Na Yoon-sun (; born August 28, 1969), also known as Youn Sun Nah, is a South Korean jazz musician.
Life and career Na Yoon-sun was born on August 28, 1969, in Seoul. Her parents are musical: her father, Na Young-soo (), is a conductor in Korea and her mother, Kim Mi-jung (), is a musical actress. She studied French literature at Konkuk University in Korea. While she was working for a fashion company, she was scouted by Kim Min-gi (), who was the president of the Hakchon Theater Company (). There, she made her acting debut in a musical called Subway Line 1 ().
Having been exposed to many kinds of music by her parents, Na decided to study and sing jazz after her performance in Subway Line 1. In 1995, she went to Paris to study jazz and chanson. There, she studied jazz at the CIM Jazz School, the National Music Institute of Beauvais, and the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatory. After graduating, she taught students at the CIM Jazz School from 2000 to 2001. She formed her own quintet, YSN 5tet, and performed at various jazz clubs, theaters, festivals, and bars in France. Also in 2001 she released her debut album, Reflet. Her mostly self-composed 2002 album, Light for the people, was her first album to receive a wide distribution. She recorded the follow-up, Down by love, with guitarist Olivier Ode. With her 2004 release So I am, she became more known in Europe.
In 2007, she made a pop record, Memory Lane. In 2008, she signed a contract with German label ACT, and in 2009 was acknowledged for her musical contributions in France by receiving the distinction of the Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. She released her album Same Girl in 2010 and in 2013 this was followed by Lento. From 2009 to 2015, she gave about 500 performances in many countries, including prestigious festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Vocal style She was not influenced by any historical jazz musicians, because she did not have any knowledge of jazz music until her late start as a singer. Even though she began studying jazz history in Paris, it was after she had already created her own vocal style. Rather, she sang various genres of music from classical music to rock music by herself before she studied jazz in Paris.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORCircle Chart (formerly Gaon Chart) positions:
Down By Love: Voyage: Same Girl: Lento: She Moves On: Immersion: Waking World: AUT BEL(Fl) BEL(Wa) FRA GEROffizielle Deutsche Charts positions:
SWIReflet Released: June 13, 2001 Label: Sony Music———————Light for the People Released: August 31, 2002 Label: In Circum Girum———————Down by Love Released: December 12, 2003 Label: Sony Music89—————— KOR: 11,084So I Am... Released: October 19, 2004 Label: In Circum Girum, EMI———————Memory Lane Released: April 10, 2007 Label: Seoul Records, Interglobal———————KOR: 10,379Voyage Released: September 22, 2008 Label: Triangle, ACT Music, Interglobal86—————Same Girl Released: August 17, 2010 Label: ACT Music, Warner Music Korea13——8938——Lento Released: March 12, 2013 Label: ACT Music, Warner Music Korea8—1454714—70KOR: 6,987She Moves On Released: May 19, 2017 Label: ACT Music, Warner Music Korea1650—184276138KOR: 1,309 Immersion Released: March 8, 2019 Label: Warner Music Korea41———36—90Waking World Released: January 28, 2022 Label: Warner Music Korea76———569874Elles Released: January 26, 2024 Label: Warner Music Korea————101——Lost Pieces Released: February 19, 2026 Label: Warner Music Germany————107——
Singles "My Favorite Things" (August 10, 2010)
Other contributions Buddha Bar Volume 5 features a song named "Road" created by Refractory (a French music group) and sung by Na Yoon-sun, under the name "Youn Sun Nah".
She appears on multiple songs of the 2011 release "Songs of Freedom" by French guitarist Nguyên Lê.
Awards AwardYearCategoryNominee/workRef.Académie du Jazz2010Prix du Jazz VocalSame GirlBMW Welt Jazz Award2010Second PrizeNa Yoon-sunConcours national de jazz de La Défense1999Special Jury PrizeEcho Jazz2011Best International Female SingerFestival de Jazz de Montmartre1998Second PrizeJazz à Juan Révélations2005Grand PrizeKorean Music Awards2004Best Crossover AlbumDown By Love2008Netizen Vote: Jazz & Crossover Musician of the YearNa Yoon-sun2009Best Jazz AlbumVoyage2011Same Girl2014Lento
State and cultural honors Country or organizationYearHonorRef.France2019Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des LettresKorean Cultural Center2013Korean-French Culture AwardSouth Korea2012Prime Minister's Commendation2014Sejong Cultural Award
References
External links