Nam grew up in Atlanta within the U.S., and travelled on a whim to South Korea in 2011 to participate in “Star Audition: Start of a Nice Star”, a expertise present just like exhibits like “X Issue” and “The Voice.”
Although he solely got here in fifth, he landed a file deal and selected to jack in his job as Deloitte administration guide to grow to be a popstar.
“To be very blunt, after I began I could not actually communicate Korean, so I did not actually know a lot of what I used to be singing,” Nam advised AFP in Paris forward of a pair of exhibits within the French capital.
It did not cease him scoring a string of hit singles, internet hosting TV exhibits and being named a GQ Korea Man of the 12 months.
That pressured him to be taught Korean quick — however his unlikely path to fame meant he missed out on the famously exacting coaching course of for Okay-Pop idols.
“There was a steep studying curve. I felt very under-prepared after I debuted as a result of I could not dance like all people else, and I could not carry out,” he stated.
“So it was a problem — how do I create one thing that’s distinctive to me?” he added.
‘Extra open and trustworthy’
His reply was to play up his outsider standing and begin producing songs in English with a view to conquering worldwide audiences.
His plan appears to have labored, with Nam now on his third world tour — with round 80 dates, nearly all offered out.
The polished, healthful picture of Korean pop has been rocked in recent times by scandals, together with a 2018 date-rape scandal at Gangnam’s Burning Solar nightclub, run by boy-band member Seungri.
Nam has intentionally prevented the polished picture in favour of the extra relatable and confessional strategy of recent Western popstars.
“I needed to inform my very own tales… and I believe I have been challenged to be extra open and clear and trustworthy with my lyrics as time has gone on,” he stated.
Nam says his newest album, “Home on a Hill”, launched final September, combines poppy beats with some looking out questions on his life decisions.
“It was written throughout very a lot of an existential disaster of kinds,” he stated. “You could have all these metrics of success, and I realised that I hit a variety of these metrics very early on. And it is like this endless rat race.”
‘Maturity and sweetness’
However a extra frank and private strategy to music has been catching on in Korea in recent times, Nam stated.
“There are much more artists who’re being very ahead and open and trustworthy with their life expertise, which is an effective factor.”
However Nam added: “There’s additionally a world wherein you do not have to be 100% open and trustworthy about each facet of your life. We have now to maintain issues for ourselves as a result of in any other case we’re residing for everyone else.”
Now 35, Nam typically will get teased by followers that he’s too previous for the pop recreation, regardless of his extremely youthful look.
“It is type of an ongoing joke that I’m without end 19,” he stated with a smile.
“There was this worry for a very long time that after you hit a sure age you are not in a position to carry out or be related.
“However I believe occasions are altering and there’s a nice stage of development and maturity and sweetness that comes with ageing.”