For more than 10 years, local singer-songwriter Priscilla Ahn has been a fixture in the LA music scene, starting first with intimate gigs at The Mint and Hotel Café before expanding her sound and audience with national and international tours.
Her most recent album, This is Where We Are, features an updated synth-backed sound complemented by dreamy acoustic tracks. We caught up with Ahn to talk about her favorite LA music venues, her LA bucket list and her obsession with a local Thai joint.
Where do you live in LA and what do you love most about living there?
West Hollywood, specifically in Laurel Canyon. It’s very central to everything but secluded at the same time. I don’t see the city and I’m surrounded by trees.
What is your favorite venue to play at and your dream venue?
I love playing at the El Rey Theater. I also did a show at the Troubadour that was awesome. Those are two of the biggest places I’ve played. When I’m at the El Rey, the people are nice and the sound is really good.
I like playing in older places. The Troubadour can fit a lot of people inside but it still feels intimate. I would love to play at the Wiltern because I’ve seen so many cool shows there. LA has so many beautiful venues that it’s hard to pick one.
Where do you go for inspiration?
I’m a homebody, but I don’t go to the beach enough. I’m trying to make a goal to go to the beach more. In the beginning of the year, I went to Zuma Beach with my dad and said I’ll go back every Sunday. I haven’t done that yet, but I’m definitely inspired by the ocean. I also love seeing movies so I’ll watch a movie by myself at the Sundance Cinemas.
What else did you do with your dad did during his visit?
The first time he came to see me, I took him to Venice Beach. We rented bikes there and road them on the path up to Santa Monica. This time, we went to the Griffith Observatory and I took him to Jitlada, which is my favorite restaurant in the world. We also went to Milk Jar Cookies on Wilshire. They make these fresh baked cookie ice cream sandwiches that are so good. When my mom’s in town, I take her to Koreatown and we go to the spas.
What do you usually get at Jitlada?
Some of their food is so intense that it hurts me. I always get the mussels because they’re spicy but they’re not trying to hurt you. They also have the crab claw curry with morning glories and that’s also spicy but not super crazy. My mouth is watering just talking about it.
Where’s your favorite place to go for drinks?
For coffee, I like to go to Broome Street General Store. For juices, I go to Earth Bar all the time. I love cocktails and I go to Varnish downtown. I also go to Laurel Hardware and they have fun cocktails.
How about for shopping?
I go to all the general stores, Mohawk General in Silverlake. General Store in Venice.
Name something that’s on your LA bucket list.
I would love to own a bike so I could bike around downtown and stop at the little shops I never get to check out. I love going downtown and if I ever get a chance to spend a day somewhere, I’m going downtown.
I like to go to the Arts District and stop at Poketo which is my go-to for getting gifts for people. I just went to this cool night arcade called Eighty-Two down the street from there. It has all these old school arcade games, pinball machines and a bar. I love Bestia that my husband and I discovered. There’s a cute place down there that has the best French toast I’ve ever eaten in my whole life. It’s called Jist Café and it’s run by a little Japanese grandma.
