Taking advantage of the town's proximity to the ocean, she began surfing at the age of 12. She competed in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) High School Division and earned fifth place in the state title while still in middle school.
At 15, she was given a cassette of Ani DiFranco's 1993 Puddle Dive by her half-brother's friend. She played the album constantly and it still has great sentimental value to her. It serves as a reminder of when her musical ambitions started to blossom.
Inspired by DiFranco's music and due in part to her nature of being a self-described "nosy kid" she entered her parents' room and began playing around with her father's old acoustic guitar. Although her parents were initially angry with her for "taking" her father's guitar, they eventually became supportive of her interest in music.
She began playing in front of friends at their homes and they encouraged her to begin writing her own material. One night, while performing for some friends, an employee of the production company The Moonshine Conspiracy, run by surf filmmaker Taylor Steele and professional surfer Chris Malloy, heard her and asked Tristan to appear in the film the company was working on at the time entitled Shelter. Tristan's song, Anything At All was chosen to be on the soundtrack.
Prettyman began playing in clubs and bars throughout San Diego County before being invited to join fellow San Diegoan, and future boyfriend, Jason Mraz on his national tour.
Prettyman spent the winter of 2004 in New York collaborating with producer Josh Deutsch who had worked with Mraz and Lenny Kravitz.
Prettyman is half-sister to Cody McClintock, an independent film producer.
She is signed to Virgin Records, and put out her first major label album Twentythree on August 2, 2005. Tristan credits her half-brother with much influence on her thinking and the title of her debut album pays partial homage to the "23 enigma". A perceptual concept which refers to the abnormally high occurrence of the number 23 in daily life as described in the book Cosmic Trigger by Robert Anton Wilson, as derived from friend and fellow author William S. Burroughs.
Twentythree peaked at 24 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.
In 2008 Tristan released her sophomore album, entitled Hello.
California Girl
Tristan Prettyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Show you how easy it can be
California girl of your dreams
Sitting by the sea shore
Soaking up the summer breeze
[Chorus]
Never gonna fall, I'm never gonna fall
Never gonna fall, I'm never gonna fall
For that old trick again
I can't believe I even came
Don't even know your name
Boy you know that ain't my scene
But you gotta play by the rules
If you ever gonna win the game
[Chorus]
I wish my words were true
True to the moment and true to you
But fear will help you make your move
Sweet kisses in the summer taste soft like honeydew
[Chorus: Repeats Til Fade]
The lyrics of Tristan Prettyman's song California Girl speak about a girl who, despite not being in the habit of falling for someone she just met, is willing to give love a chance. She tells this person that she will show them how easy it is to fall in love with her, and how she is the California girl of their dreams, sitting by the sea shore and enjoying the summer breeze. Despite this, she acknowledges that she has been burned before, falling for the same old trick that she doesn't want to fall for again. She is hesitant to jump right in because she doesn't even know the person's name, but she knows that sometimes you have to "play by the rules" to win.
The chorus repeats the phrase "never gonna fall, I'm never gonna fall for that old trick again," emphasizing the singer's fear of falling for the same mistake. The song's bridge expresses the singer's anxiety and doubt, knowing that fear will help this person make their move but also fearing that her words might not be sincere.
Overall, the song's lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is strong, independent, and has been through enough heartbreak to be cautious in love. Despite this, she is open to the possibility of love and is willing to give things a try.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll let you fall in love with me
I am willing to give you a chance to fall for me.
Show you how easy it can be
I will prove to you that falling in love with me is effortless.
California girl of your dreams
I embody the ideal California girl that you have always envisioned.
Sitting by the sea shore
Relaxing on the beach with you is one of my leisure pursuits.
Soaking up the summer breeze
The feeling of the warm summer wind against my skin is delightful.
Never gonna fall, I'm never gonna fall
I will not fall in love easily or ever again.
For that old trick again
I refuse to fall for the same game or deceitful behavior again.
I can't believe I even came
I am surprised I agreed to meet you.
Don't even know your name
I do not yet know the most basic thing about you.
Boy you know that ain't my scene
This is not typically something I partake in or enjoy.
But you gotta play by the rules
In order to get what you want and win me over, you must respect the boundaries.
If you ever gonna win the game
If you want to be successful in this romantic pursuit, you need to abide by my conditions.
I wish my words were true
I hope my honest and sincere words will be enough for you to trust me.
True to the moment and true to you
I promise to always be honest with you and genuine in my actions towards you.
But fear will help you make your move
Despite my convictions, fear may motivate you to make the first move towards me.
Sweet kisses in the summer taste soft like honeydew
The warmth of the summer while sharing a gentle kiss with you is a sweeter than anything else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PRETTYMAN, SKARBEK, TEREFE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind