Dami Im
Dami Im | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 17, 1988 Seoul, South Korea |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Representing Australia at Eurovision Song Contest 2016; winner of The X Factor Australia (season 5) |
Dami Im ( ; ; born 17 October 1988) is a singer and songwriter based in Australia. She represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 held in Stockholm, performing the track "Sound of Silence". Her performance earned her second place, marking Australia's highest ever score in the competition.
Originally from South Korea, Im moved to Australia when she was nine years old. She emerged as the winner of the fifth season of The X Factor Australia, which led to a recording deal with Sony Music Australia. In 2020, she transitioned from Sony to sign with ABC Music.
After winning The X Factor, Im's debut single, "Alive", entered the ARIA Charts at number one. Her second studio album, titled Dami Im, also debuted atop the ARIA Albums Chart and received platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association. She was the first contestant on The X Factor Australia to have both a number one single and a number one album consecutively. Her third album, Heart Beats (2014), secured her second top-ten placement and featured top-twenty singles "Super Love" and "Gladiator".
Early life
Born in Seoul on 17 October 1988, Dami Im is the daughter of Lee Hae-yun, an opera-trained vocalist, and Im Dong-eal. She has one younger sibling. Beginning piano lessons at five years old, she also taught herself singing by mimicking her favorite performers. At age nine, she relocated to Australia with her mother and younger brother Kenny for enhanced opportunities, living with their uncle in Brisbane, while her father remained in South Korea to provide support. Currently, her parents divide their time between Australia and South Korea.
By age 11, Im was enrolled in the Young Conservatorium of Music program at Griffith University. She became a national finalist in the Yamaha Youth Piano Competition and earned the Nora Baird Scholarship as well as multiple wins at the Queensland Piano Competition. She graduated from John Paul College in Daisy Hill, Queensland in 2005. During school, she played piano for the choir and violin but did not perform vocally in public.
In 2009, Im completed a Bachelor of Music with first-class honours at the University of Queensland, followed by a Masters of Music Studies focusing on contemporary voice at Griffith University. Her vocal training was under Dr. Irene Bartlett and Sharny Russell, both renowned for coaching prominent Australian singers such as Katie Noonan and Megan Washington. Prior to participating in The X Factor, she supported herself by singing gospel music and occasionally teaching piano and voice lessons.
2010–2012: Early career
Im’s initial musical endeavors were as a gospel singer performing at Christian youth camps in South Korea. In 2010, she launched her first studio album titled Dream, which included nine tracks recorded to benefit church initiatives. The album was reissued in July 2011 with two extra English-language songs. On 5 December 2011, she released a Christmas-themed extended play called Snow & Carol, featuring seven tracks. This was followed by her second EP, Intimacy, released on 9 July 2012, containing five songs.
2013: The X Factor Australia
In 2013, Im took part in the fifth season of The X Factor Australia, performing Mariah Carey's "Hero" during her audition and advancing to the super bootcamp stage in the Girls category. Following category adjustments, she was moved to the Over 24s but faced initial elimination before being brought back for the home visits round held in New York City, replacing Matt Gresham. Her mentor, Dannii Minogue, ultimately chose her to compete in the live finals.
Throughout the competition, Im delivered standout renditions of songs such as U2's "One," Prince's "Purple Rain," and Katy Perry's "Roar," frequently earning standing ovations from the judges. Several of her live performances entered the ARIA Singles Chart, with "Bridge over Troubled Water" peaking at number 15 and other tracks appearing at various chart positions.
On 27 October, during the grand finale, Im performed three pieces: her original audition song "Hero," the winner’s single "Alive," and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," all of which received unanimous acclaim from the judges. Her final performance debuted at number 29 on the ARIA chart. The following day, she was declared the winner of the contest, marking a pivotal achievement in her musical journey.
