Category — Guy Sebastian

While we wait for The Voice auditions to resume on Sunday night, let’s continue our contestant highlights with Carmen Smith from Sydney, NSW! The singer and songwriter has been working as a back-up vocalist for many Aussie acts over the last ten years, but has also found some success as a solo artist. Carmen has toured and performed with many Australian musicians, and has even released an album called ‘Ever Known’ in 2007.

While we probably won’t see Carmen until after all the auditions, do follow her on Twitter here, and check out her blog where she reflects on her blind audition!

In the blog post, she says: “I have never been caught up in the hype of shows like this but The Voice seems to have filled a gaping hole in TV and in music.”

I do think there’s more than enough reality TV and talent competitions on television at the moment, but people have really warmed to The Voice and it’s very much focused on the quality of the performers, which is is very different to how many shows drag on with sappy stories.

According to her blog and YouTube channel CarmenSmithMusic, she is embarking on a second album and could find the success through Nine’s singing contest.

Many of her live performances are uploaded through her channel, including an impressive cover of ‘Pleasure and Pain’ by The Divinyls:

Another live performance worth watching is a duet with Australian Idol winner Stan Walker on his New Zealand tour last year. Watch the pair sing ‘We Can Work It Out’ here (the audio is a bit rusty):

Her videos on YouTube range from acoustic performances, songs from her album, and collaborations (as a featured artist/back-up vocals) with some well-known Aussie artists, such as Guy Sebastian and Ricki-Lee Coulter.

Also check out her cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘You Give Good Love’. Even though the video isn’t labelled as her audition for The Voice, the way she introduces the song and the time period in which it was uploaded, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is her audition clip! Watch it here:

The 28 year-old is bound to render more amazing performances after her audition song ‘How Come You Don’t Call Me’ by Alicia Keys, now with the help from mentor Joel Madden.

Chris Sebastian is none other than the younger brother of ARIA award-winning singer, Guy Sebastian! But this is a fact, though made known on the show, is something Chris is trying to work past to show that he can be an artist on his own right, without his brother. Though comparisons with Guy will no doubt arise throughout the competition, I do find his voice to be very similar to his older brother’s, only with a rougher quality.

The 23 year-old from Melbourne had the vote of confidence from both Seal and Delta after performing Beyonce’s hit single ‘Halo’. In the end, he chose Seal as his mentor, which resulted in an emotional response from Delta.

Despite auditioning for The Voice, Chris received some limited exposure last year with his single ‘Flow’ released on iTunes in June 2011. Check out the music video here:

Chris boasts an online fan base through his Facebook page, Twitter account @chrisebastian and also his official website, which looks very sleek.

His cover of Justin’s Bieber’s ‘Pray’ (below) is among many videos on his YouTube channel, chrissebastiantv.

Chris has also written some original songs, including an impressive one called ‘Mad Scientist’. Have a listen here:

And finally, here’s the performance that got him onto to Seal’s team:

The auditions for The X Factor Australia are underway, but judge Guy Sebastian is yet to sign on to officially take part in the show. Even though he is locked into taking part in this series, no contract has been signed. His future on the program could depend on how much time is put in expanding his music career.

With a new album set to release this year, Guy is eyeing the UK market after some relative success in the US last year with his hit song, ‘Who’s That Girl’. The singer funded the release without much promotion but radio play, yet sales were hitting the 60,000 mark through internet downloads. He hopes to replicate this success in the UK through proper marketing.

Despite being a judge and mentor on The X Factor Australia for the past two years, Guy has continued his singing career and put time aside to fly overseas for events and gigs. There’s been weeks on the show, where his primary contact with his contestants were through video conferencing.

He admits that his role on the show makes up in a considerable portion of his income and putting it aside for a desire to break out overseas, may be something he’ll need to think over.

“It means I’m at home, you have a reliable income… I’m at that crossroads: do I take a massive hit in income and release in the US and UK, or do I do the show and try to do both? It’s going to be a tough decision.”

Guy says he’s set for a career overseas, but is still in the process of planning.

“I’ve locked in a little team of lawyers and agents and had a meeting with a label who’s keen.”

If he decides to commit himself to the singing competition, we’ll have to wait and see how much he can juggle.

