Minnie (singer)

Nicha Yontararak (Thai: ณิชา ยนตรรักษ์; born (1997-10-23)October 23, 1997), better known by her nickname Minnie (Hangul: 민니; Thai: มินนี่), is a Thai singer, songwriter, composer and record producer based in South Korea.[1][2] She is best known as a member of the South Korean girl group (G)I-dle, which debuted on May 2, 2018 under Cube Entertainment.[3]

Minnie
Minnie in March 2019
Born
Nicha Yontararak (ณิชา ยนตรรักษ์)

(1997-10-23) October 23, 1997
Bangkok, Thailand
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • record producer
RelativesNat Yontararak (uncle)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2018–present
Labels
Associated acts
Signature

Life and career

1997–2017: Early life and pre-debut

Minnie was born on October 23, 1997,[4] in Bangkok, Thailand.[5] She has older twin brothers.[5] She was born into a musical family, with her mother, aunt and uncle playing the piano.[5] Minnie has been playing piano since she was five and taking vocal lessons since she was seven years old.[6][7] Her mom was her main influence for loving music. She always watched her mom playing the piano, and learned to play it from her.[8] Minnie attended Wattana Wittaya Academy and studied music at Grammy Vocal Studio in Thailand.[9] She was the cheerleader, drummer, actress in a stage play, and more in her school.[8] She also studied Chinese for four years.[10] On September 2014, she participated in the Cube Star World Audition in Thailand and came to Korea in 2015.[10]

On March 23, 2016, Minnie was revealed to the public though Cube trainee official Instagram.[11] On November 5, she was featured in Jeon So-yeon's performance stage at Unpretty Rapstar 3 concert.[12] In June 2017, she participated in a promotional video for Rising Star Cosmetics along with Song Yuqi and Shuhua, future members of (G)I-dle.[13] The same year, Minnie was given an opportunity to feature for Line Friends' Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and six songs in Dance Party! – Children's English Songs.[14][15]

2018–present: Debut with (G)I-dle and solo activities
Main article: (G)I-dle

On May 2, 2018, Minnie debuted with (G)I-dle with their mini-album I Am and the title song "Latata".[16] She received positive reviews for having a unique, attractive, and soothing voice.[17]

In their second album, I Made, Minnie participated in composing, songwriting, and arranging Blow Your Mind which was first released through To Neverland.[18][19] A self-directed music video was released.[20] Minnie confessed that she makes songs on piano and is taking MIDI classes to improve composing.[21] She was credited in composing "For You" for (G)I-dle's Japanese debut album, Latata.[22] In October 2019, (G)I-dle took part in Queendom by Mnet. In the first preliminary stage, the viewers were overwhelmed with Minnie's Thai intro enchantment for "Latata", and was well received from viewers in South Korea and Thailand.[23][24][25] In the third pre-contest unit stage, Minnie represents (G)I-dle's vocal member. She shared the stage with AOA's Hyejeong performing "Instagram" by Dean.[26] The stage was voted the most anticipated unit stage by the contestants.[27] Moreover, the song re-entered music charts and grew popularity amongst the general public due to their performance.[28] On October 15, it was announced that Minnie teamed up with Wengie, a Chinese Australian YouTuber for a collaboration song "Empire" on October 18.[29] "Empire" debuted at number 22 on the Billboard World Digital Songs.[30]

Personal life

Minnie is multilingual. She speaks several languages including Thai, English, Korean, Japanese and Mandarin.[31] Journalist Jake Lau of South China Morning Post, noted that Minnie has a versatile voice: "she sings in a soft, breathy voice when performing more emotive songs and acoustic renditions [...] But on more powerful songs such as Lion, Minnie can belt out the powerful high notes". Apart from her voice, she is also known for her striking eyes and strong gaze that is featured in many of (G)I-dle's music videos.[5]

She cites Super Junior whose songs she often sang to while growing up that led her into K-Pop, as well as singer Troye Sivan as one of her inspirations and hopes for a collaboration someday.[32][31]

