Greetings, good people of the internet. It is time for us to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Priscilla Liang, aka Priska.
Who are you?
Hi! I'm Priscilla Liang, also known as Priska. Priska was a nickname my mom called me growing up. I recently asked her why she decided call me that and she replied curtly, it was the nickname listed under "Priscilla" in the baby name book. Fair enough.
I came from a very conservative Christian household (my dad is a pastor) and wasn't allowed any exposure to pop culture until after high school. When I was 15, a friend surreptitiously burned me a copy of Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism and it completely rocked my world; I never realized that heart felt music didn't have to be specifically religious. I kept my copy hidden between two WOW Worship CDs and only listened to it late at night, with my ear pressed up against the boom box speaker, the volume set at 1.
What are you?
I'm a Taiwanese American singer/songwriter. I'm a lover of food and whiskey. On a good day, I stand just a hair over 5 feet tall, thank you very much.
Where are you?
I'm currently in my apartment, looking out over a sea of rooftop satellite dishes. I have a dachshund in my lap (my roommate's dog), a cold brew coffee I choked down too quickly to my left, and a big plate of bulgogi and rice to my right.
Where are you from?
I am a SoCal girl, through and through. I was born in Santa Monica, then lived in the 626 area for the majority of my childhood, moved to Walnut for high school, and found myself at UC Irvine (zot zot!) for college. I'm currently residing in Mar Vista, a pocket neighborhood, wedged between Culver City and Venice, and I love it here.
What do you do?
I sing and tell stories. I used to be a really shy kid, music was the one thing that helped me connect with people. When I was 16, I wrote my first song and performed it live. After experiencing the intense high of being on stage, I was hooked. I've been performing ever since. Now, I'm about to embark on the production of my very first album and I couldn't be more excited. I'm running a Kickstarter for it and would love your support! You can learn all about it here.
What are you all about?
I am all about finding your voice and carving your own path. Maybe it's because I'm an Asian American and a female, but for most of my life, I was taught to just blend in. To be good enough at everything so that no one ever notices you. To never rock the boat. To not ask too many questions. As I started coming into my own, I began to see the consequences of this in myself and in my peers. There are so many of our Asian American experiences and stories that have been masked or buried for fear of standing out. I think we all deserve to be heard and I think there is an urgent need for our stories to be shared -- both to enrich our understanding of one another and to confront the joys and tensions we might experience in simply existing in this country.
What makes you angry?
I strongly dislike rudeness. It requires so little effort to be kind and thoughtful. Take an extra second to extend some love today, you'll make the world feel lighter. <3