The album offers a distinct and recognisable sound of American music and it's rich history, encapsulating both Lee's journey as an American, as well as the journeys of the composers in the United States. A native of Seoul, Korea, Lee emigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven. As a foreign-born citizen of America, she was compelled to select the repertoire on American Sketches to express her pride of the country she now calls her own.