Ailee

Ailee was born in Denver, Colorado, on May 30, 1989, and grew up in New Jersey. She attended Palisades Park High School before moving to nearby Leonia. After her Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School graduation, she studied communications at Pace University[1] before dropping out to pursue a career in music.[2] Before her K-pop debut, Ailee was signed under Muzo Entertainment, an independent agency in New York City and New Jersey. Under that label she collaborated with several artists, including Johnnyphlo and Philadelphia-based rapper Decipher. Before moving to South Korea, Ailee created the YouTube channels "mzamyx3" and "aileemusic" to bring attention to her singing on the web.[3]

Ailee moved to South Korea in 2010 after she landed a music label audition through her uncle's connections.[1] She sang "Resignation" by Big Mama, and was recruited for YMC Entertainment on the spot. During her training, YMC featured her in the label's Wheesung song, "They Are Coming", which it released in October 2011.[4] She also sang in Decipher and Jay Park's song "Catch Me If You Can". Ailee performed with Jay Park, Art of Movement, Johnnyphlo, Decipher, and Clara C at "projectKorea III", which was held at Rutgers University in 2010.[5] In September 2011, Ailee and Wheesung were featured on the MBC's Chuseok special episode of Singer and Trainee. Ailee performed "Halo" by Beyoncé to a positive reaction from the audience. Following her performance of "Halo", judge BMK said, "Wherever she goes, she has the potential to be a big star. She definitely has the voice." After the judges had graded all the participants, Ailee was the first-place winner.[6]

Ailee at the 22nd Seoul Music Awards, where she received the award for Best New Artist.

On February 6, 2012, the music video teaser for Ailee's debut song "Heaven" was released. The track was written and produced by Ailee's labelmate Wheesung.[7] Ailee released the song on February 9, 2012 along with the music video, which featured Gi Kwang of Beast.[8][9] Later that day, she made her debut stage performance of "Heaven" on M Countdown,[10] and on Inkigayo later in February.[11] Billboard commented, "From her debut single, Ailee proved that she had an ability beyond her years to communicate the deeper experiences one feels in love. In this dedication track, Ailee's partner protected her and taught her how to love in a harsh world."[12] Just one month after her debut, she won two awards at the Cyworld Music Awards: "Song of the Month" and "Rookie of the Month". Ailee also won the Best New Artist Award at the Asia Song Festival.[13]

In March 2012, Ailee made her first appearances on KBS's Immortal Songs 2, performing Patti Kim's song "Light and Shadow" from 1967.[14] On 19 May, 2012, on part two of the J.Y. Park special, she performed Park's debut song "Don't Leave Me". She beat Davichi's Lee Hae-ri by one point, 419 to 418.[15] She also appeared on the June 30 episode of Immortal Songs 2, which featured composer Yoon Il Sang. She performed "Fate" by Lee Seung Chul and won again with 402 votes.[16] In August 2012, it was announced that she was making a temporary leave from the show in order to focus on her music.[17] She performed her final stage on August 6, 2012, and the episode aired on September 1, 2012.[18] Ailee co-hosted the ABU Radio Song Festival with Han Seok-joon on October 11, 2012.[19][20]

On October 16, 2012, Ailee released her debut EP, Invitation, with the title track "I'll Show You" (보여줄게).[21] The EP contained a total of six tracks.[22] It was produced by producers such as Kim Do-hoon, Lee Hyun-seung, Park Guen-tae, Duble Sidekick, Wheesung, and featured artists such as Verbal Jint, Swings and Simon Dominic.[23] On October 18, 2012, Ailee made her comeback with "I'll Show You" on M Countdown.[24] On November 23, 2012, she won her first trophy in a music program, on Music Bank, beating Psy's "Gangnam Style".

In 2012, Ailee was awarded the Best New Artist Award at the Seoul Music Awards, Melon Music Awards, Mnet Asian Music Awards, and Golden Disk Awards, as well as the New Female Solo Artist Award at the Gaon Chart Music Awards. She has also received the Mnet America Rising Star Award.[25]

Ailee's EP, Magazine.

Ailee released her second EP, titled A's Doll House, on July 12, 2013 by YMC Entertainment and Neowiz Internet. [26] The EP contained six total tracks. [27] It was produced by Wheesung and Shinsadong Tiger. The EP's title track, "U&I" topped music charts within four hours of release and earned Ailee her first "All-Kill" status.[28]

On October 21, 2013, Ailee made her Japanese debut with "Heaven" under Warner Music Japan.[29] The single was released on November 6, 2013, and also included the song "Starlight".

On January 6, 2014, Ailee released a single with the song, "Singing Got Better".[30] The song peaked at number one on the Gaon music chart. [31] It was produced by Wheesung. [32]

On July 12, 2014, Ailee was confirmed to participate as a judge on Superstar K6.[33]

On September 25, 2014, Ailee released her third EP, titled Magazine.[34] The EP's title track, "Don't Touch Me" was categorized as Britpop. [35] The single achieved a peak place at number two on the Gaon music charts.[36] The EP was produced by Kim Do-Hoon.[37] Ailee won her first trophy for this promotion on October 5, 2014 on Inkigayo.

After wrapping up her joint Unite the Mic Tour with Jay Park and San E in Toronto in March 2015, plans were revealed for Ailee to hold a solo concert three years after her debut. Her first solo concert, titled Fatal Attraction, was held on July 4, 2015 at the Olympic Hall.[38] Tickets were released on May 27, 2015 through online retailer Interpark and broke the record for the fastest-selling tickets on the site.[39] Ailee was joined on stage several times by different artists, who helped her sing her many duets and collaborations. She sang "Shut Up" with Showry, "Like Nobody Knows" and "Comma 07" with Cheetah, "Wash Away" and "Officially Missing You" with Geeks, "NimA" and "Shower of Tears" with Baechigi, and "Touch My Body" and "Let"s Go Travel" with Shin Bo-ra.[40]

Ailee's first full-length album Vivid was released on September 30, 2015. She won her first trophy for this promotion on October 7, 2015 on Show Champion. Ailee was awarded the Best Female Vocal Award for the third consecutive year at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards, for "Mind Your Own Business."[41]

On July 13, 2016, Ailee was confirmed to participate as a judge on Superstar K 2016.[42]

On August 23, 2016, Ailee released her single "If You", which subsequently topped the Gaon Weekly Chart for Digital Download.

On October 5, 2016, Ailee released her EP A New Empire,[43] along with the music video for "Home" that was officially released on LOEN and YMC Entertainment's official YouTube channel.[44] A New Empire peaked at number 10 on the Gaon Album Chart, and number nine on the US World Albums (Billboard) Chart.[45]

On December 2, 2016, Ailee was again awarded with Best Vocal Performance at the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards, this time for "If You", a record-breaking fourth consecutive win in the category.[46]

Ailee performing "I Will Go to You Like the First Snow", October 2018.

On January 7, 2017, Ailee released her debut American single "Fall Back" through WestSide Entertainment under the alias A.Leean.[47] She also released the ballad "I Will Go to You Like the First Snow" (첫눈처럼 너에게 가겠다) on the same day as part nine in a series composed of singles for the South Korean cable television series Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. The single topped the Gaon Digital Chart for three consecutive weeks.[48] The single earned Ailee a grand prize for Best OST at the 2017 Korea Cable TV Awards. The soundtrack has also received several accolades, including the best original soundtrack award at the Seoul International Drama Awards, the Mnet Asian Music Awards, the Melon Music Awards, the Seoul Music Awards and the Golden Disc Awards.[49] "I Will Go To You Like the First Snow" became the first OST to stay at number one on Melon for more than 600 hours.[50]

Ailee previously held two Christmas concerts in Seoul titled Welcome Home at Kyunghee University´s Grand Peace Palace on December 24–25, 2016.[51] The concerts were in the theme of her "home", which was also the title track of her EP A New Empire. Due to the success of the concerts, it was announced that Ailee would be holding her first nationwide tour, titled Welcome Home Tour, which started in Daegu on April 1, 2017. She has performed songs from her own discography, as well as songs from her performances on Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend, Duet Song Festival and Fantastic Duo. Guest performers have included Eric Nam, Tak, Amber, Lee Min-jeong and Park Soo-bin.[52] On May 5, 2017, it was announced that Ailee would be holding her first solo concert in Taiwan titled Ailee – Hello Taipei 2017. The concert was held on June 25, 2017 in The City Hall at Taipei International Convention Center. On June 21, 2017, Ailee held a collaboration concert with Brian McKnight and Zion.T titled Superstage Concert. The concert was held at the Jamsil Arena in Seoul. Ailee performed songs from her own discography and also sang a duet, "Whenever You Call", with Brian McKnight.

On March 18, 2018, Ailee performed "I Will Show You" at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium.[53] On September 14, 2018, Ailee was chosen as a member of the South Korean cultural delegation, alongside other selected South Korean artists, for the third inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, North Korea, where she performed her OST "I Will Go to You Like the First Snow".[54] On October 24, 2018, Ailee announced her second nationwide tour, titled I Am: Ailee.

Ailee released her second studio album, titled Butterfly, on July 2, 2019, with the lead single "Room Shaker".[55]

On September 10, 2019, Ailee announced on Instagram that she started a new company named, "Rocket3 Entertainment" after being signed with YMC Entertainment for eight years.[56]

On December 13, 2019, Ailee released her first English language single under American label, Sun and Sky Records. The single, entitled "Sweater", was hailed as "a heart-wrenching-yet-soothing ballad" by Billboard.[57]

Welcome Home Tour was the first nationwide tour by Ailee, in support of her fourth extended play A New Empire. The tour visited six cities through 2016 and 2017.

Set list

Tour dates

I AM: Ailee Tour was the second nationwide tour by Ailee. The tour visited four cities in South Korea, starting on December 8, 2018.[61]

Tour dates

I AM: Re-born Tour was the third nationwide tour by Ailee. The first leg of the tour visited seven cities in South Korea, starting on December 7, 2019.

Tour dates

• 2014: Winter Concert with Eric Benet
• 2014: Someday Concert with Wheesung
• 2015: Unite the Mic Tour with Jay Park and San E[66]
• 2015: Back to School Concert with Wheesung
• 2016: Come Here! Concert with Yoon Min-soo
• 2017: Superstage Concert with Brian McKnight and Zion.T
• 2018: Best of Best Concert in Taipei with Taeyeon and Taemin
• 2018: Concert with Dynamic Duo