What has been your most memorable moment on Australian Idol? – As stressful as it was, probably the Top 30 week, especially the group challenge. The people I was paired with are absolutely brilliant musicians and singers. The experience of working with them was an absolute joy and so much fun.
What inspired you to become a musician? – I’ve been doing music since I was very little, but I really only decided to become a professional musician in 2021-22. Year 11 and 12 were big change years for me. I was always into music but was leaning more towards acting and musical theatre. When I was in Year 12, I discovered this band called Lawrence and their music just set me on a different path.
Your family owns a music school on the Sunshine Coast. Did that influence your career path? – Yes, growing up around that definitely influenced me, how I perform music and my love for it. Seeing so many people come to the school from different walks of life to perform in their own unique way was very interesting. I remember being on the sidelines, thinking: ‘That looks so cool. I want to be them one day.’
Why did you decide to audition for Australian Idol? – I remember watching it last year and being amazed at the variety of artists they picked. There was someone from the Sunny Coast and I thought: ‘There are people from my vicinity, and they are doing this out-of-this-world TV show’ – that was just seemingly unobtainable. I remember being in the car with my girlfriend and I mentioned it as an offhand comment. She suggested I audition. I sent in a video of me performing Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder and I thought: ‘If something happens, that’s awesome; if not, oh well. At least I tried.’ It’s been such a journey since then.
How would you describe your musical style? – This is my favourite question. Anything that has a groove. Or if it doesn’t have groove, then it has to have soul. Those are my two rules for anything I do musically or anything I write.
What’s the most challenging part of being on the show? – Picking songs, especially for the live-band situation, is definitely a challenge. There are so many factors you don’t think about. Can the producers get the rights for this song? Is this song known well enough that people will connect with it? Is it good for you to sing and does it fit your vocal range?
How do you deal with the stress of performing on live television? – It is very stressful. There are so many things that can go wrong on live television. You really feel the pressure walking into the audition room. Not only are there three seasoned people from the music industry, but there are cameras filming everything: every note you hit or don’t hit. When it feels like way too much and my hands start shaking, I put myself in a bubble and I think, ‘Okay, I’m just going to perform for me and impress myself.’ If I can do that and do right by the music and do right by me, I am happy.
How has life changed since Australian Idol? – I’ve definitely got more eyes on me at the shopping mall. It’s very surreal. Professionally, I feel like it’s shown me what the music industry is like compared to the Sunshine Coast. My mind is blown.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given? – Respect the music. That little piece of advice from my parents changed the way I looked at music and still does to this day.
What is your biggest piece of advice for aspiring artists? – Have confidence in your taste and yourself and who you are as an artist. At the end of the day, that is the thing that will make you successful. There are millions of singers in the world but only one of you. That is the beautiful thing about this industry. There are so many unique individuals. Don’t try to be someone you think you should be. Take chances and don’t give up. You never know what might happen. You miss all the shots you don’t take.
