Priscilla Ahn
Priscilla Ahn 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.
Early life and beginnings
Priscilla Natalie Hartranft was born in Fort Stewart, Georgia, to Kay and Harry Hartranft. Ahn 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. After graduation her music professors Charles Eckhart and Douglas Crowder encouraged her to pursue her music career full-time.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. 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.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. She was selected as Artist of the Week in Paste magazine in June 2008.
Ahn's songs have appeared on the television shows Grey's Anatomy, Knight Rider, Make It Or Break It, Married Single Other, several episodes of the Ghost Whisperer, and in the films Disturbia, Bride Wars, Love Happens, My Sister's Keeper, and Moms' 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.
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." This Is Where We Are was released in Japan on 19 July 2013 and later in Korea and Taiwan, and was released in the US on 15 February 2014.
Ahn's music is described as grounded in folk, country and pop.
Ahn explored electropop music in the album This Is Where We Are.
Personal life
Ahn married actor Michael Weston in May 2010.Discography
Albums
EPs
- Priscilla Ahn
- Live Session,
- Sweet Hearts,
Singles
- "Dream"
- "I'll Never Smile Again"
- "I Am Strong" by Tiësto featuring vocals by Priscilla Ahn
- "Where The Leaf Starts To Fall" featuring Taiwanese music band Sodagreen
- "從一片落葉開始 " by Sodagreen featuring vocals by Priscilla Ahn
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
- The Hotel Café presents Winter Songs- Silent Night featured on ER
Contributions
- Vocals and Piano on Joshua Radin's We Were Here, Columbia, February 7, 2006
- 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.
- Vocals on William Fitzsimmons' The Sparrow and the Crow, Mercer Street, September 30, 2008
- Vocals on Cary Brothers' Vol. 1 EP Maps, May 2012
- Vocals on Ashtar Command American Sunshine The Breakup Song, Rosa, All the Stars in Heaven, 2011
- 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
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 |
Brand New Day | "Dream" | Universal City Studios Productions LLLP | |
Legends of the Canyon | "Dream" | Impact film Sales LTD | |
"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. | |
2012 | Chasing Maverics | vocalist | |
2013 | Missing Pieces | "Find My Way Back Home" | Contraction Entertainment |
The Goats | "Wallflower" | The Goats, LLC | |
Pacific Rim | "Mako" | Warner Bros. Pictures & Legendary Pictures | |
2014 | When Marnie Was There | "Fine on the Outside" | Studio Ghibli |
Moms' Night Out | "Dream" | Affirm Films | |
2016 | La La Land | additional vocals | |
American Pastoral | "Moon River" | Lionsgate |
Television
Credits of Priscilla Ahn as a vocalist and/or songwriter- 2009: Men in Trees – Leave the Light On
- 2009: Grey's Anatomy – Dream
- 2009: Psych – A Good Day
- 2009: Knight Rider-I Don't Think So
- 2009: Ghost Whisperer – Dream
- 2009: Eli Stone – Dream
- 2009: ER Promos – Silent Night
- 2010: Jeep Wrangler "We Build" – In a Tree
- 2010: So You Think You Can Dance – Dream
- 2010: Life – Dream
- 2010: The Biggest Loser – Red Cape
- 2010: Brothers And Sisters – Dream
- 2010: Grey's Anatomy – Christmas Time Is Here
- 2010: Kansai Electric Power – Leave The Light On
- 2011: So You Think You Can Dance Season 7 – Dream
- 2011: Psych – Christmas Time Is Here
- 2011: Kansai Electric Power – Leave The Light On
- 2011: "Married, Single, Other" BBC – Find My Way Back Home
- 2011: "Married, Single, Other" ITV – Find My Way Back Home
- 2012: ABC Family: Make It or Break It – Dream
- 2012: United States: In Plain Sight – Season 4 – Wallflower
- 2012: WB: Men in Trees – Leave The Light On
- 2012: RIS – Dream
- 2012: NHK: Soko wo Nantoka – I'll Be Here
- 2014: NHK: Soko wo Nantoka 2 – Best I can ベスト・アイ・キャン
Television appearances
- 2008: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno –
- 2008: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson –
- 2009: Later with Jools Holland –
- 2011: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno –
- 2011: Dancing with the Stars –