Joakim Gomez
| Joakim Gomez | |
|---|---|
| File:Joakim Gomez in 2024 on The Daily Ketchup Podcast.jpgJoakim Gomez in 2024 on The Daily Ketchup Podcast.jpg Gomez in 2024 | |
| Born | 22 July 1988 |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Catholic High School Chong Boon Secondary School Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts |
| 💼 Occupation |
|
| 📆 Years active | 2012–present |
| Known for | Singapore Idol contestant |
Joakim Gomez[lower-alpha 1] (born 22 July 1988) is a full-time DJ at 987FM, and hosts events such as the annual National Day Parade. He is a Singaporean of Korean-Indian descent with Portuguese roots.
Gomez was raised by his Korean mother, after his parents divorced when he was five years old, but kept in contact with his father. He had studied theatre in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. In 2006, Gomez competed in the second season of Singapore Idol, in which he placed fifth. He received harsh comments from judges and viewers, describing his self-esteem at its lowest.
In 2012, Gomez started his part-time hosting career on 987FM, before co-hosting full-time with Sonia Chew on 987FM since 2014. After being a substitute host for the National Day Parade (NDP), he started hosting the NDP in 2012, and had hosted it 12 times by 2025.
Early life
Gomez was born in 22 July[2] 1988[3] and is a Korean-Indian[4] Singaporean[5] with Portuguese roots.[‡ 1]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 7:12 He was raised in Singapore by only his Korean mother[‡ 1]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 7:02 when he was five years old as his parents divorced,[‡ 1]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 4:17 but remained in contact with his father.[‡ 1]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 6:33 In Catholic High School, the primary school in which he studied,[‡ 2] he felt angry about his family situation,[‡ 1]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 4:52 but accepted the situation when he grew up.[‡ 1]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 5:10
He finished his O-levels[4] in Chong Boon Secondary School, in which he studied from 2001 to 2005,[‡ 3] scoring well in accounting, which he described as a possible career that he did not pursue.[6] He then joined the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) studying theatre, thinking that it fit his desire of acting in theatre and television, after being introduced to it by Ebi Shankara, another NAFA student who also participated in Singapore Idol.[7]
Gomez had also worked part-time in Mediacorp after participating in Singapore Idol in 2006,[6] acting in the second season of the Channel 5 drama, Lifeline,[7] and the Okto youth drama, The Band.[4] He then served National Service in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Music and Drama Company[4] from 2011 to 2012.[2]
Singapore Idol
In 2006, Gomez competed in the second season of Singapore Idol.[3] He placed fifth in the competition[8] and sang poorly according to Kwok Kar Peng of The New Paper.[4] Stephanie of The Assembly said that he placed higher than expected for his ability.[3] Despite not winning, he was a memorable contestant, according to Celine Tan of 8days.[6] He was criticised heavily by the judges, Dick Lee, Florence Lian, and Ken Lim.[3] Gomez received hate comments from viewers and got into public fights,[3] such as when a bottle was thrown at him at Orchard Road.[9] The audience brought posters of monkeys in reference to Lee comparing Gomez to a "performing monkey".[9] He wanted to stay at home and avoid the negative attention, describing his self-esteem at the lowest point in life,[9] feeling angry,[3] but had close friends and family members for emotional support.[‡ 1]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 9:50 He used to regret going on the show,[9] but moved on after growing up,[10] saying that it was a harsh introduction to his career.[9]
Career
In 2012, Gomez joined 987FM as a part-time DJ, and started doing it full-time from 2014,[11] co-hosting with Sonia Chew for The Wake Up Call[12] and The Shock Circuit.[13] He also co-hosted with Chew for a livestreamed online show titled Sofa So Good during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had accumulated 30,000 views in an episode over a weekend.[14] Chew described their dynamic as their branding as co-hosts on 987FM, "keep[ing] the listeners guessing" such as posting on Instagram that Gomez was friendzoned.[6] Gomez maintains a friendship with Chew, but says that social media constantly tries to frame them as romantic partners.[‡ 4]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 20:10
Gomez was inspired to enter the media industry by his dad, Michael Jackson and Gurmit Singh.[‡ 4]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 10:09 He quoted people expressing their gratitude to his father for singing at the hotel lounge of Holiday Inn, Jackson being able to emotionally move large crowds of people, and Singh being able to command synchronised movement of large crowds.[‡ 4]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 10:23
Gomez had hosted events at Chong Boon Secondary School,[4] where he studied.[9] He has also hosted events such as formal SAF dinners attended by domestic and foreign officials during his national service,[4] from 2011 to 2012.[2] He also hosts for television and live shows.[8] After being a substitute host in a preview iteration of the annual National Day Parade (NDP), an opportunity from being in the Singapore Armed Forces Music and Drama Company, he first started hosting the NDP in 2012.[4] In 2018, he hosted the NDP with Chew, as the first radio partners to host the show together.[6] By 2025, he had hosted the NDP 12 times.[15]
