Priscilla Ahn
Priscilla Ahn | |
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Ahn performing at SPACE in Chicago | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Priscilla Natalie Hartranft |
Born |
Fort Stewart, Georgia, U.S. | March 9, 1984
Genres | |
Instruments |
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Years active | 2003–present |
Labels | Blue Note |
Website |
www |
Priscilla Ahn (born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft; March 9, 1984)[1] is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She released her single "Dream" from her debut album, A Good Day, produced by Joey Waronker for EMI's Blue Note Records, in 2008. After growing up in Pennsylvania and graduating from high school, Ahn moved to Los Angeles, California, adopted her mother's Korean maiden name and began to pursue a music career.
Ahn has toured with Willie Nelson, Amos Lee, Ray LaMontagne, Devotchka and Joshua Radin and her collaborative efforts include Tiësto's "I Am Strong", Cary Brothers' "Maps" and Ashtar Command's "The Breakup Song".
Ahn has released several albums, including A Good Day, When You Grow Up, and This Is Where We Are. She has toured internationally, including tours in Japan, China, Korea and the US.[2]
Early life and beginnings
Ahn was born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft in Fort Stewart, Georgia, to Kay (née Ahn) and Harry Hartranft, spent her childhood growing up in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and attended Tulpehocken Area High School. She started playing guitar at the age of 14 and performed in choirs and musical productions throughout high school.[3] After graduation her music professor encouraged her to pursue her music career full-time.[4]
Career
After years of performing at open mic nights, Priscilla Ahn played a showcase in New York City for Blue Note Records and was signed to the label. In 2008, Blue Note Records released her full-length debut album, A Good Day, produced by Joey Waronker. The following June, Ahn went on a national tour.[5] Her album, A Good Day included musical contributions by keyboardists Greg Kurstin, Keefus Ciancia, guitarist Mike Andrews, musical saw player Ursula Knudsun, cellist and string arranger Oliver Kraus, keyboardist Larry Goldings and singers Jim Gilstrap and Orin Waters.[4]
Priscilla Ahn has toured with Joshua Radin, Amos Lee, Willie Nelson and Ray Lamontagne and contributed vocals to the albums Supply and Demand, Mission Bell and Kaleidoscope.[6] She was selected as Artist of the Week in Paste magazine in June 2008.[7]
Ahn's songs have appeared on the television shows Grey's Anatomy,[8] Knight Rider, Make It Or Break It, Married Single Other, several episodes of the Ghost Whisperer,[9] and in the films Disturbia,[10] Bride Wars, Love Happens, My Sister's Keeper, Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove and Mom's Night Out.
After contributing to the compilations album, His Way, Our Way, Priscilla Ahn collaborated with Inara George, Sia Furler, Eleni Mandell, Charlie Wadhams and Jake Blanton on her album When You Grow Up which was produced by Ethan Johns.
Ahn appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in May 2011 and ABC's Dancing with the Stars, performing songs from her debut A Good Day and the title track from When You Grow Up.[11]
After a period of writer's block, Ahn isolated herself in a remote desert hotel to create new music for the album This is Where We Are. "I found the whole thing really inspiring, and suddenly, all these songs came pouring out. I just needed a little isolation and focus, some new sounds to play with, and a care-free, 'this is just an experiment' attitude to begin writing again."[2] This Is Where We Are was released in the US on 15 February 2014.[12] It was released in Japan on 19 July 2013 and later in Korea and Taiwan.
