Biography
Pre-Debut
Born in Atlanta on November 17, 1988, he started playing the piano when he was 4 years old and became interested in singing when he switched from piano to cello when he was about 9 years old. he always sang in his hometown church and was part of the Atlanta Boy Choir. Through the choir he had the opportunity to tour Italy and sing at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
He joined Soompi when he was only 13 years old, which gave him a platform to communicate with other Korean-Americans, and gave him the courage to upload his own music to YouTube. Thanks to his cover ‘Lonely from 2NE1 eric had the opportunity to audition live on the South Korean singing competition “MBC Star Audition: Birth Of A Great Star 2″. where he had very good comments from the judges for his powerful presentation of ‘Ordinary People’. it made it to the Top 5 and then returned to the U.S. to perform in the “Kollaboration Boston 2″. (a talent competition) in April 2012.
However, he decided to fly back to Korea to join the project group ‘Namaste composed of participants of the ‘Star Audition’. who had a song called ‘The Blue Night of Jeju Island’. written by his mentor Lee Seung-Hwan.
He worked for some time as an international affairs consultant with a major firm before auditioning for his current company. Through the MBC program ‘Section TV’. the singer had the opportunity to interview a number of Korean and international artists including Girls’ Generation miranda Kerr, Miranda Kerr, Barbara Palvin, Amanda Seyfried, the cast of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2′. robert Downey Jr. among others.
Debut
On January 23, 2013, Eric made his official debut as a solo artist with the release of his debut mini-album ‘CLOUD 9′ performing on January 26th on the MBC program Music Core presenting his song ‘Heaven’s Door’..
In December 2015, his contract with B2M Entertainment ended after 3 years since his debut, so he left the company to sign with Stone Music Entertainment.
On March 4, 2016, Eric participated along with Wendy on the digital single entitled ‘Spring Love’. in collaboration with the SM Entertainment, SM Station.
On March 24, 2016, Eric returned with the release of his second mini-album titled ‘Interview’ along with the release of its eponymous music video.
On July 15, 2016, Eric released his sixth digital single titled ‘Can’t Help Myself’..
Eric Nam Facts
- Education:
- Lovett School (2007)
- Boston College (Bachelor of Arts in International Studies)
- Laude Peking University
- Family Parents, younger siblings.
- Languages: English and Korean (fluent), Spanish (intermediate), Mandarin (intermediate) and Japanese (basic).
- Instruments: Piano
- Fandom: Nam Nation (fan club) / Nam Pyeon (individual fans)
- He started playing the piano when he was 4 years old, but switched to the cello when he was 9.
- He sang in a children’s choir in Atlanta.
- Before making his debut, he did a lot of charity work, especially in India and Latin America.
- His first year at the University he spent his spring break in Bolivia working in microfinance.
- Through the Boston University program, he had the opportunity to live for 1 year at Laude Peking University in Beijing, China.
- He was the 5th finalist in the 2nd season of the MBC program “Star Audition: Birth of a Great Star”..
- Participated in the recording of The Friends in Costa Rica along with Song Yu Vin and Sam Kim.
- Before his debut, he was part of a project group called “Namaste” composed of “Star Audition” participants Choi Jung-Hoon, Han Da-Sung, and Hong Dong-Gyun.
- Before signing with B2M Entertainment worked as a consultant, and YG Entertainment offered him a job, but he declined the offer.
- He has interviewed famous artists such as Barbara Palvin, Miranda Kerr, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Emma Thomson, Amanda Seyfried” and others.
- He was DJ of the program “Catch the Wave” in Arirang Radio.
- Although he was cast to play a supporting role in a Hollywood movie in February 2015, he decided to forgo the role to focus on his album and activities in Korea.
- His song “Dream”, which featured the collaboration of Park Ji Min from 15& is part of a charitable project of the producer groupsweet Tune in which all proceeds are donated.
- His song “Can’t Help Myself” took the number one spot on five different music charts, such as Mnet, Bugs, Olleh Music, Naver Music and Genie Music.
Eric Nam Collaborations
- 2LSON – 너가없는노래 (Acoustic ver.) (Feat. Eric Nam) (2019).
- Kwon Soon Il – 내일 (Along with Eric Nam) (2019).
- 2LSON – 너가없는노래 (Feat. Eric Nam) (2019).
- Seo Hyun – Hello (Feat. Eric Nam) (2017).
- Ailee – Feelin’ (Feat. Eric Nam) (2016).
