Priscilla Ahn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Priscilla Ahn
Ahn performing at the Unsung Heroes tribute in January 2017.
Background information
Birth name	Priscilla Natalie Hartranft
Born	Fort Stewart, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Acoustic folk Indie folk
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano melodica harmonica ukulele banjo
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Blue Note

Priscilla Ahn, whose full name is Priscilla Natalie Hartranft, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She plays many instruments, like the guitar, piano, and ukulele. In 2008, she released her first album, A Good Day, which included her popular song "Dream." This album was released by Blue Note Records.

Priscilla grew up in Pennsylvania. After finishing high school, she moved to Los Angeles, California. There, she decided to use her mother's Korean family name, Ahn, as her stage name. She then started her journey to become a professional musician.

She has performed with famous artists like Willie Nelson and Ray LaMontagne. Priscilla has also worked with other musicians, including Tiësto and Cary Brothers. She has released several albums and toured around the world, visiting countries like Japan, China, Korea, and the United States.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Priscilla Natalie Hartranft was born in Fort Stewart, Georgia. Her mother's family is from South Korea, and Priscilla visited there many times as a child. Her parents met when her father was working in the military in Korea.

Priscilla spent her childhood in Berks County, Pennsylvania. She went to Tulpehocken Area High School. When she was 14, she started playing the guitar and harmonica. She also sang in choirs and performed in school plays. After she graduated, her music teachers encouraged her to follow her dream of becoming a full-time musician. Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles.

She chose her mother's maiden name, Ahn, as her stage name. She said it sounded "prettier and simpler." She also felt it honored her Korean background, which she believes is where her musical talent comes from.

Music Career Highlights

After performing at many open mic nights, Priscilla Ahn got a chance to perform for Blue Note Records in New York City. They liked her music and signed her to their label. In 2008, Blue Note Records released her first full album, A Good Day. After the album came out, Priscilla went on a tour across the country.

Priscilla Ahn has toured with many artists, including Joshua Radin, Amos Lee, and Willie Nelson. She also sang backup vocals on albums for artists like Amos Lee and Tiësto. In June 2008, Paste magazine chose her as their Artist of the Week.

Her songs have been featured in many TV shows, such as Grey's Anatomy and Ghost Whisperer. Her music has also appeared in movies like Bride Wars and My Sister's Keeper.

After her first album, Priscilla worked with other musicians like Inara George and Sia on her album When You Grow Up. This album was produced by Ethan Johns. Priscilla also appeared on popular TV shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Dancing with the Stars to perform her songs.

Later, Priscilla faced a challenge where she found it hard to write new music. To get her creativity back, she went to a quiet hotel in the desert. This helped her a lot, and new songs started to flow out. She said she needed "a little isolation and focus" to start writing again. This led to her album This Is Where We Are, which was released in Japan in 2013 and later in other countries.

Priscilla also created and performed music for the Japanese animated film When Marnie Was There. She sang the main song, "Fine on the Outside," and nine other songs for the movie's album.

Her music is often described as a mix of folk, country, and pop. For her album This Is Where We Are, she explored a new style called electropop. She explained that she wrote most of these songs on a keyboard instead of her guitar. Learning to use new music software opened up a "whole new world" of sounds for her.

Personal Life

Priscilla Ahn married actor Michael Weston in May 2010. They have two children together.

Music Releases

Albums

• A Good Day (2008)
• When You Grow Up (2011)
• Natural Colors (2012)
• Home ~ My Song Diary (2012)
• This Is Where We Are (2013)
• Just Know That I Love You (2014)
• Priscilla Ahn Best (2014)
• La La La (2016)

EPs (Extended Plays)

• Priscilla Ahn (2007)
• Live Session (2008)
• In A Tree (2009)
• Sweet Hearts (2012, with Charlie Wadhams)
• Waiting (2021)

Singles

• "Dream" (2008)
• "I'll Never Smile Again" (2009)
• "I Am Strong" by Tiësto featuring Priscilla Ahn (2009)
• "Where The Leaf Starts To Fall" featuring Sodagreen (2013)

Music Videos

• "Dream"
• "Red Cape"
• "When You Grow Up"
• "Home"

Film and Television Appearances

Priscilla Ahn's songs have been featured in many films and TV shows.

Film Credits

• Bride Wars (2009) – "Dream"
• My Sister's Keeper (2010) – "Find My Way Back Home"
• Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove (2010) – "Find My Way Back Home"
• Pacific Rim (2013) – "Mako"
• When Marnie Was There (2014) – "Fine on the Outside"
• Moms' Night Out (2014) – "Dream"
• La La Land (2016) – additional vocals
• American Pastoral (film) (2016) – "Moon River"

Television Credits

• Grey's Anatomy (2009, 2010) – "Dream," "Christmas Time Is Here"
• Knight Rider (2009) – "I Don't Think So"
• Ghost Whisperer (2009) – "Dream"
• ER Promos (2009) – "Silent Night"
• So You Think You Can Dance (2010, 2011) – "Dream"
• Make It or Break It (2012) – "Dream"
• Married Single Other (2011) – "Find My Way Back Home"

Television Performances

Priscilla Ahn has also performed on several TV shows:

• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2008, 2011)
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2008)
• Later with Jools Holland (2009)
• Dancing with the Stars (2011)