Hello, I would like to take this time to thank you for purchasing my music and taking the time to visit my page. While I know we live in a modern era where physical media is a thing of the past for many, more artists are relying on social media, as it has become a powerful force revolutionizing how they promote their work and connect with their audience. However, I still love creating CDs and will continue to do so as long as they are around.
Music is universal, and I believe in exploring different genres. My songs are a mixture of styles, ranging from folk, pop-rock, metal to Euro-disco and progressive rock. My musical journey began at a young age, listening to a lot of 80’s glam rock bands and a bit of classical rock tunes. I started studying the violin in middle school instead of the piano to learn musical notes. That was the easiest path for me to take, and I eventually became the concertmaster in my orchestra band. I was considered the leader of the first violin section and was responsible for tuning, determining bowing techniques, and acting as a liaison between the conductor and musicians. I was even fortunate enough to be offered lessons by a Russian violinist couple from the San Diego Symphony. I gave all that up when I went to high school. Learning classical and rock guitars, and guitar ensembles was my main agenda.
I got to played in my two older brothers' Hmong folk and traditional band, jammed with other musicians throughout high school, and started my own band “Blackouts”. These musicians were families and best friends growing up. We played many live gigs and truly experienced "the music life." We were living the rock star dream! Those were the best years, back when my favorite bands like Dokken, Guns N ' Roses, White Lion, Mr. Big, Cinderella, Tesla, Aerosmith, Scorpions, Poison, and Skid Row were taking over. Since I am a guitar player, I do have guitar idols that I grew up admiring and still listen to today. To name a few, they are Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Santana, George Lynch, Eddie Van Halen, and many other players.
I loved music so much that one of my older brothers and I had the opportunity to record two solo Hmong albums. Unfortunately, back then, we didn’t have the resources to promote them like we do today. However, we did a great job recording. While those recordings weren’t digital—they were acoustic and later magnetic (analog)—they captured our hearts. Today’s modern recording is driven by advanced technology, utilizing Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) like Pro Tools and high-resolution formats for superior fidelity and editing, which is amazing to see. I now utilized Audacity to record most of my music. Fortunately, I was able to preserve these two solo albums and they are available here on my website. Throughout my musical journey, I have primarily gravitated toward Ibanez and Fender electric guitars. When recording acoustic tracks, I love using Martin and Yamaha models for their rich tones. I’ve relied on Boss pedals to shape my signature sound since I was a kid. For my stage and studio rig, nothing beats Marshall cabinets—I’ve been playing through them since high school, and they always bring back great memories.
Right after high school, my dream was to become a music teacher, but I ultimately ended up studying business in college. Growing up, Hmong families rarely supported career paths in the arts, entertainment, or sports. While I didn't let those cultural expectations stop me from enjoying music as a hobby, studying it full-time simply wasn't practical. Most music theory classes were held during the day, which conflicted with my work schedule. Ultimately, even after completing four years of piano, along with courses in music theory, performing choir, and guitar ensemble at San Diego Community Colleges, I decided to step away from that path.
But to this day, I am still playing guitar and singing, making music, and doing karaoke with families and friends at gatherings. I’m still trying to be a rock star, though! Lol… To my fellow Hmong artists: do not be afraid to explore different genres and languages, break out of traditional molds, and create universal music. Music has no boundaries, so be creative and showcase your talent!
I hope you find my taste in music as enjoyable as I did creating it.
-KPM