In just four years, Dabin Cha, a young Korean singer, has amassed an impressive 9.5 million subscribers to her YouTube channel and over 3 million followers on TikTok. Riding the "Hallyu" (Korean Wave), the artist began showcasing her voice and talent by covering both foreign and Korean songs before launching her original creations.
Dabin loved singing as a child, and her passion for music never waned. She launched her musical career in her 20s. Like many in Korea, Dabin's parents were not eager for their daughter to study music, but they allowed her to study the piano, which she majored in at university.
Despite her talent and musical expertise, Dabin did not feel confident. She briefly considered becoming a teacher and tried out some part-time jobs before finally yielding to her passion for singing.
She started to perform at small local events in 2019, but then COVID-19 hit, and all events were canceled, dashing her prospects of building a public. However, Dabin was determined to follow her dream of becoming a professional singer, and she soon turned to a much larger audience: the Internet.
Kpop Covers of English Songs Attracts Millions of Followers
Dabin, whose real name remains a closely guarded secret, has embraced the digital space and its rhythms. In the digital world, she said, "I was not restrained by time or space." "I could perform in front of people even though I was in my own bedroom."
Dabin chose to create covers of popular Western and Korean songs and post a large number of videos. "By making those cover songs, I was able to show myself." She posted her videos on YouTube, then on Instagram and TikTok, gaining an impressive fan base.
In a recent bubbling video, Dabin told her followers that one of her highlights on YouTube was when her cover of Sam Ryder's song "Tiny Riot" gained growing attention, positive comments, and feedback. Sam Ryder reached out through social media, and two years later, when he visited Korea, they performed a duet that Dabin recorded, which totaled half a million views. "This was the moment I felt the greatest sense of achievement, pride, gratitude, and happiness," she said then.
Half of Dabin's fans come from abroad, particularly the United States, Indonesia, and Vietnam. She attributes her early successes to inventive song covers, such as singing the same song in different languages. Her TikTok strategy involved providing covers for songs that had not been covered yet, allowing them to trend on the platform.
Single-handed Production for Dabin Cha’s Kpop Music Videos
The multi-talented young singer produces all of her videos herself, including singing, recording, editing, and posting. "Based on my experience, it is the quickest and most efficient way to do it," she said, adding that she enjoys managing every step. Aside from her musical career, Dabin is a digital creator.
Original Kpop Songs inspired by Life Experience
Dabin draws inspiration from her challenges, such as those she faced during the COVID-19 crisis. "The difficulties I faced can resonate with my public," she said.
After covering the songs, she released two digital singles in 2023 and 2024. The first, released in 2023, was titled "Unlock," and the second, in 2024, was titled "Not Sorry for You." For “Unlock”, Dabin wanted to create a powerful song encouraging "people to follow their dreams, break barriers, and leave darkness to become a bright light in the future," she explained.
She explained that "Not Sorry for You " is a bright and cheerful love song meant to be comforting. It goes against societal expectations that people should be precocious, fast, and quick achievers.
Dabin also interpreted a song for an original anime soundtrack, "Born as the Daughter of the Demon King." "The fact that I was able to interpret that song came as a recognition of my work," she said, adding that the collaboration" was a huge opportunity, and I really enjoyed the experience."
Copyright for Cover Songs and Music Collaborations
Despite being a young artist, Dabin is very aware of the need to protect her music creations. She joined one of Korea's collective societies, the Korea Music Copyright Association (Komca). She also relies on the copyright protection provided by YouTube, which sends creators alerts in case of potential infringement.
However, she still deplores some shortcomings, particularly in her cover songs. "I create cover songs with deep respect and love for the original artist," she said, further explaining that some of her videos were used or shared in unexpected ways. However, since cover songs are not considered original works, "it can be unclear how much protection applies to the format or style of the content." "The protection of cover songs remains a bit of a grey area," she said.
Dabin also emphasized the importance of contracts, particularly when collaborating with other artists or projects, such as original soundtracks. Her agency negotiates her contract with third parties. If she collaborates on lyrics and music with a partner, the revenues are shared based on the degree of contribution to lyrics or composition in the final version, Dabin explained.
A Bright Future Ahead for Kpop Phenomenon
Making cover songs, Dabin said, is a foundation for becoming a full-time artist, and she wants to continue leading her musical career and her creator job simultaneously. "I have been doing that for the last five years and am working very hard," she noted, adding that she intends to continue on the same path for "many years to come."
Never short of projects, Dabin is working on a new single that she hopes to release this year.