In 2010, he sang in a group at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Youth Olympic Games, and at Marina Bay Sands' show, Wonder Full.[8]
Personal life
Gomez first met Sonia Chew, a co-hosting DJ at 987FM,[12] at a halloween night at Butter Factory,[6] a night club which closed in 2015,[16] and was introduced to each other by a mutual friend there.[6] In November 2010, before enlisting in the Singapore Army, he went on a date with Chew, but did not continue with a second date.[17] They kept in touch, and coincidentally met again in 2012 during training at the 987FM studio,[6] remaining a brotherly relationship.[12] Gomez is single.[‡ 4]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 20:58
Gomez speaks English, Mandarin and basic Korean,[2] but does not speak Tamil.[‡ 4]: Script error: The function "hyphen2dash" does not exist., 39:46 Gomez likes running alone such as on marathons,[14] and said that sports could have been a possible career path.[6] He is an ambassador for Standard Chartered Marathon, a role he took on after a difficult period, quoting work stress and worsened personal life, gaining weight from a healthy range.[18]
Gomez enjoys a busy schedule.[14] He grew up reading 8days, a once-physical online magazine,[6] and was featured on the cover page with Chew in 2018 before it went digital.[6]
Notes
References
Secondary sources
- ↑ 王, 善田; 张, 慧仙 (2026-07-04). "国庆庆典表演空间历来最大 300台无人机与空中杂技同台演出". 8world. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Joakim Gomez". Mediacorp. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Wong, Bryan (2025-01-25). ""I Didn't Think You Deserved To Be In Singapore Idol": Joakim Gomez Comes Face-To-Face With Former Hater". 8days. Archived from the original on 4 July 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-04. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Kwok, Kar Peng (2012-08-10). "Joakim Gomez says he's changed his focus". www.asiaone.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ "PROMINENT NAFA ALUMNI" (PDF). Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. 2023. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 Tan, Celine (2018-09-01). "How Did Sonia Chew Get Joakim Gomez On The Cover Of 8 DAYS Magazine?". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "From classroom dreamer to... classy designer". AsiaOne. 2008-01-24. Archived from the original on 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Abdul Hadi, Eddino (2018-08-19). "Singapore Idol alumni - where are they now?". Her World. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Nadhirah, Syarifah (2023-07-29). "'This monkey made it': NDP host Joakim Gomez, once called a 'performing monkey', on overcoming insults from Singapore Idol". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 4 July 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-04. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Chakraborty, Drima (2025-01-29). "Joakim Gomez says time to bring his Singapore Idol past to a close, is 'at peace' with being thought of as 'failed singer'". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 4 July 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-04. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Toh, Ziyi (27 July 2023). "987 DJ Joakim Gomez Got Into Fights With Singapore Idol Hecklers Back When He Was The "Most Hated" Contestant On The Show". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Nadhirah, Syarifah (2026-05-18). "'Self-proclaimed older brother' Joakim Gomez's emotional video to newlywed Sonia Chew leaves her 'ugly crying'". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 4 July 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-04. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Lim, Ruey Yan (2024-11-28). "Radio DJ Sonia Chew announces engagement with boyfriend of six years". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Chan, Ilsa (2020-04-28). "Circuit Breaker: "Broken" Circuit Breaker During Sonia Chew & Joakim Gomez's Live Online Show Keeps Things Fun For 987 DJs". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Alimin, Jasmine (2025-08-06). "NDP Stars Share What It Takes To Bring Singapore's Biggest Celebration To Life". ELLE Singapore. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Sin, Carmen (2025-07-03). "Super Freak Boutique, run by co-founders of The Butter Factory, to close in end-July". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Tseng, Douglas (2020-12-19). "Joakim Gomez On His One And Only Date With Sonia Chew: "We Knew We Were At Different Wavelengths"". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
- ↑ Teo, Jasmine (2020-01-02). "Stick To Your New Year's Fitness Resolutions With These Workout Tips From Joakim Gomez". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
Primary sources
In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 CNA Insider (2025-01-23). Joakim Gomez' "Best Interview" Yet With Neurodivergent Journalists | The Assembly - Part 4 (Video). Archived from the original on 29 January 2025. Retrieved 2026-07-06 – via YouTube. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Gomez, Joakim (2024-10-16). Unboxing My Primary School Report Book | Mandarin School Memories (Video). Event occurs at 0:15 – via TikTok.
Okay, primary one, Mr Lim Se Huat was my form teacher in Catholic High.
- ↑ Gomez, Joakim (14 September 2018). "Instagram Post". Instagram.
Before Singapore Idol, I was in Chong Boon Secondary School. ... (2001 - 2005)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The Daily Ketchup Podcast (2024-07-22). Sonia Chew CHANGED His Love Life ft. Joakim Gomez | #DailyKetchup EP335 (Video) – via YouTube.
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