I am The Up State. Born and raised in Santa Rosa, California, music has always been my thing. My maternal grandmother was an incredible piano player, trombone player, and accordion player. It seemed to me that there was nothing that woman couldn’t play on her baby grand, and I took inspiration at an early age.

If music is my thing, ska music is my passion. It all started with a childhood friend telling me that the Cardigan’s “Lovefool” was “ska”, wrongfully I might add, but it was enough to set me searching. Sure enough, there was a small “ska” section at the record store in town and that’s where I spent my money… until grandma’s inspiration took a fresh hold, and then I needed instruments!