Na Yoon-sun (Korean: 나윤선; born August 28, 1969), also known as Youn Sun Nah, is a South Korean jazz musician.[1]
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.[citation needed]
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.[3]
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.[citation needed] 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.
^"2004 Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
^"재즈가수 나윤선, 佛 '최고 재즈 아티스트' 선정" [Jazz singer Na Yoon-sun wins French 'best jazz artist' award]. Star News (in Korean). January 30, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
^"올해의 앨범상 혼성밴드 '더더'" [Album of the Year goes to co-ed band 'The The']. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). March 18, 2004. Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via Naver News.
^"<이적, 한국대중음악상 시상식서 4관왕 영예>" [Lee Juck honored with 4 awards at the Korean Popular Music Awards]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). March 5, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via Naver News.
^"한국대중음악상 최우수 재즈&크로스오버 재즈 음반상 나윤선" [Na Yoon-sun wins Best Jazz Album Award at Korean Music Awards]. Newsis (in Korean). March 12, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via Naver News.
^"조용필, 한국대중음악상 '올해의 노래' 등 2관왕" [Cho Yong-pil wins two awards including 'Song of the Year' at Korean Music Awards]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via Naver News.
^"재즈 가수 나윤선 등 '2013 한불문화상' 수상" [Jazz singer Na Yoon-sun and others receive 2013 Korean-French Culture Award]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). May 27, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via Naver News.
^"2012 대한민국 대중문화예술상 시상" [2012 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards presented]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). November 19, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via Naver News.
^"나윤선·이익섭 교수 등 세종문화상 수상" [Na Yoon-sun, Professor Iksop Lee receive Sejong Cultural Awards]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). May 12, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2024 – via Naver News.