Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in the music industry?
My background: I’m a Filipina American born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. I studied classical piano as a child, and when I was 10 I picked up my dad’s guitar and started teaching myself guitar from his chord book. I later studied classical guitar in my twenties. I studied different dance forms in my teenage and early adult years and was involved in musical theater and dance productions during high school and college. I was also a member of an all-female acapella group for several years too. I’ve been playing gigs for about 20 years now, first as an instrumental guitarist for events and weddings, and then I switched over to being a singer/songwriter in my late twenties/early thirties and played at local open mics, small venues, and community festivals. I was always a good writer and had published poetry. I combined music and writing and recorded three albums—several of my songs were played on independent radio stations and podcasts in the US, Canada, UK, and Spain.
How would you describe your musical style and sound?
I would describe my musical style and sound nowadays as thoughtful and eclectic indie folk/pop/rock with multi-cultural influences. Usually mellow but I can rock out as needed.
Can you talk about the challenges you've faced as an indie musician and how you've overcome them?
The challenges I’ve faced as an indie musician are knowing who to trust in the music scene, and being a triple minority (Asian American, a woman, and a person with a chronic health condition). I’m a cancer survivor—I’m grateful to be alive and making music, yet I must pace myself and my energy sometimes. I’ve done my best to live and learn, do lots of research in seeing what helpful resources and information is out there, doing background checks on the legitimacy of businesses and individuals in the music industry who claim to help indie musicians, and do tons of networking to find reliable people to work and collaborate with. I also scope out and find fellow indie musicians who are welcoming and mutually respectful and become my fellow peer support people.
How do you connect with and engage with your fans both online and in person?
I connect with and engage with my fans online via regular social media posts and my email newsletter sharing little glimpses of my daily life, thoughts, and things I’m interested in, and especially posts about my music. I have a monthly live cast on Facebook and Instagram, and I also do the monthly Quaranpalooza online music fest. In person, I connect with my fans at my live gigs and shows by taking the time to thank them for coming, to converse with them, and to take song requests as my way of thanking my fans and friends.