[1][2] Academia is of Filipino Hawaiian descent, and was born and raised in National City, San Diego.
[1][3] She went on to release her debut album entitled Jungle Wave in 1987 on Columbia Records.
From the LP the 1988 single "Adventure" rose to number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
Academia went on to release on this label her third album, Oracle of the Black Swan.
She has also gone on to create, produce and host an indie radio show titled The LA Music Pipeline where she showcases independent artists.