'Promotion Exhausting For
Aussie Pop Idol'
March 9th, 2004 - Mike Houlahan - New Zealand Herald
Guy Sebastian is more than Australia's Pop Idol judging by the number of stares
and autograph requests he's had during his visit to New Zealand this week.
"I don't mind it at all," he smiles after signing a postcard for a fan.
"But promotion is the most exhausting part of this. The only thing I've ever
done that's as exhausting is teaching, where you spend 30 minutes with someone,
you've got to be switched on, and then you have someone completely new 30
minutes later."
Sebastian knows how to put on the charm at the flick of a switch. It's a knack
which went a long way toward his winning the inaugural Australian edition of the
television talent quest Pop Idol.
Pop Idol has created stars around the world - a New Zealand version is currently
on our screens - and Australia has been no exception. Both Sebastian and the man
he beat to win a record deal, Shannon Noll, have become household names and
recording stars.
"I had absolutely no concept of how much this was going to change my life," the
22-year-old Adelaide man - who four months ago would have been just another face
in the restaurant - says.
"It's more of a question of what's the same in my life because almost nothing
is. I'm around different people all the time, I've moved away from home, I don't
get to eat my Mum's cooking any more, I don't have my friends around me any
more, I don't play indoor cricket (Sebastian played in the same social team for
11 years), I'm not at my church any more. My life now is very different."
That said, music was all Sebastian is ever wanted to do. A trained radio
therapist, he threw the job in because not singing made him miserable. A
succession of part-time jobs, including cleaning, working as storeman, teaching
and truck driving, paid for home studio equipment, and he was working on
developing his own repertoire of songs before the Pop Idol competition swept him
and set him on the road to fame.
"It's like you're going out to battle, the idol situation," Sebastian says.
"You've just given it your best shot to sing in front of that many people,
you've overcome so many nerves, and suddenly you're confronted with three people
who are either going to lift you right up or drag you right down."
Luckily for Sebastian judges Marcia Hines, Ian Dickson and Mark Holden lifted
him to the very top. Even more fortunately Australia's record buying public
embraced their choice, flocking to buy debut single Angels Brought Me Here and
album Just As I Am.
Sebastian is more than well aware of the cynicism that surrounds shows such as
idol, and unbidden steps up to defend himself against the "accusation" of being
a manufactured pop star.
"If you place 90 per cent of musicians out there into the Idol audition - no
music, just singing, just hop up on stage and sing... I'm not going to name
names but I guarantee you 90 per cent of those people wouldn't make it through
the auditions based on their vocal ability. That competition is totally based on
your ability to sing: if you sing totally out of key you're going to be laughed
at, the judges are going to totally cream you, you'll be embarrassed and no
one's going to vote for you.
"Yes, careers are aided obviously by the incredible media coverage, but you
can't manufacture talent."