Tag: Australian Idol

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Half a World Away” – Dylan Wright

My review of Dylan Wright’s EP, Half a World Away, has been a long time coming. I intended to write it before I left for New Zealand, but time got away. And then I had my car accident, and I started to wonder whether it was even relevant anymore given that this EP dropped in October. But then I started to think about it, and I didn’t want you guys to miss it, especially considering Dylan has just been named as Tina Arena’s support on her upcoming tour.

This isn’t your typical post-Idol release. It’s better than that. There are no covers. There’s not even his winner’s single. It’s just fantastic, original music that really showcases who Dylan is. His words, his voice.

The opening track “Little Lost” is the perfect introduction to this collection of songs. It’s warm and stripped back, anchored by Dylan’s vocals and acoustic guitar. Its classic sound makes me hungry for road trips. He takes things up a notch with “All I Need, a darker song driven by yearning and heart. There’s a similar vibe to “Back to You.” We didn’t see this brooding side on Idol, but gritty tracks like these provide great contrast to the lighter moments. “Mess of a Man” may be my favourite song on this EP. It’s so raw and honest. At a time when we still expect men to be so strong, it’s refreshing to hear one share their broken parts. Dylan’s love for his family was well-documented through his Idol journey, so it’s only fitting that he shares a little of his joy surrounding that with us too. “Old Oak Tree” is such a beautiful, uplifting song about legacy and tradition, a celebration of the best parts of the human experience. The gospel-tinged title track shows us a different sound, one that hints that Dylan has more to share in the future.

Recording an EP, with six quality tracks, is a smart choice. Dylan could have taken more time and released an album, but dropping Half a World Away instead capitalises on his moment in the sun, ensuring we get to really know him and don’t forget him like so many people who’ve taken the Idol crown in the past. Could he be the one to reverse that Idol trend? It’s too early to say, but I really hope so. As I mentioned, Dylan will tour Australia with Tina Arena next year. Presale tickets are available now for the following shows ahead of tomorrow’s general sale:

27 April 2025 – Riverside Theatre, Boorloo/Perth
29 April 2025 – State Theatre, Eora/Sydney
30 April 2025 – State Theatre, Eora/Sydney
4 May 2025 – Evan Theatre, Mulgoa Country/Penrith
6 May 2025 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle
8 May 2025 – Palais Theatre, Euro-Yroke/St Kilda
9 May 2025 – Palais Theatre, Euro-Yroke/St Kilda
17 May 2025 – Munro Martin Parklands, Gimuy/Cairns
20 May 2025 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Meeanjin/Brisbane
21 May 2025 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Meeanjin/Brisbane
23 May 2025 – The Star, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
30 May 2025 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Tarntanya/Adelaide

Images used with permission from Sony Music Australia; main photo credit: Marissa Mills

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dylan Wright Wins Australian Idol

Massive congratulations to Dylan Wright, the nation’s newest Australian Idol. I must admit, I got pretty excited when I saw Dylan walk into the first night of auditions. It might have been the country’s first introduction to Dylan’s music, but long-time readers will be no stranger to Dylan’s talent.

I took the photo above way back in 2018, when he supported Nathan Cavaleri at the Rhythm Hut in Darkinjung Country/Gosford. I was so impressed that I bought his EP, The Long Way Home. Then in 2020, I covered his single “Passing Through” here on Sounds of Oz. It’s been so exciting to see Australia discover what we already knew at Sounds of Oz, that Dylan is the real deal. It’s so thrilling to know the nation has chosen an Idol with a wealth of original material who can really use this platform and launch a successful career.

I’ve also been really excited to see Idol return to it’s former glory this year. The talent has been stellar. I would have been thrilled for most of the top 12 to take the crown. But I’ve also appreciated the format tweaks that have allowed us to see more of the artists than in previous years. Even those eliminated early sang for us more than those who won in previous years, because we heard them through the audition process, group numbers, and eliminations. I’ve always said for artists to have successful careers after any of these reality contests, we need to see them enough times to understand who they are and fall in love with them.

I remember when Idol returned and people said the nation didn’t need another singing contest. Honestly though, I do think we need a singing contest like this, especially when there are so few opportunities for artists to show what they can do on live TV. That goes for both the new talents and more established artists. Unless you’re reading a blog like mine, you probably wouldn’t know Jess Mauboy and Delta Goodrem had new releases. When it’s done right, Australian Idol is good for the country’s music industry. I’m so glad to see it back to its best, and with such a worthy winner. Way to go Dylan!

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kaitlyn Thomas Releases Unapologetic New Single, “Pretty Little Thing”

I must say, I don’t quite remember Kaitlyn Thomas from this year’s Australian Idol Top 30. I think that’s a failing of the show’s rapid pace than on Kaitlyn though. I certainly won’t forget her after hearing her powerful new single “Pretty Little Thing.” This is country rock at its finest, a gutsy effort that takes its cues from Gretchen Wilson and Shania Twain.

“’Pretty Little Thing’ came about after being told I don’t fit the mould and what is typically expected as a female artist,” Kaitlyn revealed. “I wanted to write about embracing who I am and female empowerment.”

