Paris Jackson discusses her music career: 'Music is the air I breathe'
Going into the family business isn't always easy, but Paris Jackson seems to be doing fine.
Her first solo album, "wilted" -- released last month -- earned great reviews and debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Alternative Albums chart.
Tonight, the daughter of the late Michael Jackson is performing on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" -- and she tells ABC Audio she's counting her blessings.
"I'm living in so much gratitude right now," Jackson said, adding that while she's "nervous" at the prospect of tonight's performance, she's also been overwhelmed by the "amount of support and love" she's received for the alternative folk sound of "wilted."
She added, "I usually try not to read comments because people can be mean. But ... it's all so positive and people are so kind. And it seems people actually can hear the honesty of it, and how I really am singing from my soul and my heart and from my very being."
Jackson says she's been singing "under her breath" since she was a little girl, and started writing songs as a teen, but it took her awhile before deciding to follow in her dad's footsteps.
"I didn't accept being a musician...as my destiny until about two years ago," she explained. "So it's still pretty fresh. I'm a rookie. I'm an amateur, but I have a passion for it and I love it...music is the air I breathe."
For the Radiohead-influenced, "wilted," Jackson collaborated with Andy Hull of the alt-rock band Manchester Orchestra -- after she hit him up on social media.
"Dude, I'm such a huge nerd when it comes to music!" she laughed. "I just messaged Andy on Twitter, I was like, 'What's up? Hi, I love you.'"
After meeting Hull in person, Paris said, she was thrilled when she sent him her demos for "wilted" and his reaction was, "Let's do it! Let's run it!"
