524 - How Did A 16-Year-Old Vietnamese End Up Working With Lana Del Rey's Producer? - Ella Quynh
34m | Aug 18, 2026Is the next generation of Asian-American pop-rock already here?
In this episode, Ken sits down with 16-year-old high school junior, singer-songwriter, and rising rock artist Ella Quinn (Ella Quỳnh). Ella reflects on her journey from dealing with extreme stage anxiety and panic attacks to writing original music and releasing her debut single, Iconic.
Ella opens up about the rare and unwavering support of her "dadager" and family in a culture that traditionally pushes medical or legal careers, navigating perfectionism, and keeping her music career a complete secret from her high school peers out of fear of being bullied. She also shares how she got discovered on Instagram reels by major producer John (who has worked with icons like Lana Del Rey and Madonna), balancing ASB and club leadership with late-night songwriting, and her upcoming October release, Play It Cool.
Inside the Episode:
Overcoming Perfectionism & Anxiety: How Ella managed physical manifestations of panic and anxiety to step confidently onto the stage.
Breaking Asian Stereotypes: Navigating traditional family expectations and why having full parental backing changes everything for a young artist.
The Secret Life of a Student Rocker: Why Ella tried to hide her music and social media presence from her high school classmates.
Working With Industry Legends: The story of how Lana Del Rey's producer discovered Ella on Instagram and flew to LA to meet her family.
Songwriting at 12 AM: The creative process behind Iconic and her upcoming single Play It Cool.
Cultural Representation: Why creating pop-rock representation for young Vietnamese girls drives her passion forward.
Connect & Follow Ella Quinn:
Instagram / TikTok: @ellaquynhsings
Spotify / Apple Music: Ella Quynh
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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen
Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!
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