Hailed as "one of the most beautiful voices in contemporary jazz" (Le Figaro), Seoul-born singer Youn Sun Nah never thought she was ready to take on the role of composer - until now. For the first time in her career, she wrote all the songs that comprise her forthcoming album Waking World. For Youn Sun Nah writing was a way to find light in dark times, a way to continue her growth as an artist, and the result is 11 haunting compositions that make up her eleventh studio album. Sometimes introspective, sometimes feverish, sometimes quite sparse, Waking World is a complex, long-exposure self-portrait - with a lot of light and a lot of shadow. Her original compositions alternate between levity and painful insight, bearing her signature mix of pop sensibility, folk intimacy, and innovative jazz instrumentation. "This album is both an incredible pleasure and a tremendous challenge," concludes Youn Sun Nah, who continues to push herself creatively and sonically more than 25 years into her esteemed career. Waking World is the closest she has ever come to her true self on record.
