cynthia lin - press

"A-Profiler" - Nelson Wong, AARisings.com, 2/12/08

February 12, 2008
A-Profiler: Cynthia Lin
by Nelson Wong, AARising

This A-Profiler we bring you Cynthia Lin, a singer/songwriter who started to learn guitar in college while studying at Princeton University for an Economics degree. Find out about Lin's "living room concerts," about her acting aspirations, and how for her recent EP release Doppelganger she actually used blank recycled cardboard cases and hand letter pressed them herself.

Your site URL:
www.cynthialin.com

What is your ethnicity?
I'm half Chinese, half Taiwanese.

Your latest EP release, Doppelganger, is your second EP. What direction does this new album take compared to the first EP? What lessons did you learn from your first EP release that you applied to this release?
My first album was just vocals and guitar, and I worked with a very experienced producer who taught me a lot about the recording process and guided me heavily. On the new album, I wanted to give myself time to understand the nuances of recording, and I definitely wanted to add instruments and experiment with different arrangements. Mostly, I wanted to figure out for myself how to turn what I heard in my head into a real recording.

I'm definitely still learning my lessons. One important lesson that I'm still learning is how to let go of expectations, and focus on whether it feels right or not. I've learned that the unexpected note or warble or mistake can become the highlight of the record.

How did you get started as a singer/songwriter? Have your parents been supportive?
I started writing songs in college as an emotional outlet and as a motivation to learn guitar. After college, I worked in the corporate world for a few years, then quit to start acting professionally. I came back to the guitar and songwriting during my backstage time while I was doing a show, and when the show was over, I took my original music to the coffeehouses. I got a good response, and decided to focus on music because I could create and perform independently. I still love acting, but music is definitely my first love.

My parents were skeptical when I first quit my job, but they could tell that my decision was made. Besides, we all knew that I could go back to a corporate job if I ever needed to (not planning on it though!). Now my parents are proud and happy that I am following my dream - but they definitely still worry!

You've been touring quite often, do you enjoy touring? You even offer "living room" performances. Have you've done a lot of the living room performances?
Well, all my touring has been great so far, but I have yet to do a long, grueling tour. I only go out for short stretches, five to ten days, and I often stay with friends who totally make me feel at home. I find I develop more focus on tour - being away from home helps to keep the day's energy dedicated to giving a good show. I enjoy all the new experiences on tour, new venues, new fans, different landscapes. It refreshes my mindset.

I love living room concerts, I love the comfort of playing in somebody's home. Some of my best shows have been living room concerts, because I can make it more conversational. It's more about sharing than performing. I try to play a living room concert in every city when i tour.

How personal is the song I'm Shy from your first EP? Are you actually a shy person? If so, has music provided an outlet to express yourself and overcome some of your shyness?
Actually, many people who know me and meet me will say that I'm not shy. I'm a pretty straightforward person, and there are times when I'm social and a ham, but there are plenty of times when I'm just tongue-tied and want to hide. It's one of my favorite songs to sing, because it's really easy for me to slip into that "character." It's a side of me that I don't really show.

You've also done some acting in the past. Is this also an area where you are looking expand?
I do still act when interesting work comes my way, but I'm focusing my energies into music for the most part. I love the craft of acting, and I still dream that I will do Shakespeare and hollywood movies one day. But roles are pretty limited for asian american actors, and I find a lot more creative freedom in the music and songwriting.

You graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Economics. Have you completely given up the 9-to-5 to pursue music and acting?
Yeah, I can't really imagine myself at a desk job again. A 9-to-5 is okay if you're not sure what you want to do. But once you figure it out, you need to follow your passion. It's the only way to be happy.

When not performing, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love cooking and yoga, and I enjoy trying anything creative. For my new album, I found blank recycled cardboard cases, and I designed and hand letter pressed them myself. It was a great mental break. Doing artsy stuff stirs my creative juices, which feeds back into my songwriting.

