Another week comes to an end and it’s time to look at the best of the latest releases from New Music Friday! This week Australia’s Eurovision 2016 runner-up Dami Im brings us the second single ‘Lonely Cactus’ from her upcoming unnamed album due to be released in 2021.
Dami Im releases Lonely Cactus
After last year’s release of what was to be the Eurovision comeback single, ‘Paper Dragon’, Dami Im is back with her first new music of 2021. Delighting us with a return to her pop beginnings in ‘Lonely Cactus’. Together with Bri Clarke and Andrew Burford (One Above), Dami has ensured this cactus is standing tall and proud. A testament to her rich understanding of music and storytelling as her vocals scintillate through layers of guitar-led, bluesy pop. Although written during the height of Covid restrictions in 2020, many will still relate to the struggle told here of being the absent friend, unsure of the new world, but also craving not to be left behind.
“While I was working on promoting my last single ‘Paper Dragon’, I became obsessed with cacti. I really wanted to write a song about a cactus and it started off as an idea about myself. On one hand I feel lonely and want to be around other people, and on the other hand quickly get annoyed and prickly around people and just want to be left alone. I took the idea to our writing session and we tweaked it to mean it’s about a friend rather than myself because everyone knows someone who is that way.”
Dami Im
Later this year Dami will release her sixth studio album. This time through record label ABC Music, who are now supporting her vision and creativity for the next chapter in her music legacy.
Catch the Lonely Cactus live!
As Australia continues its path to Covid-Normal and State borders begin to reopen, so the arts and entertainment sector is beginning to prosper once again. With that in mind you can see Dami Im performing live for her rescheduled dates due to restrictions in late 2020, at the following locations over the coming weeks. Of course all venues are following local government Covid-safety regulations to ensure the well-being of all patrons and artists.
- Wednesday March 10th – Adelaide Festival
- Thursday March 18 – Piano, Song and Stories – Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
- Friday March 19 – Piano, Song and Stories–The Music Lounge, Wollongong Town Hall
- Sunday March 21- Piano, Song and Stories – Lizottes, Lambton
- Sunday April 4 – Bluesfest, Byron Bay
For tickets and more information see here.
A dreamer’s road to success
Back in 2013 Dami Im rose to fame on The X Factor Australia. Despite being a wildcard, her fearless spirit along with the guidance of pop icon Dannii Minogue saw her storm to victory. After this whirlwind victory Dami then released her second self titled album Dami Im. This birthed the lead single ‘Alive’. Both of them went to number one on the ARIA charts. Since then Dami has released three further albums, all achieving top 10s on the ARIA charts. Thus securing Dami’s status as one of Australia’s greats in contemporary music.
More recently Dami has crafted her artistry in her own image taking a more independent approach. With such releases as the Dreamer Live Sessions EP encompassing some of her greatest hits into new piano led live versions and a successful Dreamer tour. As well as achieving global recognition performing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony and receiving the Women In Music Humanitarian Award in 2019. In 2020 Dami participated on the Australian version of Dancing With The Stars. Despite finishing at the bottom of the judges leaderboard five times, her desire to learn and popularity got her all the way to the Semi-Final where she was eliminated in fifth place.
Dami Im in the Eurovision Song Contest Contest
Following her early success the Korean-born Australian chart-topper was internally selected by SBS for the 2016 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Coming together in Stockholm, Dami’s soaring vocals earned Australia its best result in the contest to date. As well as their first qualification following direct entrance to the Grand Final in their debut 2015 year. The anthemic pop-ballad ‘Sound of Silence’ finished in second place with 511 points. Just 24 points short of taking victory. A jury favourite and always popular with the fans, ‘Sound of Silence’ also took the coveted Composer Award in the Marcel Bezençon Awards.
Last year Dami Im surprised everyone with the shock announcement during Eurovision: Australia Decides of her impending return. Of course, with the cancellation of Eurovision 2020 and Montaigne’s subsequent internal selection for 2021, this was unable to happen. Which has left uncertainty on a 2022 comeback.
Are you excited for Dami Im’s new music era? Let us know! Stay up to date by following@ESCXTRA on Twitter,@escxtra on Instagram and liking ourFacebook page for the latest updates! As well as subscribing toour YouTube channel. Where you can watch our reactions to the news in the upcoming months. You can also follow ourSpotify for more music from your favourite acts!
