばかりの『プリシラ・アーン・ベスト』からの新曲や皆さんにお馴染みの曲も、もちろん演奏します。スペシャルな2夜になること間違いなしなので、ぜひ皆さん来てくださいね!
チケットはこちらで購入出来ます。
皆さんにお会い出来るのを楽しみにしています!

愛をこめて
プリシラ


여러분 안녕하세요!
프르셀라 안 입니다!
이번 12 월달에 다시 상상마당 에서 여러분을 위해 연주를 하게되서 너무 기뻐요!
제가 처음으로 연주를 했던곳이고 저에게 너무 멋진경험을 주웠던 곳 이라 결코 잊지않을거예요.
이번에는 첼리스트를 포함한 전체 밴드와 함께 다시 가게되었습니다. 특히 첼리스트는
저의 모든 앨범제작에 연주를 하셨고 이번에 새로운 스튜디오 지브리의 애니메이션
영화 " When Marnie Was There" 에도 연주를 하셨고 이 영화는 곧 한국에서도 상영하게 됩니다!  이번 공연에서 저는 한국노래도 일부 불러보려고 합니다. 
저에게 행운을 빌어주세요! (하하) 
그날은 두분의 오프너, (윤 덕우 from Broccoli You Too, 그리고 Big Phony) 와 함께 
아주 특별한 밤이 될 것입니다.  
여기서 티켓을 구입할수 있습니다. 
곧 뵐수있길 바라며,

Love,
Priscilla Ahn 
프리실라 안


Monday, November 3, 2014

michael keaton



I just wrote and recorded this song just a few minutes ago.  Woke up inspired after watching "Birdman" last night.  I've always been a Michael Keaton fan, and this might be one of my new favorite movies of all time.  Thanks for the inspiration.

love,
p. a.

J-POP Cover!

While on the road a few weeks ago, I started wandering down the YouTube rabbit hole, when somehow I stumbled upon this mesmerizing dance rehearsal video of the J-POP band フェアリーズ (Faeries) dancing to their song "Bling Bling My Love".  I thought the girls were so cute, and their dance moves were so fun.  I surprised myself, since I'm not particularly a fan of K-POP or J-POP.  But I kept humming this song in my head... so I decided -- just for fun -- to cover it and post it.

I know some people are going to hate this, or rank on my pronunciation... I totally get it.  But I really had fun learning it and giving it a try!

Here is the original video I fell in love with:




And here is my cover :





There are so many good and creative cover songs out there (waaaay way better than mine).... what are some of your faves?

Here's one (of so many) I love: Seu Jorge sings Bowie  and one I did a few years ago:  Love

love,
p. a.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

behind the scenes from the road and beyond

I'm back from my mini tour with the wonderful Amos Lee and co., and a week with my family in PA.  Here's what went down!  (and a few side stories)


I met Amos Lee and a few members from his band waaaay way long ago, before I moved to L.A., before I made any albums or EPs.  I was 18 and somehow wandered into a recording studio outside of Philly where Amos was recording his EP for Blue Note Records.  I was hired by the Producer to intern for the project, running to get snacks and energy drinks for everyone.  I was in Heaven!  Years later, Amos and his band handed off my debut EP to Blue Note, who I eventually signed with to begin my professional career as a singer-songwriter!  

Amos has always been a big brother figure to me... I have a lot to thank him for.  And I couldn't think of a better way to spend 2 weeks, than touring with him and his wonderful crew again! 



Here I am doing a fun radio interview with DJ Scott Register from Birmingham Mountain Radio.  His station is awesome!
I met him waaaaaaay back in the day, when I was in Joshua Radin's band -- whaa??

Up until now, I'd been on Amos' very nice tour bus.  But towards the end of the run, I was doing a few shows of my own, and needed my own transportation.  So here I am in a compact rental car that had a slightly funny smell, with best buddy Wendy Wang.
We quickly realized how tough it was for us gals to drive miles and miles, lugging gear, loading and unloading, setting up, playing a show, selling merch, packing everything up again, wrapping up paperwork (Yes! Paperwork!!), and then loading up into the car, driving to a hotel, unloading again, finding street parking, and trying to fall asleep in time to get a few good hours of zz's before we had to hit the road again.  Not to mention I managed to spill something on me almost every day for some reason!


Trying to fix the pickup in my guitar before my show in Birmingham, with no luck.  :(  I was my own guitar tech too!


Wendy and I drove about 15 miles out of our way looking for a Thai restaurant in the middle of nowhere, that ended up being closed!  We were both starving, and I was starting to come down with a cold.  We pulled into a tiny, local Mexican restaurant instead.  We just wanted a quick snack, because we were cutting it close on time for the next show which was about another 3 hours away.  Out came a huge, steaming platter of fajitas, and right around then, the ceiling fan next to me started raining sparks onto the floor!  It was our own mini fiesta!


One of my favorite people on the planet -- Freddie Berman, left-handed drummer extraordinaire.


Last night on the Amos tour singing "Black River" together.  One of my faves.


Spent my last days on tour in Atlanta, GA with an old school friend who became a chiropractor.  I had to cancel my show in Nashville because I ended up getting a real cold, and was so extremely exhausted from traveling as a duo and not getting enough sleep.  >.<  (so sorry Nashvillians!!)

The show in Decatur, GA ended up being sooooo much fun!  The best way to end my tour!  But by the end of the night I had a splitting headache from fighting my cold, and just being tired after the show and doing a very long -- and wonderful -- meet & greet afterwards.  My school friend offered to adjust my neck to help with my headache.  I would do anything to feel better!  About 1 hour after he adjusted me, my headache was gone... and so was my cold!!!!  I had no idea chiropractics could help in this way!  I'm sold!!

Then, to Pennsylvania I flew!





On Sunday, my family and I went to my old high school to play some tennis.  The place was empty, so we had the whole court to ourselves!  But then... a black truck arrived and parked next to our car.  Their engine was idling for a while, and we were starting to wonder what they were doing.  Their windows were tinted, so we couldn't see who was inside.  It was quite mysterious.  Finally they turned their engine off, and lo and behold, an Amish-Mennonite family emerged!  They were coming to play tennis too!  About 4 more black vehicles pulled up, and soon we were sharing the courts with about 30 Amish-Mennonites!  Young girls running around barefoot and climbing fences in their long flower dresses and braided hair, teenage boys playing tennis in flannel shirts and jeans, and the elder men all in black with their white beards, and women in bonnets.  And then there was us.  It was a pretty amazing sight to see, as I've never really been in close proximity with Amish-Mennonites in public, even though they live in the area where I grew up!  About an hour later, they all packed up and left, and we looked at each other and were like, "What just happened??"


The Fall weather back home was cool, but not too cold, so we had a few campfires in the yard with hot apple cider and korean sweet potatoes from the garden.


By the end of my trip, the leaves were really starting to turn.  The drive to the Philly airport was breathtaking!  And luckily, I returned to a much cooler L.A., where I'll start dusting off my soup cookbooks and start writing new songs again.

Happy Autumn!

love,
p.a.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Things I've realized...

I'm leaving today for a short tour supporting my friend Amos Lee in the South.  No, not the South of Japan.  No, not South America.  The good ol' U.S. South!  It's very rare that I get to tour through these parts, so I'm pretty excited!  I think it's been about 5 years!  As I began to pack up my bags again for the road, I started reminiscing about how I packed for my 2 month trip in Japan.... and there were a lot of things I've realized since then.

LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO PACK FOR LIVING 2 MONTHS ABROAD 
A.K.A.

"WHAT NOT TO BRING"

For one, I brought way too many "activities" to do for fear of boredom:  Every free moment I had, I wanted to go outside, to see friends, to exercise, and yes, to shop!  My sewing project, my mini midi  keyboard, my recording headphones, my sketchbook and colored pencils all took a back burner on this trip.

Secondly, out of the 30 or so DVDs I brought with me, I only watched "Pom Poko", "The Office - UK version", and "Still Walking".  Then guess what I did?

