Na Yoon-sun
Na Yoon-sun (Korean: 나윤선; born August 28, 1969), also known as Youn Sun Nah, is a South Korean jazz musician.[1]
Na Yoon-sun | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Na Yoon-sun (나윤선) |
Born | Seoul, South Korea | August 28, 1969
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels | ACT |
Website | www |
Na Yoon-sun | |
Hangul | 나윤선 |
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Revised Romanization | Na Yun-seon |
McCune–Reischauer | Na Yunsŏn |
Life and career
Na Yoon-sun was born on August 28, 1969, in Seoul. Her parents are musical: her father, Na Young-soo (나영수), is a conductor in Korea and her mother, Kim Mi-jung (김미정), is a musical actress. She studied French literature at Konkuk University in Korea. While she was working for a fashion company, she was scouted by Kim Min-gi (김민기), who was the president of the Hakchon Theater Company (극단 학전). There, she made her acting debut in a musical called Subway Line 1 (지하철 1호선).
Having been exposed to many kinds of music by her parents, Na decided to study and sing jazz after her performance in Subway Line 1. In 1995, she went to Paris to study jazz and chanson. There, she studied jazz at the CIM Jazz School, the National Music Institute of Beauvais, and the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatory. After graduating, she taught students at the CIM Jazz School from 2000 to 2001. She formed her own quintet, YSN 5tet, and performed at various jazz clubs, theaters, festivals, and bars in France. Also in 2001 she released her debut album, Reflet. Her mostly self-composed 2002 album, Light for the people, was her first album to receive a wide distribution. She recorded the follow-up, Down by love, with guitarist Olivier Ode. With her 2004 release So I am, she became more known in Europe.
In 2007, she made a pop record, Memory Lane. In 2008, she signed a contract with German label ACT, and in 2009 was acknowledged for her musical contributions in France by receiving the distinction of the Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.[2] She released her album Same Girl in 2010 and in 2013 this was followed by Lento. From 2009 to 2015, she gave about 500 performances in many countries, including prestigious festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Vocal style
She was not influenced by any historical jazz musicians, because she did not have any knowledge of jazz music until her late start as a singer. Even though she began studying jazz history in Paris, it was after she had already created her own vocal style. Rather, she sang various genres of music from classical music to rock music by herself before she studied jazz in Paris.
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR [4][5] |
AUT [6] |
BEL (Fl) [7] |
BEL (Wa) [8] |
FRA [9] |
GER [10] |
SWI [11] | |||
Reflet |
Track listing
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Light for the People |
Track listing
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Down by Love |
Track listing
|
40 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
So I Am... |
Track listing
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Memory Lane |
Track listing
|
16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
Voyage |
Track listing
|
No data | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Same Girl |
Track listing
|
13 | — | — | 89 | 38 | — | — | |
Lento |
Track listing
|
8 | — | 145 | 47 | 14 | — | 70 |
|
She Moves On |
Track listing
|
16 | 50 | — | 184 | 27 | 61 | 38 |
|
Immersion |
|
— | — | — | — | 36 [16] |
— | 90 | |
"—" denotes album did not chart or was not released in that region. |
Singles
- "My Favorite Things" (August 10, 2010)
Other contributions
Buddha Bar Volume 5 features a song named "Road" created by Refractory (a French music group) and sung by Na Yoon-sun, under the name "Youn Sun Nah".
She appears on multiple songs of the 2011 release "Songs of Freedom" by French guitarist Nguyên Lê.
Awards
- Chanson competition (French Cultural Center, South Korea), Winner (1989)
- Festival de Jazz de Montmartre (France), Second prize (1998)
- France St-Maur Jazz (France), Winner (1998)
- Concours national de jazz de la Défense (France), Special Jury Prize (1999)
- This year's jazz singer award (South Korea), Winner (2000)
- The 1st Korea Pop Music Awards for Best Crossover (2004)
- Antibes ‘Jazz a Juan’, Winner (2005)
- Today's popular music Awards Young Artist Award, Winner (2005)
- The 5th Korea Pop Music Awards for Best Jass&Crossover
- 6th Korea Best Pop Music Jazz Album Award (2009)
- Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2009)
- BMW Welt Jazz Award, Second prize (2010)
- The 8th Korea Best Pop Music Jazz Crossover Jazz Album, Winner (2011)
- Eco-Jazz foreign female artists of the year, Winner (2011)
- The 3rd Pop Culture Awards Prime Minister's commendation (2012)
References
- "나윤선 – Profile". Daum. November 11, 2017.
- https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/youn-sun-nah
- "Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Down By Love charting". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- "Memory Lane charting". Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- "Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Youn Sun Nah". Austrian Charts (in German). Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Youn Sun Nah". Ultratop Vlaanderen (in Dutch). Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Youn Sun Nah". Ultratop Belgique francophone (in French). Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Youn Sun Nah". Les Charts (in French). Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Youn Sun Nah, She Moves On". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- "Discographie Youn Sun Nah". Schweizer Hitparade (in German). Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- "2004 Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- "2007 Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "2013년 05월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "2017년 05월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 11, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved March 18, 2019.