Kaitlyn cowrote the song with acclaimed duo MSquared (Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis) who’ve previously penned hits for The Veronicas, Casey Barnes, and Aloe Blacc.

“Writing this song with Paynter and Delo was like a Nashville experience,” she said. “The song was written in a day, vocals laid the next and final production completed on the third day. Working with MSquared allowed me to dig deeper into who I am as an artist and really find my distinct sound that no one else is doing.”

The accompanying music video, shot by Benny Griggs at the Race Track Betting Shed, captures the fire Kaitlyn brings to the stage.

“I didn’t want to go down the storytelling road, I wanted to capture what it would look like live,” she said. “The live audience we had, had never heard the song until the day of filming.”

You can experience her live show for yourself at the following events:
3–5 November 2024 – Molesworth Music Festival, Taungurong Country/Molesworth
17–19 November 2024 – Camp for Cancer, Kulin Country/Darraweit Guim

Image source: Kaitlyn Thomas official website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Congratulations to Royston Sagigi-Baira, Your New Australian Idol

Last night Australia crowned a new Australian Idol. In case you missed it (and given the ratings for the season, you probably did), Royston Sagigi-Baira took home the $100,000 cash prize and Sony Music contract over Phoebe Stewart. But of course, television isn’t just about ratings, or it shouldn’t be. While many media outlets will call the season a failure as it trailed behind reality juggernauts Married at First Sight and Survivor, I think Channel Seven has done a pretty good job revamping the original singing show.

Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, it showcased talent. Like, properly showcased talent. We saw these contestants sing at their auditions, the Sydney boot camp (several times), on live shows, and eliminations if they were in the bottom three. That’s a lot of exposure, and what I’ve always thought gave Idol contestants careers beyond the show. It’s not that the people who sing on The Voice are lacking, but consider just how often they sing in front of Australia. I really hope that exposure serves all these contestants well, because there were some real diamonds. I personally wish we could go back to the old days of eliminating just one contestant each show, but this is Idol for a different time, and the ratings probably don’t justify anything other than this shorter, snappier season. I think Seven got the balance right here.

Speaking of balance, I was pleasantly surprised by the judges. Yes, it was incredibly white-bread, but there was a good balance of intelligent critique and showmanship. Kylie Sandilands even played nice, for the most part. Even though there was reportedly some tension behind the scenes, they never let it overshadow the contestants or make the show feel awkward (anyone else remember that year of American Idol with Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj?). Professionals, every single one of them.

Only time will tell what happens with Royston, Phoebe, third-place getter Josh, and the rest of this year’s finalist, but I hope there’s been enough eyeballs on them for some doors to open. It’s a little unfair to compare ratings for the current incarnation to the original run, because it’s a vastly different television landscape. Those were the days before streaming, multi-channels, and the easy recording of PVRs. They were the days before sensational reality TV with its water-cooler moments. Some might say that means there’s no place for Idol any more, but I really hope we see it back on our screens next year. Congratulations to Royston and all this year’s Idol finalists. May they have every success. Here’s a throwback to Royston’s audition so you can see how his “Idol journey” began:

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Natalie Gauci

Natalie Gauci took out the Australian Idol competition way back in 2007, burning brightly during the competition but seemingly fading from view almost as quickly. With a new EP under her belt and an upcoming tour Natalie’s ready to emerge from the shadows and win over Australia all over again. I caught up with Natalie recently to chat about her time on the talent quest, her new music, and the Aussie shows to come.

Most music fans would remember you from Australian Idol in 2007. A lot of time has passed since then and now. Why’s it taken so long for us to hear your original material?
Yes I have been under the radar for a few years and I’m now ready to pop out my shell.  I’ve been working hard on writing and recording my music and also finding the right home for it and that takes time. After Idol I had to find my true identity. Idol gave me the platform to now achieve what I’ve always wanted to achieve which is to record and write my own music and travel with it all over the world. It also gave the confidence to be who I am today.

How do you look back on your time with the show?
I look back and cry because I get so emotional. I forget how amazing it was, how many people were so supportive of me and my performances and how I gave it my all, I gave it everything I had. It reminds me of where I came from and what is important to me, not just with music but with my family and friends and my fans.

You got a lot of criticism when your Idol single and album were released because they didn’t match the chart success of the winners that came before. How did you deal with that?
It doesn’t bother me at all. Times change and record sales were just getting worse overall. Critics can say what they like really but it doesn’t affect me. I just make sure I do the best I can with what I’ve got.

Part of your prize was a record deal with Sony, yet you left them before releasing anything other than the prerequisite Winner’s Journey album. Why did you feel the label wasn’t the right fit for you?
I had been wanting to release “Best of Me” ever since I won Idol. I wrote it after the Winner’s Journey tour and always dreamed of recorded it with my soul band. The direction I was heading in didn’t feel right. My instinct was telling me to do what was in my heart and “Best of Me” was in my heart at that time.

Continue reading “Q & A with Natalie Gauci” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Natalie Gauci Tours New Single

I’d all but assumed we’d heard the last of 2007 Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci, but it seems she’s still kicking around. She released her EP I’m Ready last year, and in case you missed it she’s preparing to release a new single from it, “Best of Me.”

