allkpop continues their segment on up and coming Korean-American artists and this time we go Inside the Music with Jennifer Chung. With millions of views and thousands of subscribers on YouTube, Jennifer has turned into quite the internet celebrity thanks to her cult following. Born in Korea and raised in the Bay area, music has always been a part of her life. Her mother, a dance teacher, and her father, a former recording artist in Korea, supported Jennifer as she started her journey into becoming a musician. Now at the age of 19, Jennifer has over 60,000 subscribers on YouTube and just recently released her first EP on iTunes. We were able to catch up with Jennifer and ask her a few questions! How did you get started in music? Music was always in my life because both of my parents were artists. My dad was a singer and my mom was a dancer. Our home was filled with all types of music and I constantly performed for my family and whoever came over. I continued growing up by dancing Korean Traditional Dance with my mom, but music was always on my mind. I started performing at talent shows when I was a 4th grader and then in high school I was exposed to jazz and musicals. That basically changed my life and I felt like music had so much more to offer than I ever knew. Any opportunity there was to perform, I did it. Who have been your main influences? Musically my influences are so wide ranged, but from the beginning I adored Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion. The belting divas are the ones who helped me build my strength, I think. I can't forget to give credit to the Disney classics like Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, etc. Those movies helped me appreciate the theatrics to performing as a musician and now as an actor. And I can't deny that in elementary school The Spice Girls, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears were my popspirations. In high school I fell in love with Jason Mraz and his ability to perform live beautifully with such ease. His genre was so different from everything I listened to before, it wasn't just pop and r&b. Rachael Yamagata's songs send chills down my spine and now Brooke Fraser is one of my greatest influences. India Arie's truth makes my knees weak and her tone is effortless. My list is endless and it keeps growing... Since we are a K-Pop site, do you listen to any K-Pop? If so, which artist do you like? I don't follow up on K-Pop like a lot of my friends do, but there are a few artists that I would definitely go pay to see. Kim Bum Soo, Park Hwayobi, Big Mama, Yangpa, Noel, & Sung Si Kyung. A couple of my friends are in LOVE with Big Bang and so they're slowly convincing me to fall in love with them too. hahaha! What has it been like being a Korean-American trying to emerge as an artist in America? Honestly because YouTube is such a great medium to reach out to people all over the world, I haven't really felt anything intensely negative for being a Korean-American trying to emerge as an artist in America. Sometimes the thought of it can be baffling or overwhelming, but I just have to take it as it is. Yeah, it's going to be tough but if I do music for the right reasons, solely for the love/passion for it, then I think people will feel my music beyond the surface. I learn much more everyday on how music truly is a universal language. With the recent release of your EP, what else do you have planned for 2009? Being a student is #1 for me. I know people might think that I'm not taking advantage of possible opportunities by staying in school, but I think it's important to finish what I started. Also since a lot of my fans are students as well or have gone through school, it gives me common ground with those who appreciate my music. I don't just sing for myself, I sing for them too. Through experience I learn so much and college is definitely an experience of a lifetime. I also want to be a good influence to those younger than me. I don't mean to be cheesy, but I think it's possible for people to follow their dreams and get that education to help them in doing so. I met so many people at UC Irvine that have helped me continue pursuing what I love. I know I was meant to come here. I don't think a lot of us who are in universities realize what a wonderful opportunity it is to be receiving an education! It's not to say that I don't intend on doing more with my music though. Through highs and lows I continue to write music when inspired. I want to perform at as many venues as I can. (My weekends! Hurray!) More videos, more gigs, more collaborating with other musicians I meet, etc. Taking a break from school is not out of the question if I think it's the best choice after a lot of praying and evaluating! But I will graduate no doubt about it. I'm still young, so I'm in no rush. If I get signed, GREAT! If not, I still have time. We want to thank Jennifer for taking the time to speak with us and we wish her the best of luck in 2009! For more info on Jennifer Chung visit her allkpop Artist Profile in the allkpop Forums, as well as their websites: Jennifer Chung Website Jennifer Chung Myspace Jennifer Chung YouTube Jennifer Chung Twitter Jennifer Chung Facebook Check out her track 'Common Simple Beautiful' below...