- Gain – Must Have Love (Feat. Eric Nam) (2015)
- Playback – Isn’t There? (Feat. Eric Nam) (2015)
- Amber – I Just Wanna (Feat. Eric Nam) (2015)
Eric Nam Awards
- 2018 KBS Entertainment Awards Rookie Award for Variety (Samcheong Neighborhood Grandma)
- 2016 MBC Entertainment Awards: Best Couple Award with Solar (We Got Married)
Eric Nam Radio Programs
- 2013: (Arirang Radio) K-poppin’ “Ugly Truth” (06.02.13)
- 2013 (MBC) “Song of Hope at Noon with Kim Shin Young”.
- 2014: WGM TV – together with G.NA, Amber & Soryong (05/26/14)
- 2019: (DIVE Studios) K-pop Daebak Show (Podcast)
- 2019: (DIVE Studios) I Think You’re Dope (Podcast)
- 2019: (DIVE Studios) The Tablo Podcast (Ep.15) (11.07.2019, with Eddie Nam) (Podcast)
- 2020: (DIVE Studios) Get Real (Ep.09) (27.08.2020) (Podcast)
- 2021: (DIVE STUDIOS) UNBOXING (Ep. 10) (18.05.2021) (Podcast)
Eric Nam TV Programs
- Jessi’s Showterview (SBS, 13.08.2020) (Ep. 10)
- Hello Counselor (KBS2, 2019) (18.02.2019) (Ep. 400)
- After School Club (Arirang, 2018) (23.01.2018) (Ep.300)
- Master Key (SBS, 2017) Ep. 9
- Wizard of Nowhere (MBC, 2017-present)
- Life Bar (tvN, 2017)
- Yang and Nam Show (Mnet, 2016)
- Laws of the Jungle in Mongolia (SBS, 2016)
- The Friends in Costa Rica (K STAR, 2016)
- My Father and Me (tvN,2016)
- Happy Together (KBS2, 2016) Ep. 448
- Duet Song Festival (MBC, 2016)
- SNL Korea 7 (tvN, 2016)
- We Got Married (MBC, 2016) as a couple of Solar
- Twice Private Life (Mnet, 2016) Ep. 7
- I Live Alone (MBC, 2016) Ep. 151
- Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook (KBS2, 2016) Ep. 312
- Immortal Songs 2 (KBS, 2016) Ep. 242-243, 354
- Healing C& (SBS, 2016) Ep. 216
- Hello Counselor (KBS, 2016) Ep. 256
- Match Made in Heaven Returns (MBC, 2015) Ep. 6-7
- King of Mask Singer (MBC, 2015)
- Let’s Go! Dream Team II : North Pole Escape (KBS, 2015) (03/05/15)
- Running Man (SBS, 2015) Ep. 233
- Hello Counselor (KBS, 2015) Ep. 256
- Take-511 (MBC, 2014) (08.10.14), together with. Hyun Young from Rainbow
- Hello Korea (2014) – together with Abigail Alderete
- One Fine Day (2014) (Ailee & Amber ) Ep. 7
- We Got Married (2014-2015) MC
- Challenge 1000 songs (SBS, 2014) (23.03.14)
- 로더필 (tvN, 2014) (24.07.14).
- Infinite Girls (MBC, 2013) (11.11.13)
- 순정녀 (QTv, 2013) (09/26/13).
- After School Club (ArirangTV, 2013-2016) MC.
- Star Audition: Birth of A Great Star (MBC, 2011-2012)
Eric Nam TV Drama’s
- Count On Me subject for Men are Men (2020)
- Love Yourself subject for OK to Be Sensitive 2 (2019)
- That Night theme for Encounter (2018)
- Bravo, My Life! theme for Prison Playbook (2017)
- Before Sunset theme for Mad Dog (2017)
- Shower theme for Uncontrollably Fond (2016)
- One Second Is One Hour (besides Park Bo Ram ) theme for Flirty Boy and Girl (2015)
- In Your Days (besides Kim Kyu Jong ) subject for SOS Please Help Me (2014)
- Goodbye In Once Upon A Time subject for Love In Memory (2013)
- Cool Guy theme for Let’s Eat (2013)
Movie Themes
- FLOAT theme for Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
Towers
- Eric Nam 1st European Tour 2019
- June 04 – Lisbon, Portugal – Time Out Studio
- June 05 – Madrid, Spain – Cool Stage
- June 08 – Milan, Italy – Santeria Social Club
- June 10 – Prague, Czech Republic – Lucerne Music Bar
- June 12 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja
- June 13 – Berlin, Germany – Lido
- June 15 – Cologne, Germany – Canteen
- June 16 – Brussels, Belgium – La Madeleine
- June 18 – Paris, France – Trabendo
- June 20 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Melkweg Max
- June 21 and 22 – London, United Kingdom – Islington Academy
- Eric Nam World Tour “Before We Begin” 2020
- January 09 – Taipei, Taiwan – Nuzone
- January 10 – Manila, Philippines – New Frontier Theatre
- January 11 – Singapore – The Pavilion
- 13 January – Jakarta, Indonesia – Soehanna Hall
- 15 January – Bangkok, Thailand – Live RCA
- february 01 – San Diego, United States – House of Blues
- 02 February – Phoenix, USA – The Van Buren
- February 05 – Dallas, United States – Granda Theater
- february 07 – Austin, United States – Scoot Inn
