Blog Makeover!

My blog (and website) has a new look!  What do you think?

All thanks to the one and only Hiki, from Jollygoo.  She is an amazing graphic designer and photographer.   As well as just a beautiful person inside and out.  If you haven't checked out her online store -- or better yet -- her physical shoppe in Tokyo, it's definitely worth looking into!  It's my #1 stop whenever I'm there.

The designs she used were all made by the equally talented and amazing Savita, who did my album artwork, design and layout, for This Is Where We Are.  The Digital Booklet she made for the album (which you can download for free here) is one of my favorite things ever.  She's like my sister from another Mister.  Does that even make sense?  Do people say that?  Or did I just make that up, right here right NOW?!

Anyway, there you have it.  Awesome new designs all around by 2 lovely women in my life.  I couldn't feel luckier.  :)


love,
p. a.

This Is Where We Are - IS FINALLY HERE

I am so very proud to present to you This Is Where We Are.

It's been 3 years since my last album (yikes! -- how the time flies!).  And this album is a bit of a significant departure since then.  But it really wasn't intentional.  I've decided to conduct a short interview with myself, answering some frequently asked questions, and also a few of my own.  

Oh!  And also... if you like what you hear, or if you think someone you know might like this...please share this BUY link with them!  The power of "word of mouth" is extraordinary and every little bit helps!  

Are you turning away from your acoustic side to try something else?

This new sound was definitely not intentional.  I literally bought a keyboard and a new laptop with Logic Pro on it, plugged it all in, and opened a whole new door of sounds I'd always wanted to create with, but never before had the resources to even try.  My songwriting still comes from a very acoustic place.  And there are still acoustic songs on the album that are just as important to me.



Do you plan on making more albums like this in the future?

As with this one, and every other album I've made in the past, I have no idea!  The goal for me is to have fun, stay inspired lyrically and sonically, and just see what happens.



Who were some of your musical influences while making this album?

Twin Sister / Beach House / Gardens & Villa / Sufjan Stevens / Lykke Li / Little Dragon



What were some of your non-musical inspirations while making this album? 

The desert, where I wrote a lot of these songs;  the movies I Am Love, and Scent Of A Green Papaya;  Haruki Murakami's book 1Q84;   and of course my husband.  :)



What is this album about?

A lot of these songs are inspired by love.  Good love, heartbroken love, friendship love.  And the album title is basically saying that these songs reveal where I am now in my life.



Any upcoming tour plans? 

Yes!  The first one on the horizon is a short U.S. tour at the beginning of May.  We're confirming dates and venues now... so please check on my website for updates!



love,
p. a.

Behind The Scenes Making Of The Album Parrot-y

Just in case you haven't seen this very rare, behind-the-scenes documentary footage yet...




Camerawork by Daniel Milder & Ravi Subramanian
Edited by Daniel Milder
Music by Priscilla Ahn


love,
p. a.

Billboard Album Preview + 'Home' Music Video

I've been a bit m.i.a. these days... busy getting ready for my big worldwide album release!  So many things I've wanted to post about, so little time.

Billboard has been super cool in giving my album an exclusive premier today!  So now you can listen to the whole album here!

Also... I meant to publish this post on the music video for 'Home'.





This video was actually made without my knowledge by Daniel Carberry (his brother is Jeremy Carberry, the genius engineer on TIWWA) and his lady friend Amanda Arebello.  It started as a reel for Amanda, but soon turned into a music video as Daniel tried syncing the video up to a song.  (Lucky for me, it happened to be one of mine!)  He showed this to me, and my jaw literally dropped.  I didn't even know what to think at first, I was so stunned.  In the end, I feel like this video is a deep and beautiful take on the song, as well as an eye-opening perspective into the real world.

What do you think?


love,
p. a.

You & Me

polaroid by Chloe Aftel

My new album release is only 2 weeks away and counting!!!  And yes, to clear up some confusion, it's already been released in a few countries in Asia.  But I'm so excited for it to be released here in the U.S., and with the beautiful artwork and photography done by very dear friends.

If you've already pre-ordered from iTunes, "You & Me" has just been unlocked!  I hope you like it!  Most of the tracks that have been unlocked are the most up-tempo songs on the album.  The rest of them are very dreamy, ambient, acoustic, etc...

If you haven't pre-ordered yet, you can do so HERE.  Please tell your friends!!!

love,
p. a.

Less than a month away...

My new album, This Is Where We Are,  will be released in less than a month now!  February 25th to be exact.

Big thanks to Filter Magazine for the very kind review!

love,

p. a.

New Year, New Me

I feel so thankful to 2013, for all its ups and downs.  The lessons I've learned, or am still learning!  The new friends made, places seen, inspirations discovered!  And the year could not have ended better!

A 2 week tour through China 

11/27 - 12/8


{from top left to right}
Thanksgiving Day meal at Incheon Airport, en route to China // one of the many debaucherous and 90% vegetarian meals we had in China // a priceless Nicholas Cage ad // view from my hotel in Beijing // restaurant hallway // Sasha Smith, keyboard extraordinaire, on the misty streets of Shanghai // adorable and "armed" statues in Beijing // Shanghai sunset // rambunctious little elves at Shanghai Airport 

Making a music video for "Deck The Halls" with some of my closest friends

12/17

Playing the most memorable concert of my life at my favorite place in the world, The Ghibli Museum in Japan

12/23

Spending Christmas with my family in Pennsylvania

12/24 - 12/31

{one of a kind vase made by the amazing Polkaros -- see more here!}

Returning to L.A., a little under the weather, but in time to ring in 2014 with my best friend

12/31/13

I realized this year, that despite the fact that according to the calendar that the entire world follows, the new year begins on January 1st... the only way 2014 will truly be new, is if I make it new.  Meaning, if I keep living life the way I have been, and not try to improve myself or the world around me in some way, then technically I'm sort of still living in 2013, or 2012, or sometimes even 1990! -- the way I act sometimes.  So this year, in order to make it feel new, to make it different from the last, I truly do hope I can make a difference in myself.  By being more conscious of the earth, and of the food I eat (and no, I'm not talking "gluten-free"!  I mean eating "cruelty-free").  By expressing my love to my husband, friends, and family more openly and with no reserve.  By feeling love for people on the street, or in the car next to me... because 99% of the time, I forget that they're not just some unnamed "blob" pushing a shopping cart, or an a-hole in the car swerving around me.  They're a person, just like me, with sadness in their life, with anger, with pain, with good intentions, with love in their heart, with insecurities, who can look over at you and perhaps also see nothing but another "unnamed blob".  Or maybe...in that moment, they actually see you too, and the complicated, beautiful universe that you are.  

New Year.... New Us.

Love,

p. a.