Dami Im – My Life In Songs

Dami Im – My Life In Songs
Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Dunstan Playhouse, Festival Centre, Adelaide, June 13 -14, 2019

We are all familiar with the Dami Im, winner of the fifth season of X Factor Australia, whose debut single “Alive” reached number one on the Aria Albums Chart andwho represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song “Sound of Silence”. There she won the jury vote, coming second overall with a total of 511 points. But how much do we know of the real Dami?

In an extremely compelling evening of song,Dami Im – My Life in Songs explores her story as a Korean immigrant and her climb to success.

Against a background of colour-changing fluorescent diamonds Dami adds her own touch of style in a pants suit with just a hint of feathers down one sleeve. An excellent contrast to the maroon suits of her musically tight four-piece band.

Through the telling of her story in dialogue and song we discover the Dami we didn’t know (or was never allowed to see by her promoters).

Her first number is an astoundingly difficult classical piano solo. She seems surprised that we don’t know that a lot of Asian children study piano or violin from an early age and become extremely proficient. However, this is all part of her sense of humour in sharing her experiences from an Asian point of view.

Not everything is humorous though – we discover a young nine-year-old who can’t speak English (and thinks that we Caucasians all look the same). Innocent and shy and considering a career as a concert pianist, she eventually tries singing and discovers her real vocation (not without initial difficulties).

Following her completion of a Masters of Jazz Voice, the story becomes Dami as we all know her, with her involvement in X Factor and Eurovision.

The real surprise though is Dami’s humanitarian work in other countries under the banner of ‘Compassion Australia’. As dry as her sense of humour is when relating her growing up, there are genuine tears welling up in her eyes when she gives us an insight of the children in other countries she works with and her dream of a music school to help underprivileged children.

With an amazingly versatile voice and range she leaves us with some of the songs we know: “Hey Sexy Lady”, “I Just Can’t Get You Out of My Head”, “Summertime” (my personal favourite), “Jolene” and the amazing “Purple Rain”, to name a few.

We are also treated to some of her own songs, notably “Crying Underwater” and “Song for Little John”.

As a songwriter Dami says she has now ‘taken the mask off’ and we see the real performer, immensely talented, humble, dedicated and always relatable.

Dami Im – My Life in Songs is an insight into the world of pop music but more importantly an insight into a very special performer.

Barry Hill

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