Superknova
SuperKnova | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | Ellie Kim |
Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
Genres |
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Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2017–present |
Labels | Self-released |
Associated acts |
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Website | superknovaofficial |
Ellie Kim, artist name SuperKnova, is a physician, activist and musician.[1][2][3] She has released two studio albums, most recently American Queers.[4] As a physician, she is noted for speaking out publicly against non-consensual intersex surgery in infants while working at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.[5][6]
Education[]
Kim attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she studied jazz guitar.[7] She attended Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and graduated with her MD in 2019.[8] She did not attend residency and instead chose to pursue a career in music after graduating.[9]
Music career[]
Ellie Kim started SuperKnova while in medical school.[10][11] During this time, she began her gender transition and wrote songs as a form of therapy to process her emotions around coming out. She initially did not plan on releasing them. However, a friend eventually convinced her to put them on Bandcamp.[12] Her first album Splendor Dysphoria was released on Bandcamp in June 2017.[13] She chose the artist name SuperKnova based on her childhood fascination with space. The name is based on the cosmological phenomenon of a supernova, the final most energetic explosion before the death of a star. She saw this as an analogy of how she wanted to live life: giving it her all and seeing beauty in the chaos.[14][15] Her second album American Queers is one of the “all-time best selling transgender albums” on Bandcamp.[16]
Production[]
Kim is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and audio engineer. She writes, produces, records, mixes and masters all of her own music.[17]
Activism[]
As a physician, Kim has advocated for intersex justice alongside activist, Pidgeon Pagonis.[18][19] On July 23, 2020, Kim became the first physician at Lurie Children’s Hospital to publicly speak out against cosmetic, medically unnecessary surgeries performed on intersex infants without their consent.[20] She advocated for change within Lurie Children's Hospital in collaboration with Dr. Robert Garofalo, division head of Adolescent Medicine.[21][22] On July 29, 2020, Lurie Children’s hospital formally changed their policy regarding intersex infant surgery and became the first hospital in the United States to do so.[23][24]
Personal life[]
Kim is a genderfluid, transgender woman and uses she/her/hers pronouns.[25][26][27]
Appearances in media[]
SuperKnova's song "Glitter and Blood" appears in Season 1, Episode 2 of Showtime's Work in Progress.[28] She also sings a cover of The Beat's "Mirror in the Bathroom" (produced by Ethan Stoller) that appears in Season 1, Episode 4, the "Bathroom" episode.[29]
Awards[]
In 2021, SuperKnova's music video for her song "Goals_" was selected to the 44th Asian American International Film Festival in New York City.[30]
References[]
- ^ Schoenberg, Nara. "Under growing pressure from employees and activists, Lurie Children's Hospital may end controversial genital surgeries on children born with bodies that aren't typically male or female". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Pidgeon Pagonis". WTTW News. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ Julious, Britt. "Ellie Kim and SuperKnova like a blast of sonic fresh air". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "American Queers, by SuperKnova". SuperKnova. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ Schoenberg, Nara. "Under growing pressure from employees and activists, Lurie Children's Hospital may end controversial genital surgeries on children born with bodies that aren't typically male or female". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "After Lurie Children's Pledges To Stop Surgeries On Intersex Kids, Activists Urge Other Hospitals To Follow". Block Club Chicago. 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Illuminating Identity: Ellie Kim Shines As SuperKnova". These Days. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Doximity". www.doximity.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Getting to know Superknova". Kinky Elevator Music. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Getting to know Superknova". Kinky Elevator Music. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ Rebecca, it's (2020-11-30). "SUPERKNOVA". music is her passion. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "SUPERKNOVA". BOPS & FLOPS. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "SuperKnova". SuperKnova. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ Rebecca, it's (2020-11-30). "SUPERKNOVA". music is her passion. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Getting to know Superknova". Kinky Elevator Music. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Transgender Music & Artists | Bandcamp". bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ Rebecca, it's (2020-11-30). "SUPERKNOVA". music is her passion. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Pidgeon Pagonis". WTTW News. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "How Pidgeon Pagonis Helped End Intersex Surgeries at Lurie". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ Schoenberg, Nara. "Under growing pressure from employees and activists, Lurie Children's Hospital may end controversial genital surgeries on children born with bodies that aren't typically male or female". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "How Pidgeon Pagonis Helped End Intersex Surgeries at Lurie". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Garofalo, Robert, MD, MPH". www.luriechildrens.org. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Intersex Care at Lurie Children's and Our Sex Development Clinic". www.luriechildrens.org. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ Nora Neus. "Major children's hospital apologizes for history of cosmetic genital surgeries on intersex infants". CNN. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "SuperKnova (@superknovamusic) TikTok | Watch SuperKnova's Newest TikTok Videos". TikTok. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ Rebecca, it's (2020-11-30). "SUPERKNOVA". music is her passion. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Login • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Music from Work in Progress S1E02". Tunefind. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Music from Work in Progress S1E04". Tunefind. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ www.aaiff.org https://www.aaiff.org/aaiff44/goals_/. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help)
- Transgender and transsexual women musicians
- LGBT singers from the United States
- LGBT physicians
- Intersex rights activists
- LGBT people from Illinois
- Living people