The X Factor winner and Eurovision runner-up told SBS Korean her new single, 'Pray', is about finding hope and light in a dark situation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tough time for artists and performers, Im said, adding that two years of cancelled or postponed concerts has taken its toll.
“It’s been a time that has made me feel down, but that has also forced me to focus on my new album,” the South Korea-born singer-songwriter said.
Dami Im meets The Wiggles
In September, Im made a surprise appearance alongside Australian children’s music group The Wiggles in new episodes posted to YouTube.
Produced to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and South Korea, the three episodes dedicated to Korean culture were published on the ’s YouTube channel.
Im sang The Wiggles’ greatest hit ‘Fruit Salad’ in Korean along with the band members.
Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins told the episode called ‘Hello Friends in Korea’ provided a special opportunity to connect with artists from Korea.
Red Wiggle Simon Pryce highlighted the experience of working with Im.
Dami Im performs with The Wiggles to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and South Korea Source: Korean Culture Centre AU
“We had the chance to work with the incredible Dami Im, who is such an amazing entertainer and singer. She was absolutely beautiful. It was such a thrill to us. There were other wonderful Korean families, and we just got a chance to create music together,“ Pryce said.
READ MORE
옐로우 위글 엠마와 레드 위글 사이먼, “안녕, 한국의 친구들”
Although The Wiggles have been icons of children’s entertainment for 30 years, Im said she doesn’t have any nostalgic feelings towards the band because she migrated to Australia after pre-school age.
“I didn’t grow up with The Wiggles as I was nine when I came to Australia, but a lot of my friends and colleagues were so excited by the news that I would be working with the band. They are a childhood memory for people who grew up in Australia,” Im said.
During her performance with The Wiggles, Im wore an elegant Korean traditional dress called the hanbok. Today, the hanbok is considered formal attire and usually worn on special occasions like traditional holidays or weddings.
“Initially, I thought wearing hanbok might make it feel like a Lunar New Year special. But it was fun. Because I can’t dance well, wearing a hanbok maximised the awkwardness and made things fun,” Im said.
On being a Korean-Australian celebrity
Dami Im and popular children's band The Wiggles Source: Korean Culture Centre AU
Ever since her debut in 2013 as winner of The X Factor Australia, Im has been one of the best-known Korean-Australian figures in the country.
But representing a culture has not been easy.
“Most people in Australia know that I am Korean, so I get a lot of questions. Sometimes they are serious, like something about North Korea and South Korea. In a way, I think I must represent Korean well by staying informed because I shouldn’t provide incorrect information,” Im said.
While many Asian artists and performers often point out the lack of diversity in the Australian media landscape, Im said opportunities are slowly increasing.
Dami Im came runner-up while representing Australia. Source: SBS
However, Im has told SBS that in her view it is still not enough.
“As I said before, I am not good at dancing. But I was in the program called Dancing with the Stars in 2020. There were more than 100 people, including the audience and production staff, and I was the only Asian there. Then I resultingly felt there was really only one culture of white people.”
“I wondered if it was because Asians don’t like this show. But it wasn’t like that at all. I think the people working for the program may have gotten used to working with familiar people, and that made them more inclined towards that direction… I had several thoughts on that throughout the experience,” she said.
In addition, she said she feels social media often fuels the spread of casual racism, citing to SBS the sharing of memes that perpetuate the stereotype that Asian people eat domesticated animals.
“That makes a lot of people angry. We’re getting more diverse, but in the process of doing so, there are still misunderstandings and racist comments about culture."
“We still have to endure these misunderstandings. People look down on us, and we have to correct them. That is a kind of task for Koreans and Asians to endure, and then maybe it will get better…”
Dami Im's sixth studio album My Reality set for release on 29 October Source: revolutions per minute
New album My Reality
With Australia starting to reopen from COVID-19-induced lockdowns, Im faces busy times ahead.
She’s set to appear on Channel 10’s popular show Celebrity MasterChef Australia and perform at the Milbi Festival in Bundaberg, Queensland, on 29 October.
At the festival, she will perform new songs from her sixth studio album called My Reality, to be released on the same day.
“It is best to go on tour when a new album is released, but now, I don’t know what will happen, because many things have been cancelled before. But I will do my best.
“I am a performer, so I hope there will be more opportunities for concerts, and I will continue working on albums from time to time,” Im said.
