#NtseegKuv10Years: The First Pitch

MusicSpecial Feature
Written By Pagnia Xiong

Excited. Nervous. Scared. Hopeful. These were the emotions running through me as I flew out to North Carolina for the first time as a new artist with Evolution Records Entertainment in the spring of 2010.

As we sat around the table on the evening of my arrival, it was time to show the ERE team what original material I had. With hesitation, I took out my tiny digital recorder and the printed lyrics I had prepared back home.

Are they going to like it?

Rip it apart?

Rethink our new partnership?

"Cia Rau Txoj Hmoo" was the first song I pitched to ERE. And as you know, they gave it the green light. This moment may sound simple, but it was significant. You see, many artists have a special attachment to their work. And not sharing anything in four years, I knew very well the stories that fear wanted me to believe about my work.

Gratefully, this moment and this song changed the trajectory of my music career.

P.S. Watch the new lyric video here!

Pagnia Xiong

Pagnia Xiong is an internationally recognized Hmong-American singer, actor, and creative producer. A self-taught artist, Pagnia has spent nearly two decades using her music to empower women, promote self-love, and inspire the pursuit of dreams. Her albums and performances have reached hundreds of thousands worldwide, and she's made history as the first Hmong-American female music artist to perform at a major U.S. league sporting event. Beyond music, Pagnia is an accomplished actor, making her main stage debut with Theater Mu to critical acclaim. She recently headlined her first solo concert at the Ordway and launched a Hmong Music Mentorship program in 2025.

http://www.pagniaxiong.com
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