April 4, 2026 • 33 mins
In this episode, we're joined by Charlie and Simela, two talented Australian Idol contestants who share their stories and experiences on the show. Charlie opens up about his emotional connection to music and how he's used his platform to honor his mum and raise awareness for cancer. Simela talks about her powerful voice and the shock of her elimination but remains optimistic about her future in the music industry. They discuss their time on the show, their relationships with the other contestants and what's next for them. It's a heartwarming and inspiring conversation that will leave you feeling uplifted and eager to hear more from these talented artists.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's in the news today, but it was actually on
TV Reload, the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Plans to Beat the Life.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome back to TV Reload. My name is Benjamin Norris,
and today we have a very special Australian Idol episode
because we are diving into not one, but two of
the most talked about contestants from this year. First up,
I'm chatting with Charlie, a performer whose story has genuinely
stopped people in their tracks, from the emotional connection to
music to the way that he has used his platform
(00:25):
to honor his mum and raise awareness. This conversation goes
well beyond just the competition. We talk about the unforgettable audition,
the meaning behind that beanie that's now become a part
of his identity, and what it's really like stepping into
the spotlight after years of putting your family first. Then
later I sit down with Samela, whose voice honestly has
been one of the most powerful this season. We unpack
(00:47):
her shock elimination, why she feels that she had more
to give, and what happens next when you walk away
from a show like Australian Idol knowing that you've connected
with an audience in such a big way. Plus we
get into what the future looks like for both of them,
from music releases to navigating life after reality television. These
are two very different chats, but both incredibly honest, emotional
(01:09):
and worth your time. So guys, let's get into it.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, not too bad. It feels quite surreal to be
talking to you at this point because I think when
we were introduced to you on the television, we felt
like we were watching the winner of the show. It
seems a bit strange to say you're wanted the competition
at this point.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah, it is what it is.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
The same time, I'm very grateful to have noted a far.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
You know, I think in some ways you were one
of the biggest cells for me. And I know I
talked about the promo for this series of Australian Idle
to a lot of people, and I think you were
one of the biggest sells for a lot of people.
I can't remember a time where I've watched an advert
and have that sort of time frame to watch just
a little bit of content, to have that kind of
an emotional reaction to your story. So I want to
(01:55):
thank you for your vulnerability and for sharing a story
with us because it was incredibly powerful.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Thank you man.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yeah, you know, I think that in a way like
I to be able to share the story I've been
able to. You know, cancer is affecting a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I think the way in which you were able to
use your story and use it with music was really powerful.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
I'm really really glad that I've been able to do that.
I'm trying to work with some cancer foundations at the
moment to keep you know, spreading awareness and helping to
I guess, bringing kind of positivity into people's lives.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
I mean, the beanie is a really great way of
being able to do that. I've seen orange beanies over
the last month, and every time I think about it,
I think of Charlie, I think of you.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
From me having an object it is really.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Strange, but it's a way that you've been able to
connect with your audience. Am I right by saying that
you'd been approached to do Australian idol in the past?
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Yeah, I did. You get to post a couple of
times in the past on multiple years, but I was
hearing for my mum at the time, so I wasn't
I wasn't able to take up the offer.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
How did that happen to people slide into your DMS
and say we heard you've got a really good voice.
Can you share that backstory?
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Yeah? I had some scouts, but I didn't being like hey,
you know, like the kind of people within the Perth
community who knew me and they were in conjunction with
the IDOL and saying like, you know, you've got a
good voice, do you want to come on the show?
And I was meditated and said, look, you know, I'm
really sorry. I'm looking after my mom at the moment.
It's not something that I have the time to do.
And to me, you know, looking after my mum was priority.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
And then when it comes back around this time, did
it feel quite serendipitous to then say yes to this?
And had you maybe even had a conversation with her
before her passing about your priorities with maybe applying for Idle, Well.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
I mean something that she always wanted me to do
with do a show like this. You know, she was
she was my biggest fan and she she would have
been absolutely a static that I was able to do
to do this. Unfortunately I didn't really get to chat
to her about that prize or a passing. You know,
someone has a brain treamer, it kind of them unfortunately,
so you know, we were kind of not talking about
(04:05):
those things at that time because she was unfortunately different person.