What advice do you have for other aspiring artists who are looking at bucking the 9-to-5 and pursuing a career in music?
If you hate the 9-to-5, you owe it to yourself to figure out something else that you will passionately work for. Save up 3-6 months living expenses while you make a game plan for your new path. And when you quit to follow that new path, work your butt off. It helps to be financially savvy and make some investments while you have a regular income, but it's also important to learn to live as frugally as you can. If you are fulfilled by your artistic pursuit, you will not need material things. The advice that made me leave my job: at the very least, you can go back. Which means you're already at the very LEAST point! So why be scared? There's nowhere to go but up. :)

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"Cynthia Lin is Doing Something Practical These Days" - Jess Man, Boston Progress Radio, 2/5/08

February 5, 2008
Cynthia Lin is Doing Something Practical These Days
by Jess Man, Boston Progress Radio

I thought I had it in the bag after my Omar Telan interview online. It went smoothly and prepared me for my next interview with Cynthia Lin, actress, musician, dancer, and a free-spirit currently living in New York City. But of course something had to go wrong. Even though I was not speaking with Cynthia my mouth got parched. I reached for my glass of water. The room temperature liquid replenished me and I was ready to move on with my conversation. All of sudden the glass slipped out of my hand before I could set it down onto the table, some water jumped out of the glass to splash onto the right side of my COMPUTER, near the control, shift, and "z" buttons! What do I do? I am interviewing a musician, my computer is going to die on me, all these questions are flowing through my head, and what do I do… I just stare at the water as it seeps deep within the keys of my laptop system. I was in disbelief. Cynthia was patient as I tried to reconnect several times to try to salvage our talk. The interview had to be cut short, but I still got some good material to share with you.

Cynthia: I like this, I can be in my pajamas.

JM: Was it a big transition to move from Chicago to New York City?

Cynthia: Not really, I was born in Chicago and I lived there till I was 11 and then I moved to New Jersey. So, I went to middle school and high school in jersey,and then went to Princeton, so I was always close to New York City. My family would visit the city often, especially to see musicals. Broadway was one of my dreams.

JM: So your love of music started young through your parents?

Cynthia: My parents supported my artistic activities and my whole family loves music and singing, but my parents didn't really push the music thing. We all took piano lessons, but none of us liked to practice. Actually from a young age I had decided that I wanted to be a doctor. Of course my parents were fine with that.

JM: Do you still have aspirations in medicine?

Cynthia: I gave up on that freshman year of college. It was too competitive, pre-med that is.

JM: What was it like going to school there?

Cynthia: I think it's the best school in the world for undergraduate education. Socially, it's very Ivy League and it has its upper crusty side. But there are a lot of well-rounded ambitious students, people who have the ability to achieve almost anything. It is an interesting spectrum. There are crazy party kids who happen to be smart.

JM: Were you one of them?

Cynthia: Nah, I was not a good student. I was much more involved in extracurriculars than academics. Like most kids, I learned how to party in college.

JM: When you decided to quit med school, were your parents disappointed. Was this the time when you found music?

Cynthia: No, it took a lot of searching. I always loved performing, but I never considered it as a career. I sang in an a cappella group and performed occasionally in theatre and musical theatre. I took classes in politics, philosophy, French lit, etc, before finally choosing economics.

JM: Is singing your escape?

Cynthia: I would definitely call singing my escape. When I was a kid I used to sing to myself in the dark. Yeah, sometimes in awkward pauses of conversation, I'll want to sing. I can sing anywhere, anytime, whatever I'm feeling or hearing in my head. I enjoy acting, but it's still very structured. You need a character, you need a script or you can make it up on your own, but I don't really get a kick out of doing that on my own.

JM: Do you know what song you sang as a child?

Cynthia: I loved the Sound of Music and Annie, kid's musicals. I also LOVED the radio as a kid. One of the first songs I loved was "Broken Wings" by Mister Mister, you are probably too young to remember it! I loved Madonna, Debbie Gibson, and Belinda Carlisle. All the bubble gum stuff, I like Britney, Christina Aguilera, and Kelly Clarkson.

JM: Do you still like the bubble gum stuff, because your music is not from that genre?

Cynthia: Songwriting-wise, I find it hard to convincingly create that kind of song. But I've always wanted to have a dance video, like the old Janet Jackson videos. I danced a lot in high school and in college.

JM: You are like a jack of all trades, you sing, dance, and act, does this work in your favor, or is it hard to concentrate on one thing. What is your best craft? Which one do you think is your weakest?

Cynthia: Good questions, I struggle with this, but I embrace it as well. I get distracted with my different interests, but I enjoy it too. I think the variety keeps me inspired, and I work best when I have a lot going on. So I'm constantly taking on side projects, some film some theatre. I'm using my acting when I perform my music. I haven't incorporated my dancing yet, but one day!

JM: So would you say you're the most comfortable with singing?

