Kee-Yoon Kim (E07): "I Make a Ton of Jokes Between My Songs"

Will Kee-Yoon Kim (E07) have as many lives as a cat? After an initial career in a legal firm, followed by a job in comedy, she is now launching a singing career with her EP, Palli Palli (out 19 January 2023) with pre-release singles Vivante and Le plus beau jour de ma vie. Interview.

ESSEC Alumni: How did you go from comedian to singer?

Kee-Yoon Kim: I was already incorporating music into my comedy shows - first with the title L’Amour avec une brique in Jaune Bonbon, which was quite successful, then three songs in my second one-woman show. In the end, it was a friend who encouraged me to move to the other side definitively.

EA: Are there links for you between these two forms of expression?

K.-Y. Kim: In both cases, I write my own words and address subjects that are important to me. Comedy holds intrinsically second-degree limits - nothing is ever totally serious. With music, I can tell sad stories, which is something new for me.

EA: How would you define your musical world?

K.-Y. Kim: I write pop but I like melodious and organic tunes, with a real piano, real violin, or real trumpets. I think this influence comes from a childhood spent listening to classical music and opera, and my many years of musical theory.  

EA: What themes are behind your EP, Palli which comes out on 19 January 2023?

K.-Y. Kim: I address themes which have a special place in my life: Vivante speaks about my move from lawyer to comedian (see the video), Le plus beau jour de ma vie (see the video) is about my joy at becoming a mother, Fleurs volcaniques speaks of all the love I have for my girlfriends and soul sisters, Scorpion about the person I love, and Sanremo about the passing of time.

EA: What is your creative process?

K.-Y. Kim: I always start with the music, and then I find the lyrics. I write all my lyrics and compose most of the music, but my upcoming album includes two songs written by Sylvie Hoarau, ex-Brigitte. As for the instruments, I play the violin but more especially piano and guitar right now.

EA: How did your collaboration with Sylvie Hoarau go?

K.-Y. Kim: I was a fan of Brigitte before meeting Sylvie! We were destined to work together; our paths had accidently crossed 5 times in 5 weeks. Even if you don’t believe in all that, the signs were too obvious. We became friends and she agreed to produce my EP. I basically had her listen to my piano-voice songs and she came up with the arrangements to go with them. She’s a magic fairy! She also introduced me to the fabulous musicians I work with today.

EA: When and where can we see you perform?

K.-Y. Kim: On 1 February at L’Européen, a wonderful Parisian venue with a warm atmosphere, I can’t wait! It’s coincidently the venue where Brigitte performed for the first time...By the way, there’ll be a special rate for my friends from ESSEC. Book your tickets !

EA: Who will be playing with you?

K.-Y. Kim: I’ll be accompanied by Philippe Alsmosnino on guitar (Benjamin Biolay), Fred Scamps on keyboards (Johnny Hallyday), Jérôme Pichon on bass (Gauvain Serre) and Greg Maume on drums (Brigitte). There’ll be some guest appearances too, but I can’t tell you much more at this stage, I’m still waiting for confirmation. I’ll just say that I recently played support to Benjamin Biolay…

EA: Can we expect some humour between your songs?

K.-Y. Kim: For sure! I’ll be making a ton of jokes between each song, or almost; I can’t hold back what comes naturally! 

EA: What are your next artistic plans?

K.-Y. Kim: After the EP, there’ll be a full album which I’m already working on with Sylvie. Can you get back to me in a year’s time?

See Kee-Yoon Kim’s videos on YouTube

Book your tickets at a special ESSEC rate for Kee-Yoon Kim’s concert at L’Européen (Paris) on 1 February 2023 online