news article 1 december

[Inside Australian Idol]

Guy's Christmas album


December 1, 2003

THIS is the first look at the album expected to sit under more Christmas trees this year than any other Aussie artist.


The new album cover

It is Guy Sebastian's Just As I Am, with 400,000 copies bombarding stores nationally next Monday.

The release of the cover comes as sales figures for Sebastian's single, Angel's Brought Me Here are released. It is expected to debut at No.1.


It's been almost six months since Sebastian has had a day off, or a sleep in.


Since taking out the Idol gong two weeks ago, our World Idol hopeful has spent every waking hour at BMG's North Sydney studios recording Just As I Am which includes three of his own songs.


In the wee hours of Friday, little more than a week since winning the record contract, the album was put to bed. And so was Sebastian.


On his first day to himself, he made a secret trip home to Adelaide, packed up his rod and went fishing with his mates. "You've never seen someone more excited about going fishing," a BMG spokesperson told Confidential. "He seriously hasn't stopped talking about it."


* * *


CONDO boy Shannon Noll was celebrating his own win this weekend, with BMG announcing that the farmer and father of two has signed a recording agreement which will see his debut single and album released in the new year.


The contract would see Noll move to Sydney with partner Rochelle and their two little boys -- a move that he has committed to.


A studio recorded version of Noll's signature tune throughout Idol, What About Me, will be his first single as a solo recording artist.


dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1266&storyid=568281

[Inside Australian Idol]

Guy wants weekend
December 01, 2003


HE may be the first Australian Idol, but Guy Sebastian was happy to blend into the background at the weekend.



Sebastian flew home to Adelaide from Sydney on Saturday morning for an unplanned weekend with his family after being given time off from his busy schedule.

The break included a game of tennis, a movie at Tea Tree Plaza, a performance at his church - and one of mum's curries. "I just finished my album last week and it has been flat out - I haven't had much time to do anything else," he said yesterday.

"I just had the time and decided I was going to come back so I booked the flight . . .

"I wanted to spend time with family. Last time I was down (in Adelaide) I was surrounded by everyone else so I wanted to spend a bit of time with them." Sebastian, 22, said he did "just some normal stuff".

"I went to a grocery store and I was beaming because it was such a normal thing to do and then someone called a photographer - I was just buying shaving cream," he said. "I went to the movies to see School of Rock. I'm not sure if anyone noticed, I ducked out before the credits."

However, Sebastian made sure he had time for his church - Paradise Community Church - singing back-up vocals yesterday.

"It has been a long time . . . and it was good to get back and sing," he said. "They were really good. I didn't want to take any attention off the whole meeting and make it normal, everyone was great."

Sebastian and Australian Idol runner-up and close mate Shannon Noll now live next-door to each other after both were signed by record company BMG.

"We call each other every second day, I think he stayed in my room the other night when I wasn't there," he said.

But Sebastian misses his home town, especially his family, friends, cricket team and his favourite haunts - Fellini's at North Adelaide and Cafe Bravo at Norwood.

As for his single, Angels Brought Me Here, selling 210,000 copies, Sebastian said it was "an honour for me".

He said he is "not really sure" how well the album Just As I Am, being released on December 8, will sell.

Off to London in two weeks for World Idol, Sebastian said the next few months will be busy promoting his album and touring with the other Australian Idol finalists, as well as writing songs.

He will return to Adelaide on December 9 to sign copies of his album in Rundle Mall.

The Advertiser

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[Inside Australian Idol]

Guy's a record breaker
December 01, 2003


AUSTRALIAN Idol Guy Sebastian today proved a television competition can create a pop star, when he stormed to the top of the Australian single charts with his first song, Angels Brought Me Here.


The record breaking singer is 'amazed' by the success

The 21-year-old television pop sensation beat fellow Idol contestant Shannon Noll during a national phone poll last month, securing a recording contract with record label BMG Australia.

Noll, 27, from Condobolin in NSW, has since been signed to the same label.

Sebastian's first single, Angels Brought Me Here, became the fastest-selling single in chart history when it sold 128,000 copies after only seven days, BMG Australia said.

Sebastian's release has also recorded the highest first week single sales for a debut artist.

BMG Australia said the response to Sebastian's first release as a solo recording artist had been nothing short of phenomenal.

Last week, Australian radio stations made the single the number one most added song to their playlists in its first week.

It was also the fourth most played song in the country.

Following a week of long days and nights in the studio, Sebastian's debut album Just As I am is already nearing completion, BMG Australia said in statement.

It is expected to be available next Monday.

Sebastian, who is as well known for his trademark afro hairstyle as his music, will launch the album during a week of national tour dates starting in Sydney on December 7.

He will also visit his home town of Adelaide on December 9, Victoria on December 10, and Queensland on December 11.

AAP

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