Australia fell in love with her when she represented the nation at Eurovision in 2016 and next month Dami Im will appear at Avoca Beach Theatre as part of a tour to celebrate her latest EP, In Between.
Backed by her “Dami Army”, Im became Eurovision royalty when she finished runner-up and her career has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since.
“Eurovision changed my life in so many ways,” she said.
“It took my career to the next level.
“My song charted in over 40 countries and it gave me the reassurance that I should keep making music.
“Before Eurovision I had small-time ambitions but it gave me the confidence to forge ahead.
“It was a big turning point for me in so many ways.”
Im again captivated the nation when she appeared as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2020.
“I’ve never been much of a dancer but I love a good challenge – and that was one of the toughest I have ever had,” she said.
“I learnt a lot about moving and how much it takes to be able to dance and I’m really glad to have given it a shot.”
The new EP, released to coincide with an east coast tour, is a reflection of Im’s personal journey through the process of becoming a mother.
“I started working on the EP in 2021 when I fell pregnant,” she said.
“For me it was a really rough period, processing the change that was coming to my life.
“Everybody goes through different seasons in their life – you have to accept them whether you’re ready or not.
“I felt I was not quite ready for motherhood and went through a great many emotions throughout that time.
“I finished the seventh track just after my son was born.
“When I began working on the EP I was frustrated and angry at society – how they perceived women and the pressure put on mothers.
“I moved on to accepting my new season and grieving the past and by the last track I had progressed to realising those ‘in between’ moments in life are a treat and should be enjoyed.”
With son Harry just turning one, Im said she had “learnt so much” in the past year.
“There is a lot more love and joy and happiness in being a mother than I had expected – I had only anticipated the hard bits,” she said.
The seven tracks chronologically document the seven stages of Im’s emotional states, exploring themes of identity, societal expectations, love and friendship, before ultimately realising that life exists within the liminal space of In Between.
Many collaborations took place on the EP including five tracks which were co-written and produced by ARIA and APRA award-winning songwriter, producer (and guitarist for Sheppard) Jason Bovino.
Invincible was also co-written with Amy and George Sheppard.
Im’s current single Collide was written by Tom Eggert and produced by Andy Mak and the EP’s title track, In Between was co-written by, and features, singer, songwriter and producer, Jude York.
The tour is being presented by Destiny Rescue, for whom Im is an ambassador.
Destiny Rescue is an Australian-based organisation with the mission of rescuing children from global sex trafficking and exploitation.
Dami Im will appear at Avoca Beach Theatre on July 15.
Bookings are available on the theatre website.
At the tail end of the east coast tour Im is looking forward to appearing at Bluesfest.
“This is a really important show for me and I hope to put out another EP later in the year, recorded at the festival,” she said.
Terry Collins