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Dami Im Opens Up On Motherhood and Her Career

“It’s not easy trying to balance having a career and a family."
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Having released her album In Between in July, headed off on its accompanying tour, won The Masked Singer Australia – all while chasing after her 18-month-old son Harry – it’s fair to say that Dami Im has had a busy and fulfilling 2023.

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But before she can relax and spend some time off with her gorgeous toddler and husband, Noah Kim, there’s just one more thing left to do on her list – release her festive new album, Christmas Songbook.

WATCH: Dami Im wows Eurovision crowd to claim Silver. Article continues after video. 

Luckily, the extremely busy and talented singer and songwriter wouldn’t have it any other way. “When you say it all out loud, I realise just how much I’ve actually packed in – and it is a lot!” the 35-year-old musician exclaims to WHO during our chat, after she invited the team into her Brisbane home for an exclusive family photoshoot.

“It’s not easy trying to balance having a career and a family, feeling the pull between spending time away and making sure you are home enough but it’s worth it,” she confides to WHO. “I want Harry to know that his mum will be there for him, but that she can also do amazing things outside of the home and follow her dreams too.

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“I want Harry to know that his mum will be there for him.” (Credit: Supplied)

How hard was it to keep the secret that you were behind the Snow Fox on The Masked Singer?

Luckily, I was recording my Christmas album at the time, so I was able to tell everybody that was why I was in the studio and they all believed me! It was also true because I was working on the album the whole time we were filming on set as we were locked in our own little solitary pods.

I went on the original Masked Singer in South Korea a few years ago and it was so much fun, so when I got asked to do it here in Australia, I jumped at the opportunity.

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What does it mean to you to win?
Going into this show, I put zero pressure on myself. My only hope was that I didn’t want to be the first one to be unmasked, so winning is an amazing bonus.

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Dami Im was revealed as the fan-favourite Snow Fox in The Masked Singer Australia 2023 finale. (Credit: Supplied)

Harry has been bopping away during the shoot. Is he already showing some of your musical talent?

I definitely think so. He’s too young to say if he really has an aptitude just quite yet, but he does love music more than anything else.

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Putting some on helps us get him settled quicker and always puts a smile on his little face. Harry also loves to dance. I’ve made a special playlist of his favourite songs that we listen to every day. I’ve snuck some of my own on there too!

Which of your songs do you think are his favourites?

In Between. I wrote and recorded that whole album while I was pregnant and I don’t know whether it’s because he heard it in my belly or if it’s just my imagination, but whenever he hears songs from the album, I swear he recognises them. But he also listens to plenty of The Wiggles, Emma Memma and Colin Buchanan, I don’t make him just listen to mum.

Your new Christmas album contains a song, Baby’s First Christmas, which is the first you’ve written (co-written with Rick Price) since becoming a mum. How has motherhood changed your music?

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Yeah, I guess this is really the first one where I sing about how much I appreciate my baby and what a blessing he is. I struggled a lot with the transition of going from being childless to being a mother and not really knowing how my life and career would change afterward.

Now that Harry is [18 months], I am much more comfortable and can sing about the joys of motherhood. It’s a really lovely place to be in.

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Dami welcomed baby Harry on May 12, 2022. (Credit: Supplied)

What have you discovered about Noah and your relationship since he became a father?

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I knew, or hoped, that he would be very hands-on and a good dad, but it’s been such a joy watching their relationship develop and seeing that Noah is exactly the type of man I always believed he was.

He loves Harry so much, is really protective and he’s happy to get in there and do his share of the workload, whether it’s looking after Harry or doing things around the house. This has made it so much easier for me to continue working. Every day, through his actions and the way he takes care of us, Noah shows us his love.

How have you managed to juggle such a busy year work-wise with having a family?

Yeah, it wasn’t always easy. There were times I felt like I wasn’t doing a good enough job as a mum or a musician. So, I guess it came down to being lucky enough to be doing it with someone where we make a great team. And Harry has some very helpful grandparents too!

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The childhood sweethearts have been married since 2012. (Credit: Supplied)

What inspired you to make a Christmas album?

I’ve always loved Christmas and singing carols, so have really been thinking about doing this for at least 10 years. I just love all that it represents, that feeling of joy and being with family. Now that I’ve started one of my own, there is that extra magic in the season, so it felt like the perfect time.

I stopped putting pressure on myself to make it perfect and decided to focus on it being fun, which is really what Christmas is all about. I hope it’ll become a tradition that people will want to play in their homes, with their families, year after year.

You’ll also be performing at this year’s Carols in the Domain…

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Yes. I think it’s what I’m looking forward to most this year. It’s always such a joy being on the stage and looking out to a sea of families having picnics on their blankets, smiling and singing along. I’m bringing my family to watch too. Hopefully, Harry will stay awake long enough to see me on stage, but I suspect he’ll just be there to see The Wiggles!

What else are you looking forward to doing with Harry this festive season?

This is his second Christmas, but Harry was so young last year it’s really the first where he is old enough to start getting into the spirit and to be able to understand that something special is going on. I can’t wait to put up the tree and decorate while listening to carols and take him to see Santa and all those little things.

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