Cynthia: My first love is definitely singing. In reality, I'm not really a master of any of these crafts.

JM: Always a student?

Cynthia: Right, you can never stop learning and improving. I've hit walls in each craft and I have used the other to help open doors. Specifically, working on my acting has made me a better singer.

JM: What projects are you presently working on?

Cynthia: I just released a new album. So I'm promoting the record, trying to get reviews for it. Booking shows, a tour, oh, I'm booking a spring college tour right now. It'd be great if you could mention that.

JM: So you don't really do anything with the economics degree besides your stint in D.C.?

Cynthia: Yeah, I mean I didn't really use my economics knowledge there either. To me, economics is a way of understanding people, money, and business and right now, I'm pretty much running a one-woman business where I am also the product. I worked in the corporate world for 3 year and from that, I appreciate how that world works. I prefer working independently. There are too many politics in the corporate world, it just comes with too much hierarchy. Now, I get to choose the people I work with. I am a bit of a control freak.

JM: Do you think you have to be disciplined to be your own boss?

Cynthia: Discipline is probably the thing I lack most. However, being my own boss, I've created a situation for myself where I work out of passion and motivation vs. discipline. Of course, I still need to push myself, structure and organize my work but I prefer to work because I'm inspired.

JM: Is there anyone who keeps you in check?

Cynthia: Not right now. I could use someone to keep me in check, a manager maybe, but I like to figure things out myself.

JM: Do you think you'll be finding a manager soon?

Cynthia: This may sound silly but I believe in chance encounters. So I have never actively sought out a manager, but I think one day I will get connected to one, at a point in my career when I need one, and it will all work out.

JM: What are you inspired by? Are your songs based on your life or are they a work of fiction?

Cynthia: My songs, the feelings and sentiments are mine, the details are sometimes fiction. I'm inspired by people's stories told through books, movies, music, articles, TV, plays, etc. I'm most inspired by turning points and people making realizations. We each make a lot of decisions in our lives. There are some that cause your entire character to change, for example you decide you want to be with someone or you decide you can no longer be with someone, and you search yourself to figure out why. You feel it first, and understand it later.

JM: Do you see yourself as a role model for Asian Americans who want to find a career in music or as part of the movement?

Cynthia: I think I've become a role model by default. I happen to be an Asian American artist, and there are just so few of us that we all serve to inspire and I'm very happy to take on that role. I LOVE visiting colleges and encouraging students to explore what they want with their lives vs. what their parents want, or what they are expected to do. After being a student and then working in the corporate world, I realized that my personal happiness comes from following my passion. I want to give the world something. I was so happy to quit my job. I felt like for the first time in my life, I was choosing my own path. What's the point of money if you're not happy with yourself. A lot of Asian Americans are driven by this goal of financial security influenced by our parents' generation which makes sense, as immigrants who came over with nothing and had to rebuild their lives. My mom wanted me to do something practical, "practical" is probably her favorite word.

JM: What is practical for her?

Cynthia: Financial security, a steady job, a comfortable home, being able to eat a fancy meal and go on vacation.

JM: Since for you music, theater, and dance is kind of your work, whereas other people would do those things as therapy, what do you do to unwind?

Cynthia: It's funny, when you do what you like as your job, you don't need to unwind. I discovered that as well after I quit my job. I do yoga and Pilates. Actually there is one thing when I get home from touring etc, I like to cook. For me, that's the ultimate way to unwind.

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"assured songwriting and performance" - Rowena Aquino, Asia Pacific Arts, 1/25/08

January 25, 2008
Both Sides Now
Cynthia Lin revels in her multiple musical selves in her new album doppelganger.
by Rowena Aquino, Asia Pacific Arts

One of the songs on Cynthia Lin's first album, blue and borderlined (2004), is titled "I'm Shy." Such a statement describes the album's overall stripped-down showcase of her strong vocals with the sole accompaniment of an acoustic guitar. The five tracks present a demure, even cautious, relationship between Lin and her recordings. That "I'm Shy" is the last song on the album makes her newest release, doppelganger, that much more of a surprise for its assured, developed songwriting and performance.

The title alone seems to dictate Lin coming to terms with the growth of her musical self, or selves in this case. Whereas blue and borderlined is tinged with almost Norah Jones-esque quietness whose songs sometimes fall into lethargic anonymity (not always a good thing), most of the six original songs in doppelganger each tells its own story with a convincing energy, whether it is slow jazz-like or up-tempo.