Ahn's music is described as grounded in folk, country and pop.[4] Ahn explored electropop music in the album This Is Where We Are.[13]
Personal life
Ahn married actor Michael Weston in May 2010.[14]
Discography
Albums
- A Good Day, Blue Note Records, June 10, 2008
- When You Grow Up, Blue Note Records, May 3, 2011
- Natural Colors, EMI Music Japan, June 27, 2012
- Home ~ My Song Diary, EMI Music Japan, October 31, 2012
- This Is Where We Are, SQE Music, July 25, 2013
- Just Know That I Love You, Studio Ghibli, July 16, 2014
- Priscilla Ahn Best, July 23, 2014[15]
EPs
- Priscilla Ahn (2007, self-released)
- Live Session, (2008, iTunes)
- Sweet Hearts, (2012, With Charlie Wadhams)
Singles
- "Dream" (2008, Blue Note)
- "I'll Never Smile Again" (2009)
- "I Am Strong" by Tiësto featuring vocals by Priscilla Ahn (2009)[16]
- "Where The Leaf Starts To Fall" featuring Taiwanese music band Sodagreen (2013)
- "從一片落葉開始 (It Began With A Fallen Leaf)" by Sodagreen featuring vocals by Priscilla Ahn (2013)
Music videos
- "Dream"
- "Red Cape"
- "Vibe So Hot"
- "I Don't Have Time To Love"
- "When You Grow Up"
- "Torch Song"
- "Home"
- "Remember How I Broke Your Heart"
- "Leave It Open"
Compilation appearances
- His Way, Our Way (Sinatra Tribute)
- The Hotel Café presents Winter Songs- Silent Night featured on ER [17]
Contributions
- Vocals and Piano on Joshua Radin's We Were Here, Columbia, February 7, 2006 (as Priscilla Hartranft)[18]
- Vocals on Amos Lee's Supply and Demand, Blue Note Records, October 3, 2006
- Vocals on Joshua Radin's The Fear You Won't Fall, released April 4, 2006
- Vocals on Joshua Radin's Underwater album: Let It Go and The Greenest Grass, released in 2012.[19]
- Vocals on William Fitzsimmons' The Sparrow and the Crow, Mercer Street, September 30, 2008[20]
- Vocals on Cary Brothers' Vol. 1 EP Maps, May 2012[21]
- Vocals on Ashtar Command American Sunshine The Breakup Song, Rosa, All the Stars in Heaven, 2011[22]
- Vocals on TV on the Radio Nine Types of Light - Will Do, 2011
- Vocals on Amos Lee's Mission Bell "Stay With Me" – 2011
Filmography
Credits of Priscilla Ahn as a vocalist and/or songwriter
Year | Film | Recording Title | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Bride Wars | “Dream” | Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation |
Loving Leah | “Dream” | Hallmark Hall of Fame | |
2010 | My Sister's Keeper | “Find My Way Back Home” | Warner Bros. Pictures |
2010 | Brand New Day (f/k/a Traveling) | “Dream” | Universal City Studios Productions LLLP |
Legends of the Canyon | “Dream” | Impact film Sales LTD | |
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove | “Find My Way Back Home” | Warner Bros. Pictures | |
2011 | An Invisible Sign of My Own | “In a Tree” | Invisible Indelible |
Red Flag | “Find My Way Back Home” | Hands On Productions, Inc. | |
2013 | Missing Pieces | “Find My Way Back Home” | Contraction Entertainment |
The Goats | “Wallflower” | The Goats, LLC | |
Pacific Rim | “Mako”[23] | Warner Bros. Pictures & Legendary Pictures | |
2014 | When Marnie Was There | “Fine on the Outside” | Studio Ghibli |
2016 | American Pastoral (film) | “Moon River [24] ” | Lionsgate |
Television
Credits of Priscilla Ahn as a vocalist and/or songwriter
- 2009: Men in Trees – Leave the Light On (Warner Bros. Television)
- 2009: Grey's Anatomy – Dream (ABC Studios)
- 2009: Psych – A Good Day (Morning Song) (NBC Studios, Inc.)
- 2009: Knight Rider-I Don't Think So (NBC Studios, Inc)
- 2009: Ghost Whisperer – Dream (ABC Studios)
- 2009: Eli Stone – Dream (ABC Studios)
- 2009: ER Promos – Silent Night (NBC Studios, Inc)
- 2010: Jeep Wrangler "We Build" – In a Tree (commercials – BBDO)
- 2010: So You Think You Can Dance – Dream (DanceNation Productions, Inc.)
- 2010: Life – Dream (NBC Universal Television)
- 2010: The Biggest Loser – Red Cape (BL4 Productions, Inc)
- 2010: Brothers And Sisters – Dream (ABC Studios)
- 2010: Grey's Anatomy – Christmas Time Is Here (American Broadcasting Company)
- 2010: Kansai Electric Power – Leave The Light On (EMI Music Japan)
- 2011: So You Think You Can Dance Season 7 – Dream (Dick Clark Productions, Inc.)
- 2011: Psych – Christmas Time Is Here (GEP)
- 2011: Kansai Electric Power – Leave The Light On (EMI Japan)
- 2011: "Married, Single, Other" BBC – Find My Way Back Home (EMI UK)
- 2011: "Married, Single, Other" ITV – Find My Way Back Home (EMI UK)
- 2012: ABC Family: Make It or Break It – Dream (ABC Studios)
- 2012: United States: In Plain Sight – Season 4 – Wallflower (NBC Universal Television Music)
- 2012: WB: Men in Trees (ET Upgrade) – Leave The Light On (Warner Bros. Television)
- 2012: RIS – Dream (EMI Music France)
- 2012: NHK: Soko wo Nantoka – I'll Be Here (EMI Music Japan)[25]
- 2014: NHK: Soko wo Nantoka 2 – Best I can ベスト・アイ・キャン (Universal Music Japan)[26]
Television appearances
- 2008: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno – (Ep. 16.107 – NBC Studios)
- 2008: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson – (Ep. 5.1 – CBS)
- 2009: Later with Jools Holland – (Ep. 34.4 – BBC)
- 2011: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno – (Ep. 19.140 – NBC Studios)
- 2011: Dancing with the Stars – (Ep. 12.13 – CBS)
References
- ↑ U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.
- 1 2 Izzy (2014-05-02). "Priscilla Ahn Deliberately Deserted and Back Again". 'Philthy Mag'. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
- ↑ Ahn, Priscilla (1984-03-09). "Priscilla Ahn | Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- 1 2 3 "Priscilla Ahn Biography". LetsSingIt. 2013-08-15. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- ↑ "Priscilla Ahn Pictures, Albums, Ringtones, Videos". Starpulse.com. 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ (Feb 21, 2011) Amos Lee on World Cafe NPR News, Retrieved April 212012
- ↑ Leahey, Andrew (2008-06-04). "Artist of the Week: Priscilla Ahn". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- ↑ "Grey's Anatomy Music - Singer-Songwriters From the Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack". Folkmusic.about.com. 2008-06-10. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ TV.com (2010-09-02). "Ghost Whisperer - Season 4, Episode 5: Bloodline". TV.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "Disturbia Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- ↑ Chagollan, Steve (2011-05-05). "Priscilla Ahn's angelic charms". Variety. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- ↑ "Priscilla Ahn Plugs In for February 25 'This Is Where We Are'". Hot Press. 2013-11-20. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
- ↑ Monger, Timothy (2013-12-05). "Priscilla Ahn This Is Where We Are". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
- ↑ Lim, Vincent (2011-06-28). "On Growing Up: Priscilla Ahn album review". US-China Today. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- ↑ "New Best of Album in Japan". Priscilla Ahn. 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
- ↑ "Tiësto* - Kaleidoscope (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs - Various Artists | Credits". AllMusic. 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "We Were Here - Joshua Radin | Credits". AllMusic. 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "Underwater - Joshua Radin | Credits". AllMusic. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow And The Crow (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "Popservations™". Popservations.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "Priscilla Ahn & Rachael Yamagata Feature on Ashtar Command's 'American Sunshine' Album". a-Tunes.net. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "Pacific Rim: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". WaterTower Music. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
- ↑ "'American Pastoral' Soundtrack Information". Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- ↑ グローバル・プラス株式会社. "プリシラ・アーン、美しい日本語でドラマ主題歌を担当 | Priscilla Ahn | BARKS音楽ニュース". Barks.jp. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ↑ "Priscilla Ahn プリシラ・アーン・ベスト". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 2015-04-09.