denotes a performance that charted on ARIA Singles
denotes winner
Performances on The X Factor
| Stage | Song performed | Original performer | Theme | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auditions | "Hero" | Mariah Carey | — | Advanced to Super bootcamp |
| Super bootcamp | "I'm with You" | Avril Lavigne | Progressed to second day of bootcamp | |
| "Next to Me" | Emeli Sandé | Advanced to third day of bootcamp | ||
| "Jolene" | Dolly Parton | Selected for Home Visits as replacement for Matt Gresham | ||
| Home visits | "If I Were a Boy" | Beyoncé | Qualified for Live shows | |
| Week 1 | "One" | U2 | Judges' Choice | Safe |
| Week 2 | "Purple Rain" | Prince | Legends theme | Safe |
| Week 3 | "Don't Leave Me This Way" | Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes | Top 10 Hits theme | Safe |
| Week 4 | "Roar" | Katy Perry | Latest and Greatest theme | Safe |
| Week 5 | "Best of You" | Foo Fighters | Rock week | Safe |
| Week 6 | "Bridge over Troubled Water" | Simon & Garfunkel | Family Heroes theme | Safe |
| Week 7 | "Clarity" | Zedd & Foxes | Judges' Challenge week | Safe |
| Week 8 | "You're the Voice" | John Farnham | Aussie Week theme | Safe |
| Week 9 | "Saving All My Love for You" | Whitney Houston | Power and Passion theme | Safe |
| "Wrecking Ball" | Miley Cyrus | |||
| Week 10 | "Hero" | Mariah Carey | Audition reprise | Winner |
| "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" | Jennifer Holliday | Final performance | ||
| "Alive" | Im | Winner’s single |
2013–2015: Dami Im and Heart Beats
Following her victory on The X Factor, Im launched her debut winner’s single, "Alive," which entered the ARIA Singles Chart at number one and earned platinum certification. She secured a deal with Sony Music Australia and obtained professional management. Her second studio album, titled Dami Im and released on 15 November 2013, included studio recordings of songs she performed during the competition. This album debuted atop the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum, making her the first contestant from The X Factor Australia to simultaneously hold number one positions for both a single and an album.
In late 2013, Im took part in The X Factor Live Tour alongside other finalists and became an ambassador for the children's charity Compassion Australia. Early in 2014, she was signed by fashion brand Alannah Hill to represent their autumn/winter campaign. Additionally, she contributed to a group rendition of "I Am Australian," which reached number 51 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
Her acoustic interpretation of Dolly Parton's "Jolene," released in March 2014, did not enter the charts. That same year, Im was appointed ambassador for Priceline Pharmacy's You Beauty initiative as well as Nintendo’s video game Tomodachi Life. She also performed at Nova FM's Red Room Global Tour event in Sydney in September.
Im’s third studio album, Heart Beats, was released on 17 October 2014 and debuted at number seven on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album’s lead singles, "Super Love" and "Gladiator," both peaked at number 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart; "Super Love" achieved platinum certification in South Korea, while "Gladiator" received gold status in Australia. In December 2014, she served as a supporting act for John Legend during his Australian All of Me Tour.
Her sixth lead single, "Smile," came out in May 2015 and entered the charts at number 48. By June of that year, Im had begun working on her fourth studio album. In 2015, she appeared as a contestant on South Korea’s original version of The Masked Singer, titled King of Mask Singer, performing under the guise of the Statue of Liberty; however, she was eliminated after three rounds.
2016–2018: Eurovision Song Contest, Classic Carpenters and I Hear a Song
On 10 February 2016, Im was invited to perform at China’s BTV Global Spring Festival Gala. She delivered an acoustic version of "Close to You" in English and performed a duet with Chinese Kazakh singer Tasiken on "365 Mile Road" (三百六十五里路) sung in Chinese. Both artists share similar competition backgrounds—Tasiken advanced in The Voice of China after initial elimination, mirroring Im’s recall during Australia’s The X Factor. The gala attracted an international audience exceeding 200 million viewers.
Im was officially announced as Australia's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 on 3 March 2016 with the song "Sound of Silence". The following day, she revealed her album Classic Carpenters, a tribute collection featuring covers from The Carpenters, which was released on 22 April 2016. Mid-April saw the release of music videos for "(They Long to Be) Close to You", "There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)", and "Yesterday Once More". This album reached number three on the ARIA charts and climbed to number 23 on South Korea’s charts.