The singer and Australian Idol winner became a father recently. He and wife Jules welcomed son Hudson Sebastian earlier last month.

(Source: news.com.au)

Guy Sebastian announced via Twitter the birth of his baby boy Hudson. He was born on  3 March and weighs 6 pounds. Congratulations.

For people thinking Guy gave favouritism to Mahogany on The X Factor this is going to keep the rumours going.

Actually the reason this is so funny is that Guy is so clean cut. But to be fair it was about 1am in New York.

Just when you thought The X Factor couldn’t get anymore controversial there are now allegations that Guy Sebastian is displaying favouritism on the show. Guy Sebastian’s female back-up singers have entered The X Factor as an all girl group, with other contestant’s raising this conflict with the producers.

The Sunday Telegraph writes:

Well, this columnist has learned that among those being “helped” by Sebastian is a group he knows quite well – his back-up singers, The Roquettes.

According to a disillusioned production member, Sebastian has championed the all-girl quartet – who have adopted the name Mahogany for the televised competition – from the outset, putting them through the program’s initial stages.

“Just how this isn’t a conflict of interest, I really don’t know,” the source said last week.

It was claimed another contestant had raised the issue with producers. Their alleged response? To “simply ignore” the obvious, namely that Sebastian’s professional relationship with the group called into question judging on The X Factor.

A Seven spokesperson confirmed the presence of Mahogany in the lavish production but denied a conflict of interest.

“Our judges are some of the most established in the business. We would not consider it unusual for their paths to have crossed while working in the Australian music industry.

“Our judges have made their decisions based purely on the performances given during The X Factor competition.”

I will reserve judgement on this one until I have seen the show, however if he is mentoring the groups it would be very unfair.

Jessica Mauboy’s publicist muAst have been the only one working this week as every paper I picked up over the past few days there has been a story about her in it. Today was no exception with this article in the Sunday Telegraph saying she wanted to win three or four Aria’s this year.

Also she was mentioned in this article in the Saturday Daily Telegraph about Australians who will shape 2010. The Australia Idol runner up will be in a movie called Bran Nue Dae. She has also said she hopes to do further acting work.

In other Australian Idol alumni news Kate DeAraugo is actually dating producer and guitarist France Millo, they met when he was a “roadie” for the Young Divas. They have been dating three years, and are apparently close to getting engaged.

Guy Sebastian has also had a great year and he tweeted today “Desperate Housewives and Brothers and sisters are also using Like it Like That in the US!! Unreal!” and “Thanks to everyone for making Like it Like That the highest selling single of 2009!! Im blown away.”

Ajay Rochester is again getting bad PR because of alleged bad debts. This one is about a non-paid hairdressers bill. She claims it was meant to be a “contra deal” whatever that means. (Source Sunday Telegraph)

Susan Boyle the runner up of Britain’s Got Talent has the highest selling album of 2009. She also has said she would like to tour Australia this year. (Source Herald Sun)

Mark Holden thinks that new Australian Idol judge Jay Dee Springbett will get better. Somehow I doubt he will get a second season. There is no news yet on whether Australian Idol will get the go ahead this year. (Source: Herald Sun)

Here is a very comprehensive blog which has a lot of Guy Sebastian performances and photos.

http://boofydog.blogspot.com/

Guy Sebastian Has Announced Concerts For 2009.
To think 2008 is nearing its end, but Guy Sebastian fans will be able to see him play live in March next year. Full details here..

Guy sings at Levi Kareama’s funeral.
Hundreds of people turned up today at former Australian Idol singer Levi Kareama’s funeral. Levi earlier this week fell from a hotel balcony. His family insist the incident accidentally fell and did not suicide – something we will probably never know.
Link to article on Daily Tele here.

Behind The Scenes On Survivor What Really Happens.
Australian’s are currently watching Survivor Fans V Favourites, whilst in the US Survivor Gabon is screening. Here on msnbc is a really interesting article on behind the scenes on Survivor – there are no spoilers. What is interesting is they say they have a hard time finding quality contestants and they need to recruit people.

On other survivor news – Survivor China contestants, Jaime Dugan, the girl that fell for the fake immunity idol, and Erik Huffman are getting married. The second couple to do so after Amber and Rob.

There may be a third couple shortly if the snogging we saw between Amanda and Ozzi continues.