FROM a Logan local to international pop star with a sold-out national tour, Dami Im's life has turned upside down.

The refreshingly humble multi-instrumentalist said entering X-Factor, which she won in 2013, was the best thing she had done to further her career.

"I was always a musician ... I just didn't know how to get my music noticed and I wanted to do my own shows but just didn't know how to make it happen," Im said.

"I just felt it was time for me to try something new and push myself."

The recognition from X-Factor gave Im, a shy piano teacher, opportunities to develop her music and have the career she had only ever dreamed of.

Im placed second in the international song contest Eurovision in Stockholm, Sweden, earlier this year.

She said she had had an incredible amount of support from her family and fans at home, which had made the experience extra special.

"It was an amazing experience being able to represent Australia, and being on the biggest stage was a huge thing for me," Im said.

She said she had gained exposure in countries she never would have expected, thanks to the contest.

"Sound of Silence charted in 30-something countries so it was a chance for me to get heard outside of Australia," she said.

After experiences such as Eurovision and having a sold-out national tour, her home life has remained the same.

"I have a career where I get to do what I love which is performing ... but nothing else has really changed," she said.

"I still live in the same house, still live in the area where I grew up, have a lot of family time and see the same friends."

Her second album Heartbeats, released in 2014, is her first record of original songs.

Im said each song was a personal story that she had had in her head for years.

"It was scary putting myself out there, because once your music is out, it's there for everyone to listen to and make comments and criticise if they want to," she said.

"But I guess you've got to share yourself with the world and focus on the people who may be able to relate to your experiences.

"There's nothing better than when I listen to a song with something personal and it really speaks to me, so I hope that happens to some of my listeners."

Her Yesterday Once More tour features music from her latest album Classic Carpenters - a homage to and re-invention of one of Im's idols, Karen Carpenter.

"I love the music of The Carpenters and I love being able to perform their beautiful songs as well as my more current tunes like Sound of Silence," she said.

• Catch Im at The Events Centre, Caloundra, on November 12. For tickets, visit http://theeventscentre.com.au/buy-now-dami-im.