Paul Clarke, head of Australia’s Eurovision delegation, emphasized Im’s immigrant heritage and heartfelt performance style as key strengths that resonate with Eurovision's celebration of cultural diversity. Performing tenth in the second semi-final, she achieved the highest score among competitors and became the first Australian entrant to qualify from a semi-final to the final round. In the grand final, performing thirteenth, she earned top marks from national juries with 320 points alongside 191 televote points, finishing second overall with a total of 511 points—Australia’s best result at Eurovision to date.
Post-Eurovision, "Sound of Silence" peaked at number three on ARIA charts and received Gold certifications from both ARIA and Sweden's recording industry association. The single also charted in Finland, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and Austria—establishing it as her most commercially successful release. In October 2016, she released another single titled "Fighting for Love". The following year, Im secured a special modeling contract with THE.mgmt agency.
On 7 April 2017, she unveiled a new rendition of "Hold Me in Your Arms" featuring Jack Jones—the original vocalist from Southern Sons. Sony Music Australia's CEO Denis Handlin made significant efforts to bring Jones onboard after being impressed by Im's live performances. Later that month, on 28 April, Classic Carpenters received Gold certification while "Sound of Silence" was awarded Platinum status. In April 2017, Im appeared as a special guest during Brisbane's staging of Grease: The Arena Experience.
On 16 February 2018, she announced her fifth studio album titled I Hear a Song, which was released on 23 March 2018. The album achieved notable commercial success by reaching number three on the ARIA Albums Chart, claiming the top spot on Australian Artist Album charts, and attaining number eleven on South Korea’s Gaon charts.
2019: Release of Live Sessions EP, Asia Song Festival appearance, and independent projects
In March 2019, Im introduced her debut live extended play titled Live Sessions EP. Following her departure from Sony Music Australia, she independently launched the original track "Crying Underwater" on 13 September 2019, which explores the societal expectation to maintain a facade of happiness. Subsequently, on 3 January 2020, she unveiled the single "Kiss You Anyway".
During October 2019, Im showcased her talents at Korea's Asia Song Festival, sharing the stage with prominent K-pop performers such as Sunmi, Eric Nam, Stray Kids, and Itzy.
2020–present: ABC Music contract, Bluesfest debut, Dancing with the Stars, My Reality album, and memoir
At the start of 2020, Im participated in the seventeenth installment of Australia's Dancing with the Stars, where she was paired with Shae Mountain; the duo secured fifth place overall.
On 8 February 2020, she performed "Walk with Me" alongside Måns Zelmerlöw during Eurovision – Australia Decides, also debuting her new single "Marching On". She had intended to compete in Australia Decides 2021; however, the event was cancelled due to the global pandemic.
Im inked a deal with ABC Music on 31 August 2020 and announced plans for a forthcoming album. Her inaugural single under ABC, "Paper Dragon", was released on 17 September 2020 and was originally meant for the cancelled Australia Decides 2021 competition.
In mid-2021, Im took part in Network 10's Celebrity MasterChef Australia season two, where she was the second contestant eliminated. That year also marked her first performance at Byron Bay Bluesfest. On 29 October 2021, she released her sixth studio album titled My Reality.
Expanding into publishing, Im released her memoir Dreamer in 2022.
In May 2023, she revealed plans for an EP named In Between, which was made available on 7 July. Later that year in October, she introduced her inaugural Christmas-themed collection, Christmas Songbook, released on 17 November.
Also in 2023, Im competed as Snow Fox on the fifth season of The Masked Singer Australia, ultimately winning after eight performances.
July 2024 saw the release of a children's music album titled Kid Song Collection, issued under her alternate artist name Grace Notes.
In September 2024, Im delivered a reimagined rendition of South Korean vocalist Lee Sun-hee's "Beautiful Scenery" on South Korea's Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend. Her performance earned her victory in that episode.
Artistry
Im attributes her musical dedication and enthusiasm for performance to early influences at home—her mother being an opera singer—and formal piano education. She has also acknowledged K-pop as a source of inspiration for both her vocal style and songwriting approach. Among her musical role models are Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, and BoA.
Apart from vocal performance, Im is recognized as a skilled songwriter. Since parting ways with Sony Music, she has released works that convey more intimate themes, including Marching On, Crying Underwater, and Kiss You Anyway.
