Lee Jin-ah

Lee Jin-ah (; born March 16, 1991) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and jazz pianist. After finishing in third place on SBS's K-pop Star 4, she signed with Antenna in 2015. Her distinctive musical style combines jazz with pop and R&B, often featuring whimsical lyrics.

Biography Early career Lee Jin-ah majored in applied music at Seoul Institute of the Arts.

In 2011, she took part in the CCM singer audition program Gospel Star C Season 1 as part of a group called Snowdrop, who placed within the final top 10.

On March 5, 2012, she was selected as the winner of the 9th Tune Up, a competition and musician support program run by the CJ Cultural Foundation.

Lee debuted in 2013 with her first album, Invisible. The album was produced by Kim Soo-jin, a music director who had previously produced OSTs for dramas including Behind The White Tower, Sign, and Queen Seondeok. Lee Han-jin, a professor of applied music at Seoul Institute of the Arts participated in this album as a jazz trombone performer. This album was considered too intense to be a debut of a new musician.

She was a member of the "JinA Band". The other members of "JinA Band" were Park Hyun (contrabass) and Cho Sun-kyun (drums) before and after K-pop Star 4.

2014–2016: K-pop Star 4 and signing with Antenna Music In 2014, she participated as a contestant in K-pop Star 4, a reality television audition program on SBS. She performed seven self-written songs, which is rare in audition programs, drawing rave reviews from the judges with her performances. JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young, one of the three judges, became especially impressed, saying he "might as well quit the music industry now." Antenna Entertainment CEO You Hee-yeol drew attention by saying, "I think I saw here the reality of a female musician who I had dreamed of not being able to conclude or define." Lee and her songs became very popular through this program.

On April 5, 2015, she won 3rd place in said competition. On April 20, it was announced that she had signed with Antenna Music alongside Jung Seung-hwan who was her co-contestant and runner-up for K-pop Star 4.

On June 10, 2016, Lee Jin-ah made a label debut with the single "I'm Full" which is the first part of her trilogy release. She also was involved in the agency concert called "Hello Antenna:The Label Concert" held from September 23–25.

2017–2018: Random and Jinah Restaurant Full Course

In March, 2017, Lee Jin-ah was part of a concert by "Antenna Angels" (Antenna Music's junior artists) called "We, Begin". On July 20, 2017, her first EP Random was released. This served as the second part of her trilogy release. She produced all songs in it at the recommendation of her agency CEO You Hee-yeol. You Hee-yeol said to her not to pay much attention to the album's success, praising her as "a musician who shows her true value at a concert hall."

Random was described by Jung Yeon-kyung at the music publication IZM as "a mixture of Girls' Generation, Jamie Cullum, Okdal, and Disney animated musicals". In particular, the song "Stairs" was noticed by critics for its novel fusion of pop and jazz. On the title track "Random", the lyrics describe an experience in which she discovered an unexpected joy while listening to music in random play. She said this song contains the meaning of discarding prejudice in music and other things. Another member of the "Lee Jin-ah Trio" is Seo Ju-young (drums). Both Lee Jin-ah and Seo Ju-young entered Seoul Institute of the Arts in the same year. Park Jong-woo was a year senior. Park and Seo have sometimes participated in composing and arranging her songs.

Lee Jin-ah was also part of Antenna's label concert later that year called "With, Antenna" that toured throughout 5 cities in South Korea and U.S.

On June 26, 2018, she released her 2nd full album Jinah Restaurant Full Course which is the final part of her trilogy release.

2020–present: Candy Pianist and Hearts of the City

In 2020, her second EP, Candy Pianist was released. By participating in writing and composing all the songs in this EP, Lee once again proved her ability as a singer-songwriter. The theme of it is "Awakening", which is clearly shown in the title song "Dreamy Alarm", "Awake (Feat. Sam Kim)", and other tracks. This EP contains Lee's desire to give strength and motivate those who listen to her music as a candy pianist.

In 2021, she made her debut as a film music director with Children Are Happy OST.

On September 13, 2023, Lee Jin-ah released her 3rd full length album after 5 years called Hearts of the City. This album is filled with 12 songs presenting a new musical world built from various emotions observed in a familiar but scary world called "city" while also warmly touching the inner hearts of those who live in one. It has two title tracks, namely "Mystery Village" depicting the city as mysterious place, and "My Whole New World" giving encouragement to build our own enjoyable city. This album also features various artists such as Stella Jang, Sarah Kang, cellist Hong Jin-ho, Lee Hyo-ri, Lee Sangsoon, and producers Park Moon-chi and Simon Petrén.

Personal life Lee married pianist Shin Sung-jin in March 2019. They met as music students at Seoul Institute of the Arts. Shin has steadily participated in her songs by playing musical instruments, rhythm programming, and string arrangements. On January 7, 2025, Lee announced her pregnancy. Lee announced the birth of her first child on July 7, 2025.

Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR Unvisible(Released: October 10, 2013 Label: Chili Music Korea Formats: CD, digital download 13 KOR: 1,550 Jinah Restaurant Full Course ( Full Course)Released: June 26, 2018 Label: Antenna

Label: Antenna Formats: CD, digital download — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Extended plays Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR Random Released: July 20, 2017 Label: Antenna Formats: CD, digital download 35 KOR: 999 Candy Pianist Released: September 29, 2020 Label: Antenna Formats: CD, digital download 28

Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR "Coloring Book" 2013 — Unvisible "Life is Ninano" 2015 — "Road to the Airport" with J.Y. Park 45 KOR: 57,544 "I'm Full" 2016 — Appetizer single album "Starry Night" with Onew 47 KOR: 68,668 SM Station Season 1 "Random" 2017 — Random "Run"with Gray 2018 —Jinah Restaurant Full Course "I-Nuri Song" ( Song) 2019 — "Warm Heart" — "Everything Is OK (With Antenna Ver.)"with Antenna artists 2020 — "Dangerous Dream" — "Our Christmas Wish For You" with Antenna artists 107 2020 Antenna Christmas Carol "Dreamy Alarm" — Candy Pianist "Hello Antenna, Hello Christmas"with Antenna artists 2021 124 2021 Antenna Christmas Carol "Rum Pum Pum" 2022 — Rum Pum Pum single album"Where the Wind Rises" — "—" denotes release did not chart.

K-pop Star 4 songs TitleOriginal artist Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR K-pop Star Season 4 digital singles "My Own Way" 2 KOR: 154,236 "Exciting Waltz" 2015 83 KOR: 18,950 "Yum Yum Yum" 9 KOR: 101,751 "Winter Rich" 78

KOR: 81,596 "Road" g.o.d — K-pop Star Season 4 Top 3

Soundtrack appearances

Other appearances Title Year Album "Who's Your Mama? (Soul Ver.)"J. Y. Park feat. Lee Jin-ah & Ji John 2015 24/34 "I Know Why Stars Twinkle"Lucid Fall (vocals by Lee Jin-ah) Someone, Somewhere "Your Song" with Sam Kim, Jung Seung-hwan, Kwon Jin-ah 2016 I Am Sam "I Love You, Be Happy" Melody to Masterpiece: Track 6 "Granny and Her Old Rocket" Peppertones with Lee Jin-ah Long Way "Meet the Rose" Hyungdon and Daejun feat. Lee Jin-ah 2017 "You In My Arms" Yoo Jae-ha coverYoo Jae-ha 30th Anniversary: Forever as We Are "Hope" H.O.T. cover 2019You Hee-yul's Sketchbook 10th Anniversary Project: 19th Voice "New Day" Sam Ock feat. Lee Jin-ah 2020To Belonging "Heat Haze" Younghotstuff feat. Lee Jin Ah Trio Paradox Life "LAN Escape" The Blank Shop feat. Lee Jin-ahTailor "Stairs (Onstage Ver.)" (Onstage 10th Anniversary - Only Onstage: 7 "I Wanna Be Loved" Deulrejang feat. Lee Jin-ah 2021

Songwriting credits The following credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association database. + List of songs written or co-written by Lee Jin-ah for other artistsYearTitleArtist(s)AlbumLyricsMusicArrangement Credited With Credited With Credited With 2016 "Always" Miiso Good Night Miiso 2018 "Singing Like a Wind" Jung Seung-hwan Spring Again "Think About You"(Prelude: )Yoo Seon-hoSpring, Seonho "Maybe Spring" "Your Song" Jo Sang-jun, Park Hyun "Fine" Jung Seung-hwanLife OST 2019 "Hide and Seek" Kwon Jin-ah Shape of Me Hen, You Hee-yeol Kwon Young-chan 2021 "First Love" Jung Joon-il feat. Sole Jung Joon-il "For You, My Sunshine" Jukjae, Kwon Jin-ah "Walk Home with Me(Full Band Ver.)" Jung Seung-hwan Kim Da-mi Seo Ju-young, Park Jong-woo "Walk Home with Me(Acoustic Ver.)" Kwon Jin-ah Kwon Jin-ah "Adventure" Kwon Jin-ah, Sam Kim Sam Kim, Kwon Jin-ah Sam Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, An Kwang-hyun Simon Petrén, An Kwang-hyun 2022 "Close the Door" Lee Soo-young SORY "Don't Ever Leave Me" Sole Seoul Check-in OST Part 8 Jung Joon-il "First Love" Jukjae Jukjae Jukjae Jukjae "Frame" Hong Jin-ho Modern Cello 2024 "Star to Start" Babylon (singer) EGO 90'S PART 3 Babylon (singer) "First Love" Doyoung First Love Jung Joon-il

+ List of jingles written by Lee Jin-ahYearTitle(s)ArtistShow/Company 2016 "Logo Song" Lee Jin-ah 2018 "Jingle 1", "Logo Song 1" Lee Jin-ah EBS "Mallang Song" ,"Kulkul Song" Jung Seung-hwan The Spring Home "Title Song", "Opening Song", "Ending Song", "Part 2 Signal" Lee Jin-ah 2021 "Book Hangout" Lee Jin-ah

Filmography Year Title Type Network Notes Ref. 2014–2015 K-pop Star Season 4 Television SBS Contestant 2019 Sound Garden Web show Lululala Music Host 2019–2024 Radio SBS Power FM Host 2021 Clumsy Antenna Web show Kakao TV Main cast (with Antenna artists)

Awards and nominations Award-giving body Year Category Nominated work Result Ref. Korean Music Awards 2018 Best Pop Album Random 2019Best Pop AlbumJinah Restaurant Full Course 2024 Album of the Year Hearts of the City Best Pop Album