Zella Day did not take a typical path to the stage. The 20 year-old grew up in a small Arizona town known more for skiing and snowboarding than sunbathing. When she was young, Day moved with her mother and sister to California, but the purpose of the trip was not so she could live out her dreams as an artist. Rather, her parents divorced, and Day’s grandmother lived in Long Beach.

The singer/songwriter’s first gig was on the stage of her grandma’s coffee shop; 11 years later she is now performing at much bigger venues across the U.S. Day stopped by our studio and chatted about her family, along with the transition she has made this year from supporting to headlining act. Day, a self-proclaimed “small-town” girl, also talked about exploring our wonderful city.