Eric Nam

Eric Nam – Life, Career, and Notable Quotes

Explore the journey of Eric Nam (born November 17, 1988) — Korean-American singer, songwriter, television personality, and mental health advocate — from Atlanta to Seoul to global stages, with his key works, values, and memorable lines.

Introduction

Eric Nam is a Korean-American artist whose career spans music, television, media entrepreneurship, and advocacy. With a style that blends pop, R&B, and global influences, he has carved out a space bridging Western and Korean markets. Along the the way, he’s become known not just for his voice or hosting chops, but for speaking candidly about identity, mental health, and creative freedom.

Early Life and Family

Eric Nam was born on November 17, 1988, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

He studied at Boston College, graduating in 2011 with a major in International Studies and a minor in Asian Studies.

Eric speaks multiple languages: English, Korean, Spanish, and conversational Mandarin.

Musical & Media Career

Beginnings & Debut

• Eric first gained attention through a YouTube cover video, which led to an invitation to South Korea to audition in Star Audition: Birth of a Great Star 2 in 2012.

• On January 23, 2013, he made his official debut in Korea with the EP Cloud 9, with the lead single “Heaven’s Door.”

• He also began hosting After School Club (Arirang TV) and other TV/variety programs, bridging international fans and K-pop audiences.

Growth, International Focus & Albums

• In 2016, he released his second EP, Interview, and collaborated on international tracks (e.g. “Into You” with KOLAJ).

• His 2018 EP Honestly expanded his sound, leaning into electropop and experimenting musically.

• In 2019, he released his first English album Before We Begin, marking a shift toward more global pop expression.

• In 2022, he released There and Back Again, and in 2023 he released House on a Hill, continuing to explore identity, growth, and emotional depth in his music.

Media, Hosting & Entrepreneurship

• Aside from music, Eric has been a prominent television personality, hosting shows in Korea and doing interviews with global stars.

• He also co-founded DIVE Studios, which produces podcasts and content, and is involved in mental health and wellness initiatives such as the Mindset app.

• His advocacy includes speaking openly about mental health, vulnerability, and grace.

Personality, Values & Artistic Approach

Eric Nam is often described as earnest, introspective, boundary-crossing, and intentional in how he crafts his public and creative identity.

Some key values and traits:

• Authenticity & emotional honesty: He frequently discusses inner struggles, mental health, and the complexity of public persona.

• Hybrid identity & representation: As a Korean-American artist, he negotiates between markets, cultures, and expectations. He has expressed the challenges of representation and straddling multiple musical traditions.

• Willingness to experiment: His discography shows transitions in sound, language, and collaborations, reflecting curiosity and openness.

• Advocacy & giving back: Through DIVE Studios, mental health projects, and public discourse, he uses his platform for broader impact.

Famous Quotes by Eric Nam

Here are a few notable quotations that reflect his mindset, struggles, and ambitions:

• “I don’t know why I feel the need to try and do everything. But I kind of have this mentality that you live once, and I have a lot of things that I want to do … So I have to at least give it a shot.”

• “No matter what job or industry you're in, life is hard, but we're all going through a difficult time and the best thing we can do is pick each other up and move on together.”

• “On any collaboration, you want to respect your music and the other's music.”

• “I'm grateful that the public think of me as a sweet guy, but there are times when I get worried that my behavior would disappoint the public. I'd like to show them that there are different sides of me.”

• “No matter what you do, you should enjoy it. You should really find passion in it.”

These capture recurring themes: balancing identity, creative integrity, vulnerability, and ambition.

Lessons from Eric Nam’s Journey

From his life and work, we can draw several lessons:

1. Embrace dualities
   Neither wholly American nor exclusively Korean, Nam shows that it’s possible to draw strength from multiple identities and serve audiences across cultures.

2. Be consistent, but evolve
   He has maintained core values of honesty and emotional connection, even as his musical style and ambitions have expanded.

3. Use your platform for purpose
   He hasn’t limited himself to entertainment; he invests in projects about wellness, mental health, and intergenerational conversation.

4. Failure and experimentation matter
   His willingness to try new sounds, new languages, and new projects—even when uncertain—is part of his growth.

5. Speak vulnerability as strength
   By being open about mental health, self-doubts, and pressures, he normalizes conversations that many artists avoid.