Im has also established herself as a fashion influencer. During her time on The X Factor, she gained attention for elaborate stage costumes and drew interest from designers such as Alannah Hill and Carla Zampatti. For Eurovision, her signature gown was custom-made by distinguished Australian designer Steven Khalil.
Filmography
- 2014: Paper Planes
In 2014, Im contributed a cover of Macy Gray's "Beauty in the World" for the soundtrack of the Australian children's movie Paper Planes, featuring Sam Worthington among the cast. The film premiered in January 2015. This track was also featured on Im's album Heart Beats.
- 2016: Trolls
Im made her cinematic debut in November 2016 by voicing Grandma Rosiepuff in the Australian version of DreamWorks Animation's Trolls. The role was shared internationally with Susanna Reid for the UK edition and GloZell Green for the US release. Im appeared at the film’s Australian premiere in Sydney alongside Justin Timberlake.
Carols in the Domain
Following her victory on The X Factor in 2013, Im first performed at Carols in the Domain, a prominent annual live event in Australia attracting over 80,000 spectators and broadcast nationally. This celebration showcases a variety of artists, performers, and choirs. Im has been a regular performer every year since her debut. On 21 November 2016, it was announced she would return for the live broadcast on 18 December 2016.
| Year | Date | Songs |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 21 December 2013 | "Silent Night" |
| "Away in a Manger" | ||
| 2014 | 20 December 2014 | "O Holy Night" |
| "The Christmas Song" | ||
| 2015 | 19 December 2015 | "O Come, All Ye Faithful" |
| "Silent Night" (duet with Cyrus Villanueva) | ||
| "Away in a Manger" | ||
| 2016 | 18 December 2016 | "The First Noel" |
| "O Holy Night" | ||
| 2017 | 17 December 2017 | "O Come, All Ye Faithful" |
Carols by Candlelight
On 24 December 2016, Im appeared at the Vision Australia Carols By Candlelight held at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, performing alongside artists such as Anthony Callea, Kate Ceberano, and Ol'55. The event was broadcast live across Australia via the Nine Network. Critics praised her performance, highlighting that she "stole the show - hands down."
| Year | Date | Songs |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 24 December 2016 | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" |
| 2016 | 24 December 2016 | "When a Child Is Born" |
Personal life
Im met her spouse Noah Kim through their Korean church community in Brisbane; they wed on 15 September 2012 in Seoul. The couple welcomed a son in 2022. Their residence was in Daisy Hill, Queensland, within the Logan City area. In October 2013, Im was appointed as cultural ambassador for Logan City and received the city’s key from mayor Pam Parker in December that year.
A passionate food enthusiast, Im enjoys cooking and spending downtime at home. She has expressed fondness for her mother’s homemade dishes, particularly Korean pancake (chijimi), and regards Korean fried chicken as her favorite comfort meal.
Compassion Australia
Im actively supports and serves as an ambassador for Compassion Australia. Following Eurovision 2016, despite advice from industry professionals, she traveled to Uganda to visit Jovia, her eighth sponsored child. During this visit, Im organized a concert for approximately 200 Ugandan children that was streamed live on Facebook. She focuses on raising awareness about global poverty and aiding those in need, describing this experience as deeply grounding and meaningful for both her personal life and career.
Noteworthy Appearances
Im has showcased her talent in a variety of prominent events, including:
- 15 December 2015 – Joined NSW Public Schools Singers to perform "I Am Australian" during the commemoration of the first anniversary of the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis.
- 10 February 2016 – Appeared on Beijing TV's Global Spring Festival Gala, delivering a solo rendition of "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and a duet with Tasiken, reaching an audience exceeding 200 million.
- 21 April 2016 – Paid tribute with a performance of "Purple Rain" on Channel 7's The Morning Show following the passing of Prince.
- 12 & 14 May 2016 – Represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, winning the Second Semi-final and securing second place in the Grand Final, a milestone for Australia.
- 1 November 2016 – Featured at the 2016 Melbourne Cup alongside the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic orchestra and choir, performing covers such as "The Power of the Dream" and the Australian National Anthem to an estimated worldwide viewership over 700 million.
- 7 December 2016 – Delivered a memorable performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" at the 6th AACTA Awards, earning acclaim as a highlight of the event.
