Priscilla Ahn

Priscilla Ahn [ tickets ], a mellifluous singer/songwriter and regular at Hollywood's popular Hotel Cafe, considered throwing in the towel after a solid year of dead-end open mikes.

"I was doing a lot of open mikes here [in L.A.] and then I stopped doing them because I had to get a job. The job really depleted me and it wasn't something I loved to do so I seriously considered going to school for teaching or something. A friend of mine was a Godsend. He said I had to persevere, and I'll never forget that."

Ahn's big break came with an invitation to sit in on a recording session with fellow Pennsylvania native Amos Lee. Her excitement over the process led to days and nights interning on the creation of Lee's sophomore album for Blue Note Records, "Supply and Demand," on which Ahn also sang backup. Her own self-titled EP soon followed.

Ahn recently put the finishing touches on her Blue Note Records debut, "A Good Day," which will hit shelves June 10.

"It's sort of like the follow-up to the EP but maybe a little more widescreen. Basically, we had the same people who played on the EP play on this and then some, which I think added to it. I'm really happy with the way it came out. I think it's quirky and fun and says a lot of different things."