The earth is a small place, especially when you compare it to larger planets. Making it smaller still are new music discoveries. I know of Mia Kim through a mutual friend and have since enjoyed her solitary album, Rumor of Flight. In true indie-spirit, she began a fan-funded endeavor in The Sukey Rose Project. She was gracious enough to answer a handful of question from a chump like me, so you know she has heart.

Can you give Buzzgrinder readers a quick rundown about what you’re doing with the Sukey Rose Project?
The Sukey Rose Project is mainly a fan-funded project to raise funds to record my second album as well as an online documentation of the making of a quality album by an indie, unsigned artist.

The project is named after a character in your upcoming CD, so I’m assuming it’s a concept album. What’s the concept?
The concept grew out of the fact that I grew up very sheltered and comfortable. So for this album I wanted to write outside myself, kind of put myself into the shoes of different characters who have gone through different and very extreme experiences than me. Most of the songs start with something I’ve seen, felt or experienced but go beyond that and explore issues such as abuse, searching, pain, depression, etc. As an artist, it’s sort of a creative way for me to explore those subjects through the idea that “Sukey Rose” is this mysterious character that can be defined in many different ways and through many different experiences.

Have you gotten any donations with weird requests attached to them, like asking for your hand in marriage or to write a song about a dead dog?
Thankfully, not as of yet. But thanks for giving people the idea! hahaha… seriously, everyone who has donated has done so out the goodness of their heart to help me record and press this album. We still don’t have enough to duplicate the album so if anyone would like to help out, please check out the website!

I’m going to assume you’ve never tried pizza with vinegar or hot sauce. If I donate to your project, will you try it out?
Ew… pizza with vinegar? Well, I’ve had Pizza with kimchi, does that count? But yeah if you donate, I promise to try it out AND blog about it on the Sukey Rose Project blog.

Cynicism and depression are stock outlooks in the industry. I’ve never met you in real life, but you seem like a positive person for a struggling musician. Do you think that makes you stand out or draw more people to your music?
Thank you, that’s nice of you to say, and yeah, I definitely work on being positive and keeping a positive outlook, but at times it’s hard so I really rely on my support team to keep me focused. I definitely have a “I’m gonna do what I can and whatever happens, that’s cool, if not, just keep moving…” approach to my music. I stay away from feeling cynical, and it’s way too easy to get cynical, especially when you are trying to balance artistry vs. marketability of one’s music. But one has to stay positive in order to not let the frustrations of being an indie artist destroy one’s heart for doing music in the first place.

I can count the number of Asian acoustic artists one on hand, and I noticed a lot of Asian donors on the Sukey Rose site. Is there a lot of support for you from the Asian community? Do you stand out?
Yeah, there is a lot of support from the Asian-American community because I’ve played at a lot of Asian-American centered events and venues in the past, and I’m really grateful for the support. I think I stand out as a bit different because I don’t really do general pop/feel good music, but my music is more angst-filled and especially with this new album, on the indie side. There are a lot of great Asian American musicians coming out doing R&B/Rihanna or Pop/Leona Lewis type stuff, but that’s just not my style. Even acoustically, I’m not a traditional singer/songwriter, my influences are indie pop rock bands such as Death Cab, The Shins, Tegan and Sara, etc. In a way that makes it harder ’cause most Asian-American youth are into more mainstream stuff, but I’m just gonna keep doing what I do and hope people enjoy it!

When do you hope to have the finished product out?
Right now we’re about half way done so I’m planning to release it early this summer. It’s do or die, Vegas or bust! Seriously THIS SUMMER and it’s going to be awesome.

Any touring plans after the CD is released?
I’ll start playing out on the West coast in the summer after the album is done and then we’re planning to book colleges in the Fall and also do an East Coast tour in the late fall.

Thanks Jay and Buzzgrinder for supporting indie/unsigned artists and for checking out the Sukey Rose Project!

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