Album Notes

Chiemi was born Ingrid Chiemi Schroffner on Halloween 1970 in Honolulu. Her Japanese middle name means blessed one. Chiemi was the reigning Miss Teen of Hawaii in 1987-88. As a 'teen queen, she performed, singing and dancing for and at many charitable functions and fundraisers. In 1988, Chiemi conducted her Punahou High School graduating class of over 400 to perform a rendition in four-part harmony of her first written piece, "Steps to Find." While a soloist and member of the 150 person Boston College Chorale under the direction of the late liturgical music composer Dr. C. Alexander Peloquin, Chiemi was graced with the part of the female angel in Haydn's "The Heavens Are Telling," which she performed with the Chorale in a special audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in Rome. While in graduate school, Chiemi was a soloist and member of "The Wand'ring Mistrials," an acapella singing group covering various pop tunes for charitable and graduate student events. Chiemi's musical influences are Joan Baez, Suzanne Vega and Annie Lennox. She enjoys micing at The Burren and Roggies for the experienced and interesting people she has met to learn from-so much friendly talent! She thanks God for giving her a voice and sends much Aloha to her family and friends for their love and support, especially to her husband, Josh...

"Living on 2 Coasts" is about how Chiemi's music is comprised of images from her upbringing in Hawaii, transplanted to the East Coast, where she has lived since 1988. Chiemi wrote the actual song, "Living On Two Coasts" in 1989, when she was homesick while in college.