Seattle Finalist in Ford's Nationwide Best Independent Musician Contest Releases New Album

A top-12 finalist in Ford's "Gimme the Gig II" nationwide search for the ultimate independent musician, Seattle pop singer and songwriter Rachel Wong will release her new album, "Letters to You," on iTunes and on Spotify May 28. CDs will be available, and a new music video of the album's single "Center Stage," directed by Jordan Nicholson, will premiere at a free album release show in Portland, OR, June 29. Wong will next perform in Seattle at the Wing Luke Museum's Jamfest, July 18, and at the Bellevue Festival of the Arts, July 27.

Wong was selected from more than 2,500 artists nationwide as a finalist in Ford's "Gimme the Gig II" contest. Finalists were chosen by popular online vote, Ford, Grammy-winning producer of the year Don Was, and Grammy-winning producer Krish Sharma. During the competition, Wong's acoustic, soulful pop sound was compared to "Sara Bareilles, but on the guitar."

Tracks from Rachel's first album and single, "Curtain Fall," can now be heard on radio stations in Canada and the Philippines. Her second album, "Letters to You," takes you on a a 10-track musical journey from the pop anthem production of "Center Stage" to the island-flavored "Beach Bum Living." Wong transforms her acoustic Signature Sound with fuller instrumentation, including strings, bongos, keys and handclaps. Album tracks feature her soothing, powerful vocals and catchy songs, accentuated by the sincere warmth of her lyrics. A music video to accompany "Center Stage," directed by Jordan Nicholson, who also directed Seattle-based "The Blue Scholars" last video, will be released on YouTube and on RachelWongMusic.com shortly after the "Letters to You" album release show on June 29.

A Vancouver, WA, native, Wong began her musical training at age 3, by learning to play the piano. She learned to play drums in her elementary school band, and by the eighth grade she was writing her own songs and had taught herself how to play the guitar. She sang and played at her church and school choir, and she never stopped writing songs characterized as catchy, genuine, and relatable. Wong has an innate ability to draw from everyday love and loss, and uses it to connect with her Seattle fans, who have responded enthusiastically to her performances at the Triple Door, and other local venues.

"Center Stage" is available now on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rachel-wong/id403804552. "Letters to You" will be available for download May 28 for $9.99. Wong's album launch party will be June 29 at Portland's Dragonwell Bistro, 735 SW First Ave, at 8 p.m. The intimate, acoustic show will include all new material from "Letters to You," as well as popular covers. Admission is free, and reservations are recommended at:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/391351.