But this time around, I saw the advertisement come up
on my face because I was strolling, and I was like, oh,
why not, We'll give it a go and just see
what happens. It was just kind of a spare of
the moment team for me that I know that I've
been asked in the past, and I was I was like,
we'll give it a try and to see what happens.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Did you feel like your mum is somewhat a part
of this? I mean, I would like to share with
you at this point that I lost my father, so
I know what it's like till he's a parent. And
I did a reality show and I did well, and
it was really weird. When I won that show, I
remember feeling like my father was there. It was really weird.
It felt like I'd somehow connected to him. And I
(04:48):
think sometimes reality TV have a way of being able
to draw out a lot of emotions that are behind
the scenes. So I'd be curious to know about your
your relationship with that.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Yeah, I mean it's really interesting for me during different
performances I've done, I feel like my mom watching since
just feel the presence just watching and then especially give
in my audition massively, and then a lot on the
show Phil at Tuney and watching good feel the presence there.
And that was quite baffling for me that I could,
you know, feel her there being like, oh, you're doing this,
(05:20):
this is cool, and I was like, whoa, Okay. It
was really interesting for me. Like during the last performance
last night with the Isn't she Love this song? I
came off and for my partner and she was very
upset and she was like, I saw your mom And
I was like, what do you mean what? And she
said that she felt that she was there. So I
(05:41):
felt her a lot during this, during this experience.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Sorry, that's very emotional to hear that. I mean, I
believe in those things. It's funny because if you haven't
been in a situation where you've lost a loved one,
you probably here's some of that stuff and you think, oh,
that's a bit woo woo, And then if you can
connect to it, if you have lost someone and you
have those moments the very real.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
Really are you know? I've heard her coming through a lot,
and she really was my biggest fan by a long way,
even compared to my dad. Sorry dads, but it's just
I really started coming through a lot and she would
have been very very proud and very happy me being
able to do the show. She it has been absolutely astatic, and.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I think the way that you carry yourself as well.
I think Marsha did this amazing thing in your audition.
Straight away she spoke about, you know, the first love
you have is your mother, and I think that's very
very true. Did you feel connected to Marsha throughout the
competition because not that you can pick favorites or maybe
she does. I don't know, I'm not Marsha. Did you
feel as though she had a paternal or maternal sort
(06:44):
of wing over you throughout the competition?
Speaker 4 (06:46):
I did so then I kind of felt, you know,
connected to her because of that. She has a mom
energy to her and she's very gracious, and my mum
was also a very gracious person, So I definitely, you know,
I really kind of look forward to being able to
talk to each time on stage.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I recognize that I was watching that and seeing that.
You know, I also believe that people, the people that
are no longer with us go into other people, if
that makes any sense, Like I think sometimes they Yeah,
it happens to me a lot where I've seen that
where I think my dad's gone into someone because there's
something that's been transpired or communicated, and I think that
that's really strange. That's something that my father would have said,
(07:26):
and that's all. That's the care that my father would
have offered, you know.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Yeah, It's just there was a couple of things for me,
like during the show that happened then I was like,
oh my mom did that. Like for example, before I
did it with a little help from my friends. So
you know, I was getting ready to go on and
they said, okay, get ready, go wait, go way back there.
I said, okay, I'm waiting, and I was. I was
getting nervous and just kind of hanging around there and
(07:52):
I'm trying to forget in my lyrics and ah, it's
not good. And they go, okay, just you're gonna be
on the second waiting and waiting the kind of something's
wrong with camera, like just chill here, Okay, I'm waiting.
I go thank you so long. I'm getting really nervous.
I just want to go and do this song. And
they come back and yeah, it's still not right. It's
going to be like thirty minutes. I was like, oh okay.
(08:12):
And so during that time, like the judges come backstage,
the Amy Sharks gives me a fish farm. I see Marshes.
He smiled at me to see Kyle, and I start
to get less nervous, and the band starts playing the
song I could hear the song in my eight years,
and I start singing along to it, remember all the words.