Whether it really delivers the best of Natalie, I’m not sure. But it’s got some powerful vocals and strong lyrics, so we’re certainly more than halfway there. It should generate a bit of buzz as it’ll feature in the new Aussie rom-com Big Mamma’s Boy. Natalie also makes a cameo in the flick, so keep your eyes peeled!

Natalie will hit the road next month to promote the single at the following shows.

23 June 2011 – Brisbane Jazz Club, Brisbane
24 June 2011 – El Rocco, Kings Cross
25 June 2011 – Coogee Diggers, Coogee
26 June 2011 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
30 June 2011 – The Promethean, Adelaide
3 July 2011 – Bennett’s Lane, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Casey Barnes

Often Australian Idol brings us bright new stars, who seem to fade from view almost as quickly as they appear. One artist determined not to be just a flash in the pan is Casey Barnes, who is carving out a credible career as a singer-songwriter. I caught up with Casey this morning to chat about his new EP Red Lion Motel, his experience on Australian Idol, and his surprising European club hit.

You’ve just released your new EP Red Lion Motel. What can you tell me about it?
It’s a five-track EP and I wanted to do something that was a little bit different. I’ve recorded a couple of albums in the past which have had more of that processed pop-rock vibe, and I wanted to release something a little bit raw and acoustic and real, so that’s what we came up with when we wrote this EP. But it’s all personal experiences, and each song’s a little bit different, but it’s come up really well.

What made you decide to take that back-to-basics approach on this one?
I think I just wanted it to go in a deliberate, different direction. I’d recorded a couple of albums previously and I was really happy with those, but a lot of my career has been spent playing solo, acoustic gigs. And I think I wanted to go back to acoustic, real rock, because there’s so much stuff out there that’s that processed sound. Anyone can be put in a studio and sound good. And I just wanted to do something that sounded like every instrument was recorded live, which it was, and that was just that real, acoustic sound. So that’s sort of why we decided to go in that direction.

Most Aussies probably know you from your time on Australian Idol last year. How do you feel about that experience looking back?
I think overall it was a great experience, and I got a lot out of it as a performer and especially the exposure from the show that it gives you. People obviously get to know who you are a lot more than when you’re slogging your guts out in pubs every week, trying to do it on your own. I think overall it was a positive experience. Some of it I didn’t really like. I would have liked to have been able to perform my own songs, because as you see every week you’re up there performing somebody else’s songs. And knowing that I’m a singer-songwriter and I’ve got my own material, it’d be great if there was an opportunity to play your own stuff out there. But I think overall it was definitely a worthwhile experience.

Continue reading “Q & A with Casey Barnes” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

New Song Obsession: “I Promise” by Casey Barnes

Casey Barnes didn’t quite find his feet during his stint on the last series of Australian Idol, but there was something incredibly likable about this guy. So I was thrilled to see Casey pop up on Video Hits yesterday with the film clip for his new single “I Promise.” While I found him a bit imitative on his show, here he’s found his own voice. This is just the sort of mellow guitar driven music that I love, and I can’t wait to hear more of it. The track comes from Casey’s EP Red Lion Motel, which is available now through iTunes and Casey Barnes’ website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Corby Announces First Aussie Tour

You might remember Matt Corby as the reluctant sex symbol of Australia Idol Season 5. Losing out on the main prize seemed to be a blessing for Matt, who’s spent time away from the spotlight to hone his craft and create some incredible songs.

One such track is “Lighthome,” a live version of which is currently available as a free download at Matt’s website. If you like what you hear make sure you check out Matt on his first national tour this June and July.

Following those shows, Matt will join Mumford and Sons as support on their sold out Sydney shows. I’ve got myself some tickets to the Tuesday night gig, and am thrilled at Matt’s inclusion on the bill.

Here are all the places you can catch Mr Matt Corby in the coming months.

30 June 2010 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
1 July 2010 – Raval, Sydney
2 July 2010 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
3 July 2010 – Northern Star Hotel, Newcastle
8 July 2010 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
9 July 2010 – National Hotel, Geelong
10 July 2010 – Baby Black Café, Bacchus Marsh
15 July 2010 – The Troubadour, Brisbane
16 July 2010 – Bon Amici Cafe, Toowoomba
17 July 2010 – Hard Rock Café, Surfers Paradise
22 July 2010 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
23 July 2010 – Ellington Jazz Club, Perth
24 July 2010 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
3 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (supporting Mumford and Sons)
4 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (supporting Mumford and Sons)

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cherish Live Concert Raises Funds for Young Hospital

Some of Australia’s top entertainers will travel to the country town of Young for a charity show later this month.

Cherish Live will help raise funds for a renal unit at Young Hospital. Currently people requiring kidney dialysis must travel to Canberra three times a week for the treatment, a four-hour return trip which takes its toll on the already sick patients.

Evermore, Thirsty Merc, and Australian Idol graduates Luke Dickens, Roshani Priddis, and Teale Jakubenko will headline the charity show.

This is a really great cause, so I hope anyone who’s even close to Young gets out there and supports it.

Tickets are available online for $80 plus the booking fee.