Meet TRACE | Singer & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with TRACE and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi TRACE, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Growing up in a home with a single parent, I feel like I am greatly who I am today because of the woman who raised me. It’s fun to get to say that she is actually a singer too so doing what I do today, I get to have this natural support system that has helped me really maneuver my career and dreams well and I think, pretty healthily. I’m aware we aren’t what our jobs are. but sometimes we can put value on what we do, versus who we actually are. Who I am today is someone who really values the platform I get to have to use my voice to hopefully say the things that make people feel less alone, more understood and overall reflect truth that feels healing or at least comforting. Also being Asian American, I feel like the growing understanding that I have a specific history around my culture has shaped my views around my role not only as a woman but as an Asian American woman and what that might do for my fellow Asian American friends and fans, etc. And I would say my background around faith has kept me steady and centered in what can feel like a crazy, unpredictable and challenging life. A good one nonetheless!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started doing music full-time in 2016. Perhaps something that sets me apart is that I had no intention of ever doing music–I was in the editorial world and was an editor/writer before music became something serious. I’m most proud of diving into something so new and unknown to me. I figured I got to where I am today professionally mainly though a combination of relationships, timing/luck and talent. I think talent is very important but it’s not everything. I’m definitely proud that I got to experience being signed at a pretty major label early on in my career, and also proud I’ve learned to navigate things well-osh as an indie artist too! There are many challenges I’ve encountered along this very blessed life I’ve gotten to live. The music world is crazy and hard and confusing sometimes. It can be a challenge to one’s mental state too–if you don’t have the right people around you. The lessons I’ve learned is that: make sure the people you have working for and with you are people who have integrity, who see you for who you are and your vision while also sharpening it and challenging it, people who make you feel the good kind of stress that pushes you and instills you with confidence. I’ve learned that not all people are going to stick around until the end and thats ok. I’ve been fortunate enough to not too many bad experiences or “break-ups.” A lot of angels have come into my life! I’ve also learned: get a good lawyer. I have a great one I love. I want the world to know…that sadness can be healthy. That healing hurts so keep feeling it. And that I consider being an artist the highest honor I get to have in this life–to create things for you, for me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
During these times, it’s a bit disheartening to feel limited in experiencing Los Angeles in all it’s glory. But let’s imagine everything is opened: I would suggest they get an airbnb near me, in Silver Lake as the home base. I would try to touch every corner of the city. Not sure the order but lets move from west to east. We would have to visit the Getty and get coffee and a bite at Gjusta. Then we’d go to Point Dune in Malibu and hang at the beach, maybe a glass of orange wine somehow. Going towards the east side, we’d hike the Griffith Observatory either at sunrise (I’d lure them with good coffee from Maru or Go Get Em Tiger) or sunset. Shop around the Sunset Junction. Maybe bike ride around the LA River. Definitely go to Silver Lake Wine for their tastings. We’d have dinner at one of my favorites, Little Beast in Eagle Rock. But before that we would go to the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. Lastly, we would have to go to Chateau Marmont, my actual favorite place in LA and have a nice glass and burger and people watch in the middle of the day. There’s so much to do. I purposefully am an East Sider so I’ve disregarded a lot of other areas out of convenience and well…preference!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
How I’ve gotten to where I am has been heavily based on so many people in my life. My career started and took off very magically in 2016 and I would specifically like to thank my first manager, Ryan Berube who hustled and believed in me and learned the music world for me, introducing me to the label Next Wave (also a big thanks to Braedon) who really took one of my first singles to a crazy other level kind of success, Vanja Primorac, my good friend who then worked at Spotify and really plugged my music through the platform and made some massive introductions in the industry for me, a dear friend who made my Kickstarter campaign a success both through encouragement, business advice and financially–Daniel Gano and my best friend who told me to even do music at all, Rebekah Presley. There are at least another handful or two of people but this is a strong start…. but I would add I’d love to dedicate this shoutout also to my current mgmt/consulting team, Kate, Karl and V.

Website: www.listentotrace.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/trace
Twitter: www.twitter.com/listentotrace
Facebook: www.facebook.com/listentotrace
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/TRACEmusicofficial

Image Credits
Main picture: Cole Morrall In studio: Eric Alarcon Like Hell EP Photo: Adrian Vitelleschi Live Show: Justin Higuchi