- 26 January 2017 – At Network Ten’s Australia Day Concert, performed "Sound of Silence" and introduced a duet with Guy Sebastian on "Hold Me in Your Arms", which later became a studio single with Jack Jones. Also collaborated with Human Nature and Russell Morris on "The Real Thing", concluding with group performances of national anthems.
- 15 April 2018 – Sang "Alive" during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
- 13–14 June 2019 – Presented 'My Life In Songs' at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
- 11–12 October 2019 – Participated in the Asia Song Festival in Korea, sharing the stage with leading KPop artists.
- 8 February 2020 – Collaborated with Måns Zelmerlöw on "Walk with Me" at Eurovision – Australia Decides.
Discography
- Dream (2010)
- Dami Im (2013)
- Heart Beats (2014)
- Classic Carpenters (2016)
- I Hear a Song (2018)
- My Reality (2021)
Concert Tours
As Headliner
- The X Factor Live Tour (2013)
- Yesterday Once More Tour (2016–2017)
- I Hear a Song Tour (2018)
- Dreamer Tour (2019)
- Paper Dragon Tour (2020)
As Supporting Act
- Nova's Red Room Global Tour (Series 1: 2014)
- John Legend's All of Me Tour (Australian leg, 2014)
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Category | Award | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Poprepublic.tv Awards | Breakthrough Artist of 2013 | Template:Nom |
| Favourite Album of 2013 (Dami Im) | Template:Nom | ||
| The X Factor | Winner | Template:Won | |
| 2014 | ARIA No. 1 Chart Awards | Number One Album for Dami Im | Template:Won |
| Number One Single for "Alive" | Template:Won | ||
| World Music Awards | World's Best Female Artist | Template:Nom | |
| World's Best Live Act | Template:Nom | ||
| World's Best Entertainer of the Year | Template:Nom | ||
| World's Best Song for "Alive" | Template:Nom | ||
| Cosmopolitan Fun, Fearless, Female Awards | Fun, Fearless, Female Woman of the Year | Template:Won | |
| Singer category | Template:Won | ||
| Channel [V] Awards | [V] Oz Artist of the Year | Template:Nom | |
| 2016 | Eurovision Song Contest 2016 | First Prize Runner-up | Template:Won |
| Griffith University | AEL Young Alumnus of the Year Award | Template:Won | |
| Cosmopolitan Australia Women of the Year Awards | Artist of the Year | Template:Won | |
| 2017 | Queensland Music Awards – BOQ People's Choice | Most Popular Female Artist | Template:Won |
| Australian Club Entertainment Awards | Club Performer of the Year | Template:Won | |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Template:Won | ||
| 2019 | Australian Women in Music Awards | Humanitarian Award | Template:Won |
| 2020 | Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts | Favourite TV Contestant of the Decade ('The X Factor', 'Dancing with the Stars', 'Eurovision') | Template:Nom |
| 2021 | Australian Women in Music Awards | Songwriter Award Nomination | Template:Nom |
| 2023 | National Indigenous Music Awards 2023 | Song of the Year (Yirrmal featuring Dami Im - "Promised Land") | Template:Nom |
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1988 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Australian vocalists
- 21st-century Australian keyboardists
- 21st-century Australian string instrumentalists
- 21st-century Australian female singers
- Advocates against poverty
- Australian Christians
- Female Australian composers
- Australian female pop vocalists
- Australian female singer-songwriters
- Australian flute players
- Australian female flute players
- Australian multi-instrumental musicians
- Australians of Korean heritage
- Performers of Christian music in Australia
- Australian sopranos
- Griffith University graduates
- Korean Christians
- The Masked Singer champions
- Musicians originating from Brisbane
- Naturalised Australian citizens
- Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University graduates
- South Korean immigrants to Australia
- Australian female memoir authors
- The X Factor (Australian TV series) participants
- The X Factor victors
- Eurovision Song Contest participants
- University of Queensland graduates
- Australian female violinists
- Alumni of John Paul College (Brisbane)
- 21st-century Australian female pianists
- 21st-century flute players
- 21st-century Australian singer-songwriters
- The X Factor (Australian TV series) contestants