Federal Way’s Korean-American singer-songwriter-guitarist Sam Kim has been making waves internationally. From being discovered via reality TV, creating a OST for a drama, and releasing EP’s. Kim has been doing it all.
Being born and raised in Federal Way, I’ve always found myself following his music. Kim is a continuous reminder and representation of Washington’s blossoming Korean scene.
Seattle has hosted a huge velocity of Korean artists the past year. Talents such as Crush, DPR Live, Hyukoh, and many more have graced the stages of venues the likes of Moore Theatre, The Showbox, and Neptune Theatre. This is due in part to the vast diversity that the Evergreen State offers. As a dedicated consumer, this past year has been a huge treat.
As the Korean music scene continues to grow in Washington we’ll continue to discover dope talent in our midst. Kim’s career is still short, but it’s more than worth diving into.
Sam Kim’s Early Days
Sam Kim was born on February 19th, 1998 in Federal Way, Washington. The oldest of two siblings, Kim would be the man of the family.
He attended Todd Beamer Highschool, where you could barely see him attend class. Instead, he would walk the halls, guitar in hand, singing his favorite songs for others to hear. His talent was apparent to his peers, and he noticed his potential early on.
Kim would audition both in Washington and Los Angeles, before making his way to Korea. This move would prove instrumental to not only his growth as an artist but an ultimate changing point in his life as a whole. The young Korean-American would appear on the third season of the hit show K-Pop Star.
K-Pop Star 3
K-Pop Star is an American Idol-like talent show where talents can apply to appear on the show. They go through a number of challenges including teaming up with other artists, casting auditions and more.
His appearance on K-Pop Star would help pave the way for his career to take off. His first performance on the show captured the hearts of the questioning judges and fans. Right away Kim was able to set himself apart from all the other talents. His extraordinary guitar skills mixed with intoxicating vocals can grab any listener right away.
Sam Kim – K-Pop Star 3
Through his unique and individual style and flair musically, Kim was able to move through the ranks of the show. He would continue to the end of the show, where he would go against Atlanta born Bernard Park. However, he wouldn’t best his fellow American and would grab second place.
This wasn’t a loss in any sort, though. Through his time on the show, he gained a passionate following in Korea. He would then officially sign with Antenna Music, by You Hee-yeol, one of the judges on the show. This would grant Kim the opportunity to pursue his music career full-time.
Sam Kim’s Career Now
After completing his run on K-Pop Star 3, Kim would prepare to make a splash into the recording world. He would release the first part of his debut EP My Name is Sam in March 2016. It would contain three songs including his heartfelt track “Mama Don’t Worry”.
Sam Kim – “Mama Don’t Worry”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV8D7UQophQ
Then, a month later in April 2016 he would release the full-length EP. Being led by “No 눈치”, or “No Sense” featuring Korean giant Crush. The project would show him the ropes in the industry and would prep him for further releases. The EP itself would peak at #11 in Korea, and show the potential that the young musician contains.
The feature of Crush isn’t the only superstar talented in his supporting cast. His 2017 single release “Thinkin’ Bout Chu” featuring AOMG’s Loco. These collaborations are building relationships between Kim and some of the biggest artists in Korea, and I’m all here for it.
His most anticipated release would be slotted for 2018. Following suit with his previous EP, Kim would decide to release the project in two parts. Sun and Moon would peak at 22 in Korea.
The release would host his most popular single to date, “Make Up”, featuring Crush yet again. Along with Crush, Kim would also host Stardom and Seven Season’s Zico.
Sam Kim – “Make Up”
Kim’s two album releases have seen critical and financial success, and he’s continuing to look forward to future projects. This includes his April European tour where he will be making stops in Paris, London, and Berlin.
From singing in the hallways in school to singing across the world in three different continents. Sam Kim has created a brand and a following that we’ve never seen out of a Federal Way artist. He’s only officially been in the game for three years, and only time can tell how his career will continue to blossom.
A Sam Kim Bonus
Here’s a small bonus of my favorite Sam Kim song. Titled “Seattle”, Kim wrote the song after the adversity of moving from America to Korea. With such a culture shock, he wrote this song in homage to his home. His emotions vibrate off the track and into the ears of listeners, and I can’t get enough of it.
