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Dreamer
Dami Im was an aspiring singer-songwriter and pianist when she auditioned on The X Factor in 2013. Mentored by Dannii Minogue, she would go on to win. From that time on, her life changed as audiences discovered her incredible voice and her electric stage presence.
One of Australia's greatest musical talents, Dami is a long way from the girl born in Seoul who came to Australia on what she thought was a holiday only to find out, when she started school - not speaking a word of English - that she was here to stay. Throughout her high school and university years she fostered the talent and developed the skills that have seen her rise to the top of her profession and win a legion of fans who call themselves the Dami Army.
Dami is a true artist - a technically great singer and musician - who has the respect of both the industry and her fans. But that wasn't enough to help her forge the path she wanted to be on. In the years since The X Factor she has seen her ambitions squashed and creativity not just ignored but discouraged. But with the 2021 release of her album MY REALITY she emerged as the artist she was destined to be.
Dreamer is Dami's story of fighting for your dreams and never losing belief in yourself, of not compromising your values even as those around you try to make you. It will be the story Dami's fans have always longed to hear and which she is now ready to tell, so she can inspire others to not only dream but pursue those dreams through great challenges.
One of Australia's greatest musical talents, Dami is a long way from the girl born in Seoul who came to Australia on what she thought was a holiday only to find out, when she started school - not speaking a word of English - that she was here to stay. Throughout her high school and university years she fostered the talent and developed the skills that have seen her rise to the top of her profession and win a legion of fans who call themselves the Dami Army.
Dami is a true artist - a technically great singer and musician - who has the respect of both the industry and her fans. But that wasn't enough to help her forge the path she wanted to be on. In the years since The X Factor she has seen her ambitions squashed and creativity not just ignored but discouraged. But with the 2021 release of her album MY REALITY she emerged as the artist she was destined to be.
Dreamer is Dami's story of fighting for your dreams and never losing belief in yourself, of not compromising your values even as those around you try to make you. It will be the story Dami's fans have always longed to hear and which she is now ready to tell, so she can inspire others to not only dream but pursue those dreams through great challenges.
- GenresBiography
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 21, 2023
Fantastic, Dami! You are an inspiration to the music industry. So talented and true to yourself! Congratulations!
February 9, 2023
‘From her very first appearance auditioning for The X Factor in 2013, Dami Im showed the power of her unforgettable voice. As she made her way through the rounds, we learned more about this Brisbane music student with impressive talent and an electric stage presence. When she was announced the winner, her fans, the Dami Army, were right behind her. Three years later at Eurovision, Dami topped the judges’ vote and narrowly came in second overall, taking Australia to its highest-ever placing and gaining fans all over the world.
How this shy Korean-born Australian girl, who started school with very little English and kept her dream of becoming an entertainer to herself, became a global sensation is a story of sacrifice, determination, and talent.
Behind the scenes, however, some in the music industry had tried to change her, pressuring her to do as she was told and sweeping aside her creative input. Dami didn’t give in – she refused to compromise her values and stood up for herself and her vision. Now, she has emerged as the artist she was always destined to be.’
This book was great.
I can remember seeing Dami on The X-Factor and then again at Eurovision so I was excited to get my hands on this book but I didn’t realise just how much I was going to love it.
Getting to see Dami’s journey before The X-Factor was really interesting as it gave more of an insight into who she is and where her passion for music comes from.
As interesting as it was learning about Dami’s journey to The X-Factor, reading about her struggles after winning The X-Factor was absolutely fascinating.
Giving that most people; myself included, have very little in any understanding of how a recording contract or record label works I was gobsmacked by some of the things that I learned while reading this book.
Reading about Dami’s issues with her label and how it affected her self-worth and creativity was utterly heartbreaking. I hadn’t expected this book to be the emotional roller coaster ride that it was, but this book made me laugh, cry, hope, and cheer.
Dami I’m has done a wonderful job with this book. She told her truth with poise and dignity without shying away from the difficulties yet leaving the reader hopeful.
Dreamer by Dami Im is a surprisingly emotional book that you won’t regret reading.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
How this shy Korean-born Australian girl, who started school with very little English and kept her dream of becoming an entertainer to herself, became a global sensation is a story of sacrifice, determination, and talent.
Behind the scenes, however, some in the music industry had tried to change her, pressuring her to do as she was told and sweeping aside her creative input. Dami didn’t give in – she refused to compromise her values and stood up for herself and her vision. Now, she has emerged as the artist she was always destined to be.’
This book was great.
I can remember seeing Dami on The X-Factor and then again at Eurovision so I was excited to get my hands on this book but I didn’t realise just how much I was going to love it.