- February 08 – Houston, United States – House of Blues
- february 10 – Nashville, United States – Basement East
- February 12 – Orlando, United States – The Beacham
- february 13 – Atlanta, United States – Tabernacle
- february 15 – Raleigh, United States – Lincoln Theatre
- february 16 – Silver Spring, United States – The Fillmore
- February 18- New York, United States – Webster Hall
- February 21 – Boston, United States – Royale
- february 22 – Philadelphia, United States – Union Transfer
- February 24 – Toronto, Canada – Danforth Music Hall
- february 25 – Detroit, United States – St. Andrew’s Hall
- february 26 – Indianapolis, United States – Deluxe
- february 28 – Chicago, United States – Vic Theatre
- february 29 – Saint Paul, United States – Palace Theatre
- March 03 – Calgary, Canada – MacEwan Ballroom
- march 05 – Seattle, United States – Neptune Theatre
- March 06 – Vancouver, Canada – Vogue Theatre
- March 07 – Portland, Oregon – Wonder Ballroom
- march 10 – San Francisco, United States – Regency Ballroom
- march 12 and 14 – Los Angeles, USA – Regent Theater (Canceled)
- March 21 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Groove
- march 22 – Santiago, Chile – Blondie
- march 25 – São Paulo, Brazil – Cine Joia
- march 27th – Mexico City, Mexico – Blackberry Auditorium
- Eric Nam World Tour “There And Back Again” 2022
- january 24 – Phoenix, United States – The Van Buren
- january 25 – San Diego, United States – The Observatory North Park
- january 27 – Santa Ana, United States – The Observatory Santa Ana
- january 29 – Los Angeles, United States – Wiltern Theatre
- january 30 – San Francisco, United States – The Warfield
- 01 February – Portland, United States – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
- February 02 – Washington, United States – Showbox SoDo
- February 03 – Cancouver, Canada – Vogue Theatre
- February 05 – Calgary, Canada – MacEwan Hall
- february 08 – Utah, United States – The Complex
- 09 February – Denver, United States – Gothic Theatre
- february 11 – Minneapolis, United States – First Avenue
- february 12 – Illinois, United States – The Vic Theatre
- february 13 – Ohio, United States – Newport Music Hall
- february 15 – Ohio, United States – House of Blues Cleveland
- february 16 – Pennsylvania, United States – Mr. Smalls Theatre
- february 18 – Michigan, United States – Saint Andrew’s Hall
- february 19 – Ontario, Canada – HISTORY
- February 21 – Massachusetts, United States – House of Blues
- february 22 – New York, United States – Terminal 5
- february 25 – Pennsylvania, United States – Theatre of The Living Arts
- february 26 – Washington, United States – The Fillmore Silver Spring
- february 28 – North Carolina, United States – The Fillmore Charlotte
- march 01 – North Carolina, United States – The Ritz
- March 03 – Tennessee, United States – Cannery Ballroom
- 05 March – Georgia, United States – The Eastern
- 07 March – Florida, United States – Culture Room
- 08 March – Florida, United States – The Beacham
- march 10 – Texas, United States – Warehouse Live
- march 11 – Texas, United States – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
- march 12 – Texas, United States – Emo’s Austin
- March 22 – Stockholm, Sweden – Fryshuset Arenan
- march 23 – Copenhagen, Denmark – DR Koncerthuset Studie 2
- March 25 – Brussels, Belgium – La Madeleine
- March 26 – Frankfurt, Germany – Discothèque Zoom Frankfurt
- march 28 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Paradiso
- March 29 – Cologne, Germany – E-Werk
- March 30 – Berlin, Germany – Astra House of Culture
- 01 April – Prague, Czech Republic – MeetFactory
- April 02 – Munich, Germany – Technical centre
- April 04 – Zurich, Switzerland – Complex 457
- 05 April – Milan, Italy – Magazzini Generali
- 07 April – Paris, France – FVTVR
- 10 April – Glasgow, Scotland – Barrowland Ballroom
- April 12 – Manchester, England – O2 Ritz Manchester
- April 13 – London, England – O2 Forum Kentish Tow
- April 14th – London, England – O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