This is not to say that doppelganger is a complete reversal of blue and borderlined. The gem of the latter is the album's title opening track, "Blue and borderline"; its jauntiness anticipates doppelganger's own brilliant opening track, "Skipping in NYC." Another standout track from the first album, "California" -- for its more powerful vocal and somewhat hard-edged guitar melody -- finds an even harder-edged beat on the second album in "Doppelganger."

The main difference between the two -- outside of the 3-year gap in releases -- is the addition of other instrumental accompaniment on doppelganger that creates a classy pop-jazz sound and texture. Strings, brass, and various percussions underline the depth of Lin's songwriting skills rather than overwhelming it. "Doppelganger," a track unlike no other on the album, is driven by hard drum beats that take the place of the usual acoustic guitar with which Lin performs. And it's a gratifying move because the song breaks up the quiet flow found on the first record that could have been repeated on doppelganger. Percussion is a lovely thing; just ask Forro in the Dark. It'll be interesting to see where this aspect of Lin's songwriting takes her. On "Perfect," Lin trades her acoustic guitar this time for a string accompaniment, which provides a dramatic flair to her lyric of "perfect does not exist.

Other notable tracks are "Water Torture" and Lin's remake of Cyndi Lauper's classic "Time after Time." The latter song is honestly a great track: the strength of Lin's vocal and musical adaptation keeps the original version's wistful offer of hope and love while making sure that the listener understands it's specifically Lin's interpretation.

Perhaps the West Coast will be able to see more of Lin's interpretations of her own tracks (and otherwise) in a live setting as she plans to embark on a promotional tour in March. Meanwhile, you can listen to her music by visiting either her official site or her MySpace page.

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"reminiscent of Edith Piaf and Joni Mitchell, with a big voice and jazzy melodies" - Elaine Low, Hyphen Blog, 1/15/08

January 15, 2008
The Petit Oiseau of Asian Am Folk Jazz
by Elaine Low, Hyphen Blog

I first caught Cynthia Lin's show at the HotHouse in Chicago over a year ago, where the diminutive singer/songwriter was crooning "Skipping in NYC," a catchy little love song that takes place somewhere between Sixth Avenue and Chinatown. At 5'2", she's the Taiwanese-American petit oiseau of folk jazz, reminiscent of Edith Piaf and Joni Mitchell, with a big voice and jazzy melodies.

Now, Lin and her acoustic guitar really have moved to the Big Apple and skipped out on the Midwest. I'm a little bummed, since that means one less Asian American musician here in Chicago, but at least her music is still available on iTunes and MySpace. Plus, her second EP, Doppelganger, has also been named one of the Top 5 Asian American albums of 2007 --alongside other artists like The Slants and Misha – by AsiaXpress.com. Check out all of them and show some support for Asian American indie musicians by reading the article here.

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"Top 5 Asian American albums of 2007" - Joe Nguyen, AsiaXpress.com, 1/10/08

January 10, 2008
Top five albums of 2007: Cynthia Lin
Acoustic singer-songwriter soars high with poignant lyrics, eclectic sounds in 'Doppelganger'
by Joe Nguyen, AsiaXpress.com

There's nothing hotter than a woman who can play the guitar.

Well, except a woman who can sing, too.

Cynthia Lin's angelic vocals and acoustic accomplice fill the walls of her second EP, Doppelganger. What's different in her latest project is the addition of string and horn sections, which create a richer aural experience. Combining well-written lyrics and a variety of musical styles, from the jazzy "Doppelganger" to the folksy rendition of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," Lin creates one of the best hidden gems of 2007.

The album opens with "Skipping In NYC," a catchy, lighthearted tune about falling in love. Simple, whimsical guitar strums accompany her bright vocals. Subtle horns add depth as high electronic piano notes gently carry it to its ending.

"Water Torture" features soft acoustic plucks and a methodic cello melody. Lin sings at a lower, fully bodied range, while background vocals add harmony.

The best song on the CD is the somber "End Of The Line," a lyrical tale about a small dying town. It begins with slow, melancholy guitar strums. Lin's beaming vocals enter to tell the first-person story. An organ comes in and creates a heavier sound. Sweet-sounding female vocals harmonize with Lin as a deep bassy voice complements. At 3:10, the different voices create a gripping melodious blend, repeating "Merry go round."