And then they go, yeah, you're good to come out,
and camera's all fixed and I go out there and
(08:34):
I smash it and I get fast passed, and I go, oh,
that was my mom.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Man, that has to beg You think of those moments
and they are a line, you know, they line up
like that, and then you think.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
How could it not be yeah, because it's just like
it's a multi million dollar show, and they go, oh,
one of the cameras are not working, and my dad
doesn't happen often.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
No, that's that's that's more than a fast past, you know,
it's it's interesting about you. I watched you through the
competition from the moment you got picked, and I fell
fel like you were bigger than this competition throughout it,
Like I mean, I did think you could win. I'm
not saying that you should have won or anything like that.
I just think there was a presence that you had
that we are watching already a very established brand. And
(09:13):
so I hope when you look at coming out of
the show at this point more as that was a
great experience, not that that summarizes who you are as
an artist at this point, if that makes any sense.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Yeah, yeah, you know, I feel the same, like I've
really enjoyed the experience, and it's not that I didn't
get in not to win. I went in with no
kind of expectations and hoping that, you know, people can
can see me as an artist. And I've been working
with this craft for seventeen years since I was a teenager.
Wanted music university for it. I've been doing gigs for
(09:47):
a long time, and it's just trying to get exploded
from Perth difficult because we're so isolated. So that that's
why I wanted to do to do something like this
in order to try and kind of be like, hey,
I'm over here in per.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Come find me. I mean, or you know, or you
can take it to other cities. I think now you've
got a name as well after doing Idle.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Yeah, I mean, there's something that I would love to do, Like,
I really love performing, I love writing songs, and I'm
very excited about what I can do after this.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
And then with the other people that are still left
in the competition, you know, I'm going to ask you
some questions about them, because you know, we've got some
amazing people still left. But in some way, I think
if you like the Star Wars universe, I think if
you like Obi Wan Kenobi bowing out at the start
of Star Wars and New Home, you know, I feel
like you've been able to help these people and we
only get to see glimpses of how that all happens
(10:34):
on the show. Am I right by seeing that you've
been able to probably be there for them in a
maybe an older sense and more of a wiser sense,
a little.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Bits and pieces, you know, where you can. You know,
I've had experience in the industry for a while and
I've been able to say, like, oh, you guys used
to do this and you to do that and add
this lyric in here, or change this rhythm or kind
of just offer like condolences because you know, like a
lot of the younger guys are going there like very
very diary eyed and knew the whole experience, and you
kind of offer a bit of wisdom and advice of
(11:06):
being like, hey, you know, like you're okay, like you're
good today, kind things like that. You can you can
kind of tell when someone's not to coping so well
with the situation because it's I mean, it's a lot
for me, and I'm thirty too. I can't imagine what
doing a show at sixteen is.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Like it's a lot. You know that we don't have
many live shows anymore either, Like this is a real
opportunity for you to be in people's laund rooms live.
You know, that's powerful, I mean, and that's a lot
of pressure, it is, and like.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
I think, you know, like it was difficult the other
week when I'm sick because I feel like I didn't
perform as well but normally can.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
But it's a lot of.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Pressure, but you kind of get used to it in
an industry. I still felt the pressure for sure. To me,
Like you know it's a bit cliche, but pressure builds.
Diamonds from pressure can help you and competitives can help
you become better, help you kind of sharpen your craft,
help you to work harder and bring out the best
of you in a.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Way, did you work out sort of where you want
to go as an artist with your music? Because I
think when you're singing other people's songs, you know you
can follow someone's paint by numbers in a way, do
you know what I mean? But then at the same
time you could start to then move towards how you
want to sound with your own original music. Did being
on Australian Idol help you work out who you want
(12:20):
to be as an artist moving forward? Or did you
feel like you already knew that?
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Well? A bit of both really. I think, you know,
I've been working on some things for a while and
kind of refining my music. But like you go on
the show and you can kind of see what resonates
with people, what points really stick you know, For example,
my auditions really has really stuck with people with Knopy.
Emotion is all part of it, in the rawness of
(12:43):
it as really connