Priscilla Ahn Readies for Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Korean-American singer Priscilla Ahn is brushing up on her Korean before she heads over to Seoul for her first concert in December.

The pretty, 24-year-old Ahn promises to do something special for her Korean fans at her Dec. 4 concert at the Sangsang Madang Live Hall, Hongdae.

``It will be a very intimate show. I will play my guitar and harmonicas, and my friend Gus Seyffert will play bass. I'm hoping that it will be a successful show so that I can keep coming back to Korea to perform! I'll think of something special I can do for the show, but until then, I'm hoping to brush up on my Korean language before I go over," Ahn said in an email interview with The Korea Times.

Born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft in Fort Stewart, Georgia, Ahn later changed her name to reflect her Korean mother's last name. She believes her Korean heritage is very important.

``Even though my mom is very Americanized now, she still makes delicious Korean food all the time and she watches all the Korean soap operas. When I get sick, only her Korean soups and teas would make me feel better. I loved everything she made and did that was Korean. And I always loved going to Korea," she said.

Ahn has fond memories of visiting Korea as a child, playing with her cousins along the river. ``Even though I didn't know much Korean, and they didn't speak much English, we were still able to communicate, and they'd teach me games. The most impactful trip to Korea was when my grandfather was sick and in his deathbed. I'll never forget the hospitals we slept in, and all the events that led up to his death. … They buried him at the top of a mountain, overlooking miles of rice paddies. It's a beautiful place, and one I like to visit," she said

It was her mother who got Ahn to start singing when she was only seven years old. ``My mom sang a lot at home and at church, and she played the piano. She's very artistic. I watched and listened to her play, and soon took the piano up on my own and taught myself how to read music. She tried to teach me, but I was very impatient when getting lessons, and I wanted to learn it by myself. Years later I picked up the guitar and taught myself how to play that, and that's when I started to write songs," she said.

Ahn describes herself as a ``very sensitive" and ``emotional" person, so she started writing songs to express her emotions and thoughts. She cites Neil Young, Syd Barrett, Radiohead and Andrew Bird as her biggest musical influences.

Even though she had a passion for music, Ahn said until she was 18, she always believed she would be a schoolteacher. Upon the suggestion of a music professor, Ahn packed up her belongings and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. She released an independently produced debut album, which caught the attention of Blue Note Records. She quickly signed a record deal and released a major label album, ``A Good Day," this year.

Ahn said releasing the album was ``like a dream come true." Her song ``Dream" was also featured in the film ``Disturbia" and the TV series ``Grey's Anatomy."

``I never actually thought that I'd ever put out a real record and I did. It's a record that I'm really proud of and one that I was able to make with my friends. I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity," she said.

Tickets to Ahn's concert cost 55,000 won. For English language reservations, call 3444-9969 or email 9ent@naver.com. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555 (Korean only).

Priscilla to perform in Korea

Rising Korean-American Singer Priscilla Ahn to Perform in Seoul
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Rising Korean-American singer Priscilla Ahn is causing a buzz in the U.S. music scene, thanks in large part to her song being featured on the hit show ``Grey's Anatomy." The song ``Dream" struck a chord with many fans when it was featured on the season four finale of the hit drama.

Korean fans are likewise taking notice of Ahn and her music, mainly because of her Korean heritage. Ahn was born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft in Fort Stewart, Georgia, but later changed her name to reflect her Korean mother's last name.

Ahn will perform in Seoul for the first time at the Sangsang Madang Live Hall in Hongdae, Dec. 4. Ahn, who has a beautiful, lilting voice, is often compared to Grammy Award-wining singer-songwriter Norah Jones

The 24-year old singer grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. Influenced by her musically inclined mother, Ahn always loved singing and playing the guitar. After her high school graduation, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music.

Ahn independently released a self-titled debut album in 2006. Her talent did not go unnoticed, and the prestigious Blue Note Records quickly signed her up. Blue Note Records is the same record label as Norah Jones.

Ahn released her first major label album ``A Good Day" earlier this year, receiving good reviews. One music critic described the album as an ``artful balance of youthful whimsy and grown-up sophistication," and praised Ahn's ``stunningly self-assured voice."

``Dream" was featured not only on Grey's Anatomy, but also included in the soundtrack for the hit thriller ``Disturbia." She also performed the song on ``The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

Rising Hongdae singer Yozoh is the opening act for Ahn's concert. Tickets are 55,000 won. For English language reservations, call 3444-9969 or email 9ent@naver.com. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555 (Korean only).

Priscilla performing Are We Different