“My full Lao name is Sengthida Lattanavong. My dad is from Myanmar and when I was born, he gave me the name Rosy. As a grew older, I asked my dad why he gave me the name Rosy, he said ‘because you remind me of a flower.’”
“I am originally from Vientiane, Laos. Growing up, everyone, including all my family members call me Rosy. No one ever calls me Sengthida unless I am at a hospital where they have to go by my identification documents. Sengthida was only used on official documents because my mom wanted me to have a Lao name on the passport.”
“Ever since I was little, I have always loved singing and it was always a dream of mine to become a singer-songwriter. Growing up in Laos, most people around me were either listening to English, Korean, or Thai songs. The lack of Lao representation in the music industry and the world in general drove me to pursue my goal to become a singer-songwriter.”
“I get all my inspirations from YouTube videos. I love YouTube because that is where I watch all my favorite shows like American Idol, Britain's Got Talent, The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and X Factor US and UK.” “
“The most difficult decision I had to make is letting go of people who are not willing to grow with me.
Growing up, I learned that not everyone is going to take me seriously because I consider music as my career. Not everyone is going to be happy for my success; however, I learned to be okay with that.”
“I would definitely tell my younger self to be yourself, surround yourself with positive people, and do what makes you happy. Not everyone is going to love your idea or choices, but know that it is impossible to please everyone. Just be safe and live your dreams.”
“Over the next several years, I want to release more songs that incorporate Lao language in it so that I can continue to connect with the Lao community. I want to be able to set aside time to go on tour so I could physically meet and connect with those who listen to my music.”
“What makes me unique is that my dad is from Myanmar and my mom is from Laos. Although I was born in Thailand, I grew up in Vientiane, Laos, and spent my whole school life at Vientiane International School.“
I did not move to the U.S until I was 18 years old. What makes me different from other Lao Americans and Americans in general is that I grew up in a diverse family of many cultures. I am blessed to have seen so many cultures at home and school. My high school had a total of 80 nationalities.
“What I embrace most about being Lao is the sense of community that we have, and how our food brings people together.”
“What makes me stand out is that I love languages and as a result, I know how to speak Lao, Thai, English, Spanish, and a little bit of Burmese and Korean.”
“I always find opportunities to share my culture with my friends by sharing Lao food with them, teaching them simple Lao phrases, and I sell Lao cultural themed stickers. The stickers are pictures I took in Laos.”
“If I had a whole day to myself, I would spend most of my days in the mountains, or by the beach, away from civilization and technology. I'd either be hiking, writing music, or sketching.”
