Today we’d like to introduce you to Connie Hong.
Hi Connie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hmmm… I’m not totally sure how I got started. I grew up singing along to the radio in my room and began playing piano when I was around 10. I started writing songs around the age of 13, I think. It was a while before I played anything I wrote in public but I was obsessed with music and at least with the idea of performing in front of people, I pursued music in college and became a choir teacher but that burned me out pretty quickly. However, my love for writing music remained and it was just a natural path to follow. I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with some amazing people over the years and Fair Elle was born out of some desire to see what I could do on my own.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t know if I can count on one hand anything that has been a smooth road. Struggle is just a part of being in a creative field. I’ve struggled with writer’s block, personal challenges, financial challenges… too many to count off the top of my head but in the end it all helps to validate why you do what you do, I think,
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a singer/songwriter but I guess I just consider myself a creative person. With Fair Elle, I write, sing, and play all of my songs. I make my own merch, including tote bags, jewelry, potholders, and anything else I can think of. I have always dreamed of executing a true DIY experience with my music and I’m really proud of how much I’ve been able to accomplish through what I’ve made in and out of the music I write.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
In many ways, I wasn’t too different from how I am now. I was very introverted and made a lot of crafts out of whatever I could find around the house. I was an only child with two working parents so I deeply depended on my imagination to get me through most of my childhood. I loved to read and like I mentioned, I would sing along to the radio often (mostly 90s R&B) and daydream about singing on a stage someday, despite how shy I was as a kid.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fairelle.me
- Instagram: @fairelle.me
Image Credits
First and last photo by Chelsey Farnum