                               
I bought Season 6 of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and a few episodes of "Flight of the Conchords" to watch on my iPad.  Yes... instead of watching the DVDs I dragged all the way with me to Japan, taking up so much space in my suitcase, I bought TV show episodes and watched those instead.  The pattern I noticed is that when far from home,  and at the end of a long day, I crave comedy.  NOT movies such as "Sophie's Choice" or "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" (2 movies I actually brought with me).
   

Thirdly, I brought way too many books.  The only things I read on this trip were "The Dharma Bums", and lifestyle magazines I picked up from Tsutaya or Tower Records.  Again... instead of reading what I brought with me, I bought more things to take home.



Fourthly.... I brought way too many Lara Bars with me!  As if I thought I'd be stranded for hours with no food and low blood sugar or something!  I brought them with me everywhere, but never wanted to eat them ever.  I was constantly sampling new snacks and treats left and right.  And who needs an energy bar when you can eat onigiri from any convenient store on practically every block?!  So I had about 20 of those to take back home with me.  :/

I also brought way too many vitamins.  Or maybe I just didn't take enough vitamins.  I did not buy more vitamins.


Oh, and I brought too many postcards with me in hopes of writing back home.  In fact, by "too many", I mean 1 too many, because in reality, I mailed 0 postcards while I was in Japan.  And why would I bring my own postcards when I can get fun ones from there??  I approached it all completely wrong....  (I did buy some super cool postcards designed by Yurio Seki!)

For this tour, I'll leave the "projects", survival snacks, and one-too-many books at home, and save some space for more goodies to bring back home.

Love,
p.a.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Desert Nights - "Legends Of The Canyon"

I'm doing a mini performance this Wednesday at Desert Nights at The Standard Hotel in Hollywood.  The performance will be from 7:15p - 7:45, followed by a screening of the documentary film "Legends of the Canyon", with special guest (and hero/friend) Henry Diltz.

The show is free and all ages, so it should be a good time!  


love
p.a.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

A Room with a View

Both of my trips to Tokyo this Summer had me staying at the same hotel, and in the exact the same room!  I'd find myself taking a picture of the view from different angles, and different parts of the hotel almost every day.  I was in awe at how the sky and the light reflected on the city changed every day and throughout the day.

I'm already looking forward to coming back in December!  I'll do a separate post on that!

Love,
p. a.
















Wednesday, August 13, 2014

"じゃね" for now...

My last full day in Japan was in Tokyo, when a bit of the typhoon hit.  It was misty and cloudy all day.  Luckily, right before I left for the wrap party, the clouds cleared into this magical, moody, emotional skyscape.


The party was beyond words.  So many wonderful people who I met through this experience, and whom I'll never forget were there.  People who have literally changed my life and made some of my biggest, most impossible dreams come true!  Everyone treated me with such genuine love and kindness.  It really is such an honor to have been able to work with this team, this Studio, this film!
  

The night of the party was Sara Takatsuki's 17th birthday!  Here she is looking adorable with her cake from a few days before.  She is like a little sister to me, who I look up to and respect.  I learned so much from her on this tour.


Here I am giving my long speech at the party, standing in front of the "Good Bye" illustration by Toshio Suzuki!


Everyone I worked with on the tour signed little 'tanabata' with farewell messages on this "still" photo from "When Marnie Was There".  I was so moved by this.


Kaonashi, drawn by its creator, singing "Fine On The Outside"!  After this party, we had a small Karaoke hang, that went until 4am.  I'll never forget this night!  


As the airplane took off, my heart was breaking a little, and I couldn't stop the tears from coming.
I'd only had this feeling before when leaving my family in Korea.  But it truly felt like I was leaving another family, there in Japan.  I don't know when I'll get the chance to see all these beautiful people again.  But I cherish them in my life, and will never ever forget them.


A few hours later, I was greeted with a glimpse of the super Moon across the horizon.



And on a happier note, I'll be back in Japan in less than a month!  haha!  To perform on NHK's "Asaichi" morning TV program, to promote the new theme song I wrote for Season 2 of "Soko wo nantoka", and record a new song with Toshiaki Matsumoto for "Minna no Uta".  I hope this means I'll get to keep coming back again and again!

ありがとうございました!
あなたのことがだいすき!
じゃね!

love,
p. a.