Through inverview with HelloAsia, she revealed that she get inspired by her own story or from other people's stories or movies.[33]

Discography
See also: (G)I-dle discography

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR KOR Hot US World
[34]
As featured artist
"Hot Summer"
(Line Friends feat. Minnie)		 2017 ——— N/A Dance Party! – Children's English Songs
"Morning Sunrise"
(LINE FRIENDS feat. Minnie)		 ———
"Dinosaur Song (Herbivore Ver.)"
(LINE FRIENDS feat. Minnie)		 ———
"The Brush Brush Song"
(LINE FRIENDS feat. Minnie)		 ———
"Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow"
(LINE FRIENDS feat. Minnie)		 ———
"Clap Concert"
(LINE FRIENDS feat. Minnie)		 ———
"Empire"
(Wengie feat. Minnie)		 2019 ——22 EMPIRE
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Music videos
Year Music video Album Director(s) Ref.
2019 "Empire"
(With Wengie)		 Empire Choi Hyo-bin (GRAVITAS) [35]

Songwriting credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database, unless otherwise noted.[36]

Year Album Song Lyrics Music Arrangement
Credited With Credited With Credited With
2019 I Made "Blow Your Mind" Yes FlowBlow, Soyeon Yes Big Sancho Yes Big Sancho
Latata "For You"[37] Yes FCMHoudini, Soyeon, Eri Osanai (Japanese Lyrics) Yes FCMHoudini Yes FCMHoudini
Empire "Empire" with Wengie[38] Yes 72, Melanie Fontana, Michel Schulz, Wendy Huang No – No –
2020 Two Yoo Project Sugar Man 3 Episode 8 "Show"[39] No – No – Yes Breadbeat (TENTEN)
Dumdi Dumdi "I'm the Trend" Yes Yuqi, Soyeon, FCMHoudini Yes FCMHoudini, Yuqi, Yuto No –

Filmography
See also: (G)I-dle § Filmography

Variety shows
Year Title Network Notes Ref.
2019 Five Actors MBN Cast member [40]

