▁electric ▁guitar ▁came ▁as ▁a ▁later ▁present ▁from ▁her ▁grand m other . ▁One ▁of ▁her ▁grand f athers ▁was ▁a ▁tr ump et - player . ▁After ▁att ending ▁T aft ▁School ▁in ▁Connecticut , ▁she ▁was ▁planning ▁to ▁go ▁on ▁to ▁a ▁film ▁school ▁in ▁Georgia , ▁but ▁in ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁after ▁H urr icane ▁K atr ina , ▁returned ▁home ▁to ▁New ▁Orleans . ▁She ▁got ▁her ▁first ▁work ▁as ▁a ▁professional ▁music ian ▁later ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁and ▁en rolled ▁at ▁Lo y ola ▁University ▁the ▁same ▁year . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁she ▁released ▁her ▁first ▁LP , ▁Southern ▁Fried ▁Soul , ▁and ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁graduated ▁in ▁English . ▁After ▁working ▁briefly ▁as ▁a ▁par ale gal , ▁she ▁took ▁the ▁decision ▁not ▁to ▁go ▁to ▁gradu ate ▁school ▁and ▁instead ▁to ▁make ▁her ▁living ▁by ▁playing ▁music . ▁ ▁B orders ▁has ▁c ited ▁Bill ▁With ers ▁and ▁E tta ▁James ▁as ▁being ▁among ▁her ▁influ ences . ▁Still ▁based ▁in ▁her ▁home ▁city , ▁she ▁now ▁does ▁many ▁t ours , ▁performing ▁chief ly ▁at ▁clubs ▁and ▁festiv als . ▁The ▁events ▁and ▁ven ues ▁she ▁plays ▁include ▁House ▁of ▁Blues ▁in ▁the ▁French ▁Qu arter , ▁the ▁New ▁Orleans ▁Jazz ▁& ▁Heritage ▁Festival , ▁T ip it ina ' s , ▁the ▁Ess ence ▁Music ▁Festival , ▁the ▁Santa ▁Cruz ▁Blues ▁Fest , ▁Night fall ▁at ▁Ch att ano oga ,