While the album features fairly simple instrumentals, it's Lin's vocals that carry the songs – her poignant verses flow gracefully over its musical counterpart. With seven tracks and clocking in at just more than 28 minutes, Doppelganger is like addictive drug: it leaves its listeners satisfied, but ready to come back for more.

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"sweet jazz-folk written by an artist much older than her years." - Paul Barile, News-Star (Northside Chicago)

November 30, 2005
Gal for all seasons
The News-Star (Northside Chicago)
by Paul Barile

Cynthia Lin is coming home and she is bringing with her an EP of sweet jazz-folk music and the passion to perform. "Blue and Borderlined" is a straightforward dose of music written by an artist much older than her years.

Lin was born in Chicago. She moved around a bit, went to college in New Jersey and then spent some time in Washington D.C. "I was working in software in D.C. after college," Lin said. "I worked there for about three years before I quit to pursue music and acting." She currently resides in the South Loop.

Lin is a multifaceted artist, which makes her a valuable asset to the scene she is still exploring. "I sing. I write songs. I play guitar," she said. "I also teach voice in the rock-pop style, which has allowed me to meet a lot of great musicians in town." The Chicago music scene is a vibrant tapestry that includes some talented songwriters and performers as well as venues to hear them perform. Lin is figuring out exactly where she fits into the landscape. "I'm still getting to know the Chicago music scene. I love blues and jazz, so those Chicago elements are definitely part of what I do," she said. "I'm definitely more folk in the way I present my music. I'm still trying to find a fit."

While she makes that journey, she is comforted knowing she has the support of Chicago music lovers. "I've found that Chicago fans are very loyal," she stated. "They seem to earnestly enjoy and support the musicians they like which is awesome compared to New York where it's hard to keep anyone's attention."

Along those lines, Lin suggests a couple of local artists she thinks deserve attention. "Brice Woodall: we were friends in Washington DC. He moved out here recently and is making a name for himself," she said. "Jenny Choi and her band Sanawon: Jenny has done so much for the scene, including the 'Asians In Rock' tour."

And clubs? "What's important to me is good sound and a warm room vibe," she said. "So far I've enjoyed Schuba's, Martyr's and Uncommon Ground. I'm really excited to go to the Hideout as well."

Lin has other talents as well. "I would love to perform as a classical actor -- (in works by) Shakespeare and Chekhov especially," she said. For more on that aspect of her career, see Lin's acting resume on her Web site (below). "Being a movie star wouldn't be bad either," she mused. "I would also love to be a chef."

Lin's "Blue and Borderlined" is available at CDBaby.com or at www.cynthialin.com

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"Lin's music stylings hint at past greats, yet sound fresh with a distinct charm." - Adam Simkin, EntertainmentDC.com

July 31, 2005
EntertainmentDC.com
by Adam Simkin, Editor-in-Chief of EntertainmentDC.com

At the age most young twenty-something's are moving back in with mom and dad, acoustic songstress Cynthia Lin recently released a 5-song EP, Blue and Borderlined, to much acclaim. Chicago producer, Narciso Lobo says of Lin, "Cynthia's voice is like rain in the summer...effortless, refreshing and life-sustaining."

As for Lin's music stylings, they hint at past greats such as Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald, yet manage to sound fresh (think Vienna Teng) and upbeat with a distinct jazzy-folk charm all her own. Her songs are well crafted, the lyrics extremely heartfelt. The formula? "I'm an actress as well as a musician, and acting is all about observation, which has helped me write better songs."

How does Cynthia plan on finishing out the rest of '05? "Well, besides gigging out as much as possible [in the Chicago area], I have a bunch of new songs I want to record by year's end," states Lin. If her debut EP is any indication of where Lin is heading creatively, there is no doubt her growing fan base will be in for a real treat when the full length album is released early next year. Can you say Blue Note Records?

Cynthia Lin will be featured on Z104 (104.1 FM) in Washington, D.C. this Sunday, July 31 at 9 p.m. on their local music program, Capital Scene. Jenni Chase will interview Cynthia and play songs off her debut album, "Blue and Borderlined." Entertainment DC's Editor-in-Chief will make his usual guest appearance.

