Vienna Teng started playing the piano at age five and was writing her own songs by her early teens. Teng continued writing music all throughout high school and college, and in between classes, exams and papers, she found time record a handful of songs. Some of the songs were released independently on her debut, Waking Hour, which she sold at shows. Her beautifully written songs and love for the road led her to a contract with Virt Records, who remixed a few songs and released Waking Hour to a much larger audience. Warm Strangers, Teng's solid, comfortable-sounding sophomore effort, was released in 2004.