References
  1. [현장] (여자)아이들 민니 "자작곡 'Blow Your Mind', 美서 뮤직비디오 직접 .... Single List (in Korean). February 26, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  2. Lim Min-young (September 27, 2019). "(여자)아이들 민니, 본명 '니차 욘따라락' 화제...'국적은 어디?'". TopStarNews (in Korean). Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  3. (여자)아이들 민니X소연, 프로필 사진 공개…몽환美. Sports Donga (in Korean). April 13, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  4. "민니". people.search.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  5. Jack Lau (April 11, 2020). "Minnie of (G)I-DLE: the Thai-born lead vocalist who wants to inspire non-Korean K-pop hopefuls". South China Morning Post. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. [T포토] 민니 "5살 때부터 피아노 쳤어요". TvReport. May 2, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  7. (여자)아이들 민니, '7살때부터 보컬수업 받았어요~' (쇼케이스). Seoul Entertainment. May 2, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  8. (여자)아이들((G)-I-DLE) – 나의 이름은。민니(MINNIE) (in Korean). Cube Entertainment. April 26, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  9. "Grammy Vocal Studio". March 12, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  10. "独家专访(G)I-DLE：中韩泰三国语爆笑对话". iQiyi. March 23, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  11. "Today is CUBE's trainee day! r u guys ready ?". March 23, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  12. "161105 언프리티랩스타3 대구콘서트 전소연 '웃어' 직캠 By.SGJP" (in Korean). November 6, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  13. 비포앤애프터바이오 라이징스타 워터뱅뱅앰플미스트 걸그룹 연습생 화장품광고 티저 송우기. RisingStar (in Korean). June 1, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  14. "[Brown TV] Twinkle twinkle little star Nursery Rhymes Line Friends Kids Song" (in Korean). BrownTv (브라운TV). June 15, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  15. "Dance Party! – 어린이 영어동요" (in Korean). Naver Music. November 13, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  16. [포토] 6인조 신인 걸그룹 '아이들' 데뷔. New Daily (in Korean). May 2, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  17. [포토Q] (여자)아이들 민니 '독특한 보이스와 춤' ((여자)아이들 데뷔 쇼케이스) (in Korean). SportsQ. May 2, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  18. (여자)아이들 민니, "첫 자작곡 수록... MV도 직접 촬영". Star Daily (in Korean). May 2, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  19. (여자)아이들, 미니 2집 'I made' 트랙리스트 공개... '5곡 모두 자작곡'. Star Daily (in Korean). February 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  20. Hong Sung-hoon (February 19, 2019). "(여자)아이들의 'TO NEVERLAND' 마지막 에피소드 공개". New Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  21. Lee Dong-hyun (February 26, 2019). "GI-dle So Yeon and Minnie also writes their own song" (in Korean). The Voice of the People. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  22. Lee Dong-hyun (May 30, 2019). "GI-DLE Japan debut new member-written new song, recorded contents & jacket photo release" (in Japanese). SPICE. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  23. "˝퀸덤˝ 붉은 레이저와 민니의 몽환적인 태국어 주문으로…?". CSN (in Korean). September 9, 2019.
  24. "QUEENDOM: (G)I-DLE เลือกคอนเซปหมอผีสร้างโชว์ใหม่เพลง LATATA". HallyuKStar (in Thai). September 5, 2019.
  25. "GI-DLE รุกกี้เกิร์ลกรุ๊ปสุดปังที่รุ่นพี่ในวงการยังยกนิ้วให้ อ้อนอยากโปรโมตในไทย (มีบทสัมภาษณ์)". Sudsapda (in Thai). October 5, 2019.
  26. '퀸덤' (여자)아이들 민니·수진, 독보적 음색에 카리스마 퍼포먼스까지. Seoul Daily (in Korean). October 11, 2019.
  27. "'퀸덤' 중간점검, 가장 기대되는 유닛 1위 혜정×민니". Sports Donga (in Korean). October 4, 2019.
  28. Tiara Shelavie (October 15, 2019). "Lirik Lagu Instagram – Dean, Single yang Kembali Populer setelah Di-cover Minnie & Hyejeong Queendom". Tribun News.
  29. "GI-dle Minnie collaborates with famous Australian Youtube Wengie First step in group activities". TenAsia (in Korean). October 15, 2019.
  30. "Wengie & (G)I-DLE's Minnie Make Their Debuts on World Digital Song Sales With 'Empire'". Billboard. November 3, 2019.
  31. (여자)아이들 민니X소연, 프로필 사진 공개…몽환美. Elle Korea (in Korean). November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  32. Tamar Herman (July 11, 2019). "GI-dle Reveal Dream Collaborators in 'First, Best, Last, Worst' Game: Watch". Billboard.
  33. Anastasia Giggins (July 2, 2020). "INTERVIEW: (G)I-DLE TALK ABOUT MOTIVATION AND THEIR LOVE FOR NEVERLAND AHEAD OF LIVE ONLINE CONCERT". HelloAsia. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  34. "World Digital Song Sales". Billboard.
  35. "WENGIE ft. MINNIE of (G)I-DLE 'EMPIRE' (OFFICIAL MV)". Wengie Music. October 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
  36. "Songs Registered Under MIN NI (민니) (10022029)". Korea Music Copyright Association (in Korean).
  37. (G)I-DLE　日本デビュー作にはメンバー書き下ろしの新曲も、収録内容＆ジャケット写真公開
  38. "Empire by Wengie". Spotify (in Korean). October 18, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  39. '슈가맨3' (여자)아이들 민니 "역주행송, 처음으로 직접 프로듀싱". OSEN (in Korean). January 31, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  40. Kim Myung-mi (April 5, 2019). ‘오배우’ 임하룡-장혁-김희철-(여자)아이들, 멤버들과 봄소풍 떠난다 (in Korean). Newsen.
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