Promotion exhausting for Aussie Pop Idol

By MIKE HOULAHAN

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."

- NZPA