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"smooth pleasing folky songs with lovely vocals" - Amy Lotsberg, Collected Sounds

July 25, 2005
Collected Sounds
Review by Amy Lotsberg, Producer of Collected Sounds

Once again, an EP that I wish was twice as long!
Cynthia Lin has a nice sound. It's almost classic folky ala Joni, Joan and the like. She makes nice use of the minor chords and notes. Her voice soars beautifully over the nice finger picking style guitar playing. She also uses some nice background vocals.
These are nice well-written folk songs and the production is very professional as well. If you like smooth pleasing folky songs with lovely vocals this is a good pick.
There's only 5 songs and since I like them all, I won't go with my standard "stand out songs" here. They're really all good.

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"Her voice can soar...she lets folks in with her intimate style" - J-sin, Smother.net

May 2005
Smother.net
by J-Sin, editor of Smother.net

Her voice can soar while her light acoustic guitar play would draw a modest crowd at even the biggest coffeehouses. She's folk-rock's latest Virginian and has just wrapped up a gig at North by Northeast Festival in Toronto. Lyrically she lets folks in with her intimate style and anyone having a craving for the poetry of a lithe Asian folk-ster should tune in now.

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"songs with a sense of quiet and loneliness...that you can listen to by yourself and still come away with a smile" - Nelson Wong, AArising.com

Feb 6, 2005
AA Rising
Review by Nelson Wong

Singer/Songwriter Cynthia Lin has released her debut CD titled "Blue and Borderlined" for all to hear. She blends a primarily guiar-folk rock base with some jazz vocal stylings and comes up with listenable CD. Vocally Lin has been called a Joni Mitchell crossed with Ella Fitzgerald. She has quite a smooth vocal range that fans of artists such as Vienna Teng will enjoy. Musically, the songs on this 5 track EP have a sense of quiet and loneliness, but not in a sad way. It's the type of music that you can listen to while by yourself at home and still come away with a smile.

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"jazz with a coffee-shop feel...exudes originality." - Christine Miranda, Daily Princetonian

Feb 3, 2005
Trading in Wall Street, Lin '99 releases debut solo album
Daily Princetonian
by Christine Miranda

Like many Princeton students, Cynthia Lin '99 majored in economics and joined the business world after graduation. Unlike her coworkers, Lin picked up a guitar and snuck off to auditions whenever she could. After a year of working, and after the "novelty" of the job wore off, she realized that music was her true vocation.

Now she has put out her debut album, "Blue and Borderlined," funded by her earnings that year. The music mixes jazz with a sort of coffee-shop feel and exudes originality. Lin, however, like all artists, wrestled for a while before she got to this point.

Lin did not resolve to become an artist immediately for a number of reasons. As a Princeton student she participated in the Tigerlillies, Disiac, and a tour with the Triangle Club. However Lin felt unsure about a future in music. When commenting on Princeton's influence on her career choice, she confessed, "To be honest, I felt discouraged."

Lin noticed that people at Princeton were very determined in their decision to commit themselves to the arts. Early on, Lin did not feel the same level of readiness right away and struggled with her curiosity in several majors.

Now Lin has come to realize that art is "more about finding yourself." The singer/songwriter has done just that. With nothing but a guitar and her smooth voice she produces beautiful and, more importantly, honest music. She says the best part of this type of career is "the ability to express myself" and the emotions of others as well.

Drawing inspiration from Joni Mitchell and Jeff Buckley, Lin seems to have developed a sweet tell-it-how-it-is style. Hints of Ella Fitzgerald and jazz influence can be gleaned from "My Song." Fiona Apple serves as a major inspiration for the artist as well --"even though she is younger than me," jokes Lin.

Not only does she draw her inspiration from big influences in music, but from the daily newspaper as well. In the early stages of her songwriting she used her own experiences, as many other artists do at the beginning, she says. Taking the newspaper and writing about a person's feelings in a situation has provided Lin with a "new pathway" for her work.

Drawing from sources like the newspaper and actual personal experiences, Lin cannot help but be honest. She tells it like it is in the song "I'm Shy," in which she expresses the fear so many people have of communicating their true feelings sometimes.

Aside from being honest, Lin considers herself "self-aware" and open-minded. She says "[even] economics guides me -- I think about opportunity costs." She lives as an artist, but she remains practical, ready to take the right risks.

But if Lin wasn't an artist, she could also envision herself being comfortable in a boardroom: "I'd be some crazy female CEO type," Lin said. She added that if she was part of a business, she would try to rule it, because "I am a control freak."

And with such control over her career, where does Lin see herself in the future? "I want to continue as an independent artist for as long as I can," Lin said. Because of her work in business she was able to fund her own debut. She plans to put a new record out each year.

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