What is your ethnicity?
I am half Japanese and half Irish.
How did you get started as a singer/songwriter? What did your parents think of your aspirations to be a musician?
I began writing songs when I was about 15 years old. I never intended to play my songs for an audience. It was more like writing in a journal for me. The only difference was that when I just wrote words in a journal, it wasn't nearly as satisfying as when I paired the words with music. Although I kept it a secret from my family and friends, once they found out what I was doing, they were very surprised but supportive! When I told my parents that I'd be dropping out of college to pursue music.. well that was a different story! They were definitely apprehensive at first but I'd like to think that I proved to them that I was willing to do whatever it took to make things happen.
Marie DigbyYou've gained a lot of attention thanks to the Internet (YouTube, MySpace, etc.). Have you been surprised by the attention this new media has provided to you? Do you feel the new media outlets really gave you more exposure than you could have received without it?
The attention that I got through my YouTube has been a complete surprise! Obviously, I had hoped that my videos would eventually lead to meeting new fans and developing a bigger fan base but I never imagined it'd happen this quickly and on this big of a scale. It's incredible to me that my simple videos were somehow able to strike a chord with strangers from all over the world. I know for a fact that without the exposure I've had on the internet, I wouldn't be in the position I am now. I believe that what YouTube and Myspace did for me in a matter of months is something it would have taken me years to accomplish by getting out on the road and touring the country in my car. Thanks to the internet, when I do finally get on the road, hopefully there will be people waiting to see me!
Your debut album, "Unfold," will be in stores in early April. Are you excited about its release? What was the inspiration for the songs on your album? Are there any tour plans for the summer?
Knowing that my album is finally coming out is truly a dream come true. As they often say "You have your whole life to write your first record"...and so my debut album has songs written in various stages of my life spanning over the last 10 years! They are all personal experiences or stories that I relate to which have shaped who I am.
I am definitely going to tour this summer and I can't wait! Unfortunately, I haven't seen much of this country and I can't wait to get out and experience all of which is in between L.A and NYC (the two cities I have frequented the most!).
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