A charming folksinger, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (playing the guitar, bass, harmonica, ukulele, and even kazoo from time to time), Priscilla Ahn was raised in rural Bernville, Pennsylvania. She started playing guitar at the age of 14 and performed in choirs and musical productions throughout high school. Following graduation, the burgeoning songwriter began playing open mikes in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey while keeping her home in Bernville. Driving upwards of 80 miles for every show proved tiresome, however, and Ahn soon moved to L.A., where she became friends with fellow musician
Joshua Radin after sharing a bill with him at the Hotel Café.
Radin soon signed with Columbia Records and enlisted Ahn to tour with her, although she took time off to record a self-titled EP with producers
Joey Waronker and
Gus Seyffert.
In 2007, Ahn played a showcase in New York City for Blue Note Records and was promptly signed to the label. Blue Note released her full-length debut, A Good Day (also produced by Waronker and Seyfrett), the following June, and Ahn toured the country -- this time as a headliner -- while several songs from A Good Day worked their way into episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Ghost Whisperer, and other TV shows. After contributing songs to several compilations, including the Frank Sinatra tribute His Way, Our Way, Ahn began focusing on her second album. Songwriting sessions with Inara George, Sia Furler, Eleni Mandell, and Charlie Wadhams helped steer the music's intimate, whimsical direction, and Ethan Johns signed up to produce what eventually became 2011's When You Grow Up. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi