Ailee

For other uses, see Amy Lee (disambiguation).

Amy Lee (Korean name: Lee Yejin; Hangul: 이예진; Hanja: 李藝眞, born May 30, 1989), better known by her stage name Ailee (Hangul: 에일리), is a Korean-American singer. She is signed under YMC Entertainment in South Korea^[1] and Warner Music in Japan. Dubbed the "Korean Beyonce",^[2] Ailee has been acclaimed by both those in the music industry and the general public with the "highest expectations for her debut", boasting of a charisma that takes over the stage as well as top vocal and sensational rap skills.^[3]

Ailee grew up in New Jersey, United States, and began her singing career as a YouTuber. Before her K-pop debut, Ailee was signed under Muzo Entertainment in America. After moving to South Korea in 2010, she passed an audition and became an artist for YMC Entertainment. After being recognized for her singing on Singer and Trainee, she also started acting in the KBS drama series Dream High 2 before her official debut. She has currently released three extended plays and one studio album.

Ailee has received the Best New Artist Award at the MelOn Music Awards, Golden Disk Awards, Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards and the Seoul Music Awards. She has also received Best Newcomer and three Best Female Vocal Performance at the Mnet Asian Music Awards for "U&I" , "Singing Got Better" and "Mind Your Own Business". For her work in Fated to Love You's OST, "Goodbye My Love", Ailee won Best Original Soundtrack at the 7th Korea Drama Awards.

Life and career

Early life and career beginnings

Ailee was born in Denver, Colorado on May 30, 1989, but grew up in New Jersey. She attended Palisades Park Junior/Senior High School before moving to Leonia. She graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, and went onto study communications at Pace University^[4] before dropping out to pursue a career in music.^[5] She got into singing by creating a YouTube channel called "mzamyx3" and later "aileemusic" because she wanted to garner more attention to her singing on the web. She moved to South Korea in 2010 after she landed an audition through her uncle's connections.^[4] She sang Big Mama's "Resignation," and was recruited on the spot.

Before her K-pop debut, Ailee was signed under Muzo Entertainment, an independent agency based out of New York and New Jersey, where she collaborated with several artists, such as Johnnyphlo (who is also signed in Korea) and Philadelphia-based rapper Decipher. During her trainee days under YMC Entertainment, she was featured in Wheesung's "They Are Coming" song released on October 9, 2011.^[6] Ailee was also featured in Decipher's song "Catch Me If You Can", which also featured Jay Park. Ailee performed with Jay Park, Art of Movement, Johnnyphlo, Decipher, and Clara C at "projectKorea III" at Rutgers University in 2010.^[7]

On September 13, 2011, Ailee along with Wheesung held a performance on the MBC's Chuseok special episode of Singer and Trainee. Ailee's stage presence was immediately felt by the audience, who were amazed that she was like a professional singer, even though she had not yet officially debuted. Following her solo performance of "Halo" by Beyoncé, singer BMK expressed, "Wherever she goes, she has the potential to be a big star. She definitely has the voice." After the judges had graded everyone, Ailee won first place.^[8]

2012: Debut, Invitation

On February 6, the music video teaser for Ailee's debut song, "Heaven", was released. "Heaven" was written and produced by Wheesung.^[9] On the 9th, Ailee released the song and the music video, which featured Beast's Gi Kwang.^[10][11]

Later that day, she made her debut stage performance of "Heaven" on M.net M! Countdown,^[12] and then on SBS Inkigayo on February 11.^[13] Just one month after her debut, she won two awards at the Cyworld Music Awards—"Song of the Month" and "Rookie of the Month".^[14] In March 2012, Ailee made her first appearances on KBS's Immortal Songs 2 with performing Patti Kim’s song “Light and Shadow” from 1967.^[15] On May 19 of part 2 of the ‘J.Y. Park' special, Ailee performed J.Y. Park’s debut song “Don’t Leave Me“. She beat Davichi’s Lee Haeri by 1 point, 419 to 418, for the win.^[16] Later on June 30th episode, Immortal Songs 2 featured composer Yoon Il Sang. She performed "Fate" by Lee Seung Chul and won again with 402 votes.^[17] In August, it was announced that Ailee was making a temporary leave from the show in order to focus on her music.^[18] She performed her final stage on August 6, and the episode aired on September 1.^[19] Later in August, Ailee made an appearance in the 3rd episode of Jay Park's online web series, Jay Park TV, where she was backstage attending Park's concert in Seoul.^[20] Ailee also, co-hosted the ABU Radio Song Festival with Han Seok Joon which took place on October 11, 2012.^[21][22]