Getting to see Dami’s journey before The X-Factor was really interesting as it gave more of an insight into who she is and where her passion for music comes from.
As interesting as it was learning about Dami’s journey to The X-Factor, reading about her struggles after winning The X-Factor was absolutely fascinating.
Giving that most people; myself included, have very little in any understanding of how a recording contract or record label works I was gobsmacked by some of the things that I learned while reading this book.
Reading about Dami’s issues with her label and how it affected her self-worth and creativity was utterly heartbreaking. I hadn’t expected this book to be the emotional roller coaster ride that it was, but this book made me laugh, cry, hope, and cheer.
Dami I’m has done a wonderful job with this book. She told her truth with poise and dignity without shying away from the difficulties yet leaving the reader hopeful.
Dreamer by Dami Im is a surprisingly emotional book that you won’t regret reading.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
February 7, 2023
My first memory of Dami Im was seeing her on television, just after she’d forgotten the words to the song she was singing, and was reintroduced. My second encounter was 2016, when she was so close to winning the Eurovision Song Contest. However, I only truly began following her and her music from 2021, when I was introduced to her new music (which as I learned in this book was her independent music, despite all her music being good). Seeing everything before I began following her music, behind the scenes of Eurovision, and everything after 2021 was great to read about (especially as a fan, connecting the dots was really interesting after 2021). If you are a fan of Dami, (or the Dami Army), I would definitely recommend reading, and if you aren’t, it has quite a good insight into what happens after you become famous from reality singing programs such as X-Factor, and how record labels control artists (and why freedom to create is so important to artists). 5/5
April 27, 2023
I didn’t find this book all that interesting tbh. It was easy to read but it felt a little surface level. I think Dami wrote a book that documented some of her life’s journey and moments but didn’t really share with the reader anything overly specific or inspirational or personal as you would in a memoir. She did come across as very naive in her involvement with Sony.
January 9, 2023
I read this book in just over two nights, I found it to be both and inspirational story and insightful into an industry I do not know much about it. It also helps that Dami is a humble and lovely person and this comes through in the book. Really easy read and I thoroughly enjoyed!
December 16, 2023
Im not gonna lie, i thoroughly enjoy reading this book, i wish she talked about her child more as im a sucker for children development. Normally i get the audiobook for memoirs but this was unavailable, however, i could hear dami voice with word i read.
July 18, 2024
Amazing book and so great to learn about Dami’s story. It really came from the heart.
November 25, 2023
I’ve been following Dami’s journey on and off from her The X Factor days. She immediately captured my attention with her quirky, endearing and can-do personality. And of course I welcomed more Asian representations on TV.
When I saw she was releasing a memoir, I immediately jumped to get a copy. I was very lucky to have won a Dreamer PR Package from Hachette after Lisa @anybookanytime tagged me on instagram! So of course I had to pay it forward and send her my extra copy so we could buddy read the book together.
This inspirational memoir covered Dami’s journey from her very first appearance on The X Factor in 2013, her legendary performance in Eurovision (I’m still fuming we didn’t win!), and her behind-the-scene battles in music industry to assert her values and took back control of her own work and results.
While reading this memoir, I went down the rabbit hole of watching all her past videos on YouTube so I could again experience all her standing ovation performances. The memoir was so easy to follow; it was written as if the words were spoken directly by Dami. It was personal, occasionally darker that I’d expected in some aspects, and inspiring.
Her personal journey of wanting to achieve a little bit ‘more’ and her tiredness of keep being asked about children before she was ready really touched me as they were relatable. I admired her as an artist, a public figure and a businesswoman. What an inspiration!
(Thanks to Hachette Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
When I saw she was releasing a memoir, I immediately jumped to get a copy. I was very lucky to have won a Dreamer PR Package from Hachette after Lisa @anybookanytime tagged me on instagram! So of course I had to pay it forward and send her my extra copy so we could buddy read the book together.
This inspirational memoir covered Dami’s journey from her very first appearance on The X Factor in 2013, her legendary performance in Eurovision (I’m still fuming we didn’t win!), and her behind-the-scene battles in music industry to assert her values and took back control of her own work and results.
While reading this memoir, I went down the rabbit hole of watching all her past videos on YouTube so I could again experience all her standing ovation performances. The memoir was so easy to follow; it was written as if the words were spoken directly by Dami. It was personal, occasionally darker that I’d expected in some aspects, and inspiring.
Her personal journey of wanting to achieve a little bit ‘more’ and her tiredness of keep being asked about children before she was ready really touched me as they were relatable. I admired her as an artist, a public figure and a businesswoman. What an inspiration!
(Thanks to Hachette Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews