Post by prinia on Mar 17, 2004 23:58:30 GMT 10
NZ Womans Days / Story: Kylie Tannahill
exclusive interview with Guy Sebastian
Guys Tough Verdict on NZ Idol
No one knows better than Guy Sebastian what it takes to succeed in
the -cut throat music industry. After all, the 22 year old, who will
be the celebrity guess judge on NZ Idol this week, suffered during
the Australian Idol series at the hands of judge Dicko.
Yet the bro with the 'fro believes our contestants are getting an
easy ride.
"Dicko's so intimidating and his insults have a lot of weight" says
Guy, speaking exclusively to Womans Day.
"when you get drilled on national TV you are absolutely humiliated.
It hurts you and it really gets to you.The next week you are not
going to make that same mistake because you are humiliated. it makes
you grow rapidly"
While Guy, whose album Just As I Am has sold over 30,000 copies
(double platinum) in NZ, is blown away by the raw talent on NZ Idol,
his compliments don't extend to the judge's comments.
"The downfall of the show is the judging. It's really bad, "he says
frankly "it's boring because as much as people don't agree with nasty
things they want to watch anyway.
"there wer lots of things that could have been picked on, like
pitch," says Guy of his first experience in the studio when he
watched the final group of eight in the top 24.
"there was stuff that if I was the contestant I would be glad they
pulled me up on. But the judges were all saying, 'Yeah, that was
great,' the harshest comment I heard last week was, You were
fantastic' - when clearly they weren't. it was then followed by, 'I'm
not sure if you'll go through this week."
"How are these kids going to go [in the music industry] and how are
we going to entertain people if we're not making these kids feel like
crap? It sounds bad but it's what makes TV. it's life"
In fact, Guy has spent cosiderable time talking with NZ Idol's top 10
contestants during his week-long trip to New Zealand.
"I've had a big chat with all of them and one of the main thing I
stressed was the issue of remaining humble. You have to remember who
your friends are and who you are." he explains.
"There are times when you can get cought up in the whole fame side of
things and it really should be all about the music and the singing."
As a former vocal coach, Guy was also quick to help the kiwis with
their singing technique.
"It's really important to have moments in your song that people will
remember. It's moments that normal human being doesn't analyse. "
Music is quite complex in that when you want to deliver that
emotional connection, and when you want to creat those butterflies,
there are tricks you have to use."
Vocal tricks have been a speciality of Guy's from a very early age.
"I was always into music, even at age of 4 and 5. I'd sit next to the
stereo and have the top 40 on with my tape ready to record my
favourite song.
"When the song would come on I would always sing in harmony to it.
I'd never sing a melody, I'd always sing a harmony."
Yet being a professional musician wasn't Guy's first career choice.
While he and all three of his brothers, Oliver, 25, Christopher, 15,
and Jeremy, 13, are musical they were encouraged into practical
careers.
"With my culture, education is so important so singing was always
second," says Guy, who is part Portuguese, part Sri Lankan.
Keen to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather,
Guy first chose a career in dentistry. "I took the test and then
changed my mind," he laughs. I actually ended up doing medical
radiation at the university and specialised in radiotherapy. But
after a while I just needed to do my music."
Working as a forklift driver and a nursing home cleaner, Guy manage
to raise enough money for a home studio before he landed a job as a
singing teacher.
"I had never had a lesson so I just hopped on the internet and learnt
how to teach. I would teach my kids to songwrite and in the holidays
they'd come to my studio and record their song."
It's these memories of his hometown Adelaide that Guy, who has
recently moved into an apartment in Sydney's trendy Clovelly Beach,
treasures.
"The only things that have stayed the same since I won Idol are my
faith and my close friendships," he says.
Guy's biggest comfort is songwriting. He is currently penning his
second album, which he would like to release this September.
"When I broke up with my girlfriend two years ago, I was terrible. I
wrote so many love/hate songs," he laughs.
"It's when I'm facing stuff that I write my best material," says guy,
who works with homeless people through his church.
"When you see what other people go through, you see how fortunate you
are and it puts all your little worries in perspective. I just try to
be as positive as I can"
exclusive interview with Guy Sebastian
Guys Tough Verdict on NZ Idol
No one knows better than Guy Sebastian what it takes to succeed in
the -cut throat music industry. After all, the 22 year old, who will
be the celebrity guess judge on NZ Idol this week, suffered during
the Australian Idol series at the hands of judge Dicko.
Yet the bro with the 'fro believes our contestants are getting an
easy ride.
"Dicko's so intimidating and his insults have a lot of weight" says
Guy, speaking exclusively to Womans Day.
"when you get drilled on national TV you are absolutely humiliated.
It hurts you and it really gets to you.The next week you are not
going to make that same mistake because you are humiliated. it makes
you grow rapidly"
While Guy, whose album Just As I Am has sold over 30,000 copies
(double platinum) in NZ, is blown away by the raw talent on NZ Idol,
his compliments don't extend to the judge's comments.
"The downfall of the show is the judging. It's really bad, "he says
frankly "it's boring because as much as people don't agree with nasty
things they want to watch anyway.
"there wer lots of things that could have been picked on, like
pitch," says Guy of his first experience in the studio when he
watched the final group of eight in the top 24.
"there was stuff that if I was the contestant I would be glad they
pulled me up on. But the judges were all saying, 'Yeah, that was
great,' the harshest comment I heard last week was, You were
fantastic' - when clearly they weren't. it was then followed by, 'I'm
not sure if you'll go through this week."
"How are these kids going to go [in the music industry] and how are
we going to entertain people if we're not making these kids feel like
crap? It sounds bad but it's what makes TV. it's life"
In fact, Guy has spent cosiderable time talking with NZ Idol's top 10
contestants during his week-long trip to New Zealand.
"I've had a big chat with all of them and one of the main thing I
stressed was the issue of remaining humble. You have to remember who
your friends are and who you are." he explains.
"There are times when you can get cought up in the whole fame side of
things and it really should be all about the music and the singing."
As a former vocal coach, Guy was also quick to help the kiwis with
their singing technique.
"It's really important to have moments in your song that people will
remember. It's moments that normal human being doesn't analyse. "
Music is quite complex in that when you want to deliver that
emotional connection, and when you want to creat those butterflies,
there are tricks you have to use."
Vocal tricks have been a speciality of Guy's from a very early age.
"I was always into music, even at age of 4 and 5. I'd sit next to the
stereo and have the top 40 on with my tape ready to record my
favourite song.
"When the song would come on I would always sing in harmony to it.
I'd never sing a melody, I'd always sing a harmony."
Yet being a professional musician wasn't Guy's first career choice.
While he and all three of his brothers, Oliver, 25, Christopher, 15,
and Jeremy, 13, are musical they were encouraged into practical
careers.
"With my culture, education is so important so singing was always
second," says Guy, who is part Portuguese, part Sri Lankan.
Keen to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather,
Guy first chose a career in dentistry. "I took the test and then
changed my mind," he laughs. I actually ended up doing medical
radiation at the university and specialised in radiotherapy. But
after a while I just needed to do my music."
Working as a forklift driver and a nursing home cleaner, Guy manage
to raise enough money for a home studio before he landed a job as a
singing teacher.
"I had never had a lesson so I just hopped on the internet and learnt
how to teach. I would teach my kids to songwrite and in the holidays
they'd come to my studio and record their song."
It's these memories of his hometown Adelaide that Guy, who has
recently moved into an apartment in Sydney's trendy Clovelly Beach,
treasures.
"The only things that have stayed the same since I won Idol are my
faith and my close friendships," he says.
Guy's biggest comfort is songwriting. He is currently penning his
second album, which he would like to release this September.
"When I broke up with my girlfriend two years ago, I was terrible. I
wrote so many love/hate songs," he laughs.
"It's when I'm facing stuff that I write my best material," says guy,
who works with homeless people through his church.
"When you see what other people go through, you see how fortunate you
are and it puts all your little worries in perspective. I just try to
be as positive as I can"
