Rocker Thao gets down with prisoners' rights

Singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen found the inspiration for her band’s latest album, “We the Common,” in an unlikely place: a women’s prison.

After years of touring, Nguyen took more than a year off from music to help her regain some perspective on life. She spent much of that time volunteering with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.

amNewYork spoke with Nguyen, who performs with her band The Get Down Stay Down.