On October 16, Ailee released her debut mini album, Invitation which contained the title track, “I’ll Show You“ (보여줄게).^[23] The mini album contains six tracks.^[24] It was produced by producers such as Kim Do Hoon, Lee Hyun Seung, Park Guentae, Duble Sidekick, Wheesung, and featured artists such as Verbal Jint, Swings and Simon D.^[25] On October 18, Ailee made her comeback with "I'll Show You" on M! Countdown.^[26] On November 23, She was able to acquire her first trophy in a music program (Music Bank) beating Psy's Gangnam Style.

2013-2014: A's Doll House and Magazine

Ailee 'Magazine' Album Photo Scan

On July 4, 2013, Ailee announced that she would release her second mini album entitled, A's Doll House, on July 12, 2013.^[27] The album's single "U&I", topped music charts within 4 hours of release and earned Ailee her first "All-Kill" status.^[28] Popularity for the physical album was also deemed high when nearly all stores in Korea were sold out of the soloist's album on the first day of release. Orders overwhelmed the amount of stock, and a representative from Ailee's agency stated, "The rate at which this album is selling is many times greater than the previous album’s."^[29]

On August 4, 2013, it was revealed that Ailee will be making her Japanese debut with "Heaven" under Warner Music Japan. The music video was released on October 21.^[30] Ailee started to promote the song with a showcase at Shibuya O-East, Tokyo on October 21.^[31] The single was released on November 6, and also included the song "Starlight".

On September 14, 2013 it was announced that Ailee will release a digital single "Higher" with pianist Yiruma.^[32] Two days later, "Higher" was released online.^[33] On December 16, 2013 it was revealed that Ailee will be making a comeback after a 6-month hiatus in January 2014.

A music video teaser was released on January 2 ahead of the full release.^[34] Both the full music video and the full digital song was released on January 6. The music video features MBLAQ's Lee Joon.^[35] "Singing Got Better" reached #1 on Korea's major charts: Mnet, Bugs, Olleh, Soribada, Naver Music, Daum Music, and Genie.^[36]

Ailee 'Mind Your Own Business' performance at M Countdown 151001

On September 16, 2014 it was announced that Ailee will be having a comeback through YMC Entertainment's official Twitter account. On September 21, 2014 the teaser for Ailee's "Don't Touch Me" was released. It was written by Min Yun-jae, Jakops, and Ailee. The full MV was released in September 25, 2014. Later that day, promotions for her new album, Magazine, commenced. It peaked at #2 for the Gaon Single Chart. She won the first trophy for "Don't Touch Me" in October 5, 2014 on SBS Inkigayo.

2015-present: "Johnny", first Solo Concert, and VIVID

On June 30, Ailee released "Johnny" as her contribution to the Brave Brothers’ tenth anniversary project.^[37]

On July 4th, Ailee held her first solo concert, titled Fatal Attraction, which was held at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul. Tickets sales broke records in an internet site proving her immense popularity.The concert was attended by 4,500 people.^[38]

On September 20th, it was announced that Ailee will be having a comeback through YMC Entertainment's official Twitter account. In addition, a video teaser of her title track entitled "Mind Your Own Business" (너나 잘해) was released on 1theK's YouTube page on September 22. Ailee's first full-length album, entitled VIVID, was released on the 30th of September 2015. She won her first trophy for this promotion on October 7, 2015 on Show Champion.

On November 30, it was announced that Ailee would be releasing a collaboration digital single with Seventeen entitled "Q&A" on December 4.^[39]

Discography

• VIVID (2015)

Filmography

Ailee performing U&I

Television Drama

Variety Shows

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Ailee on Instagram

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ailee.

• Official YMC Entertainment website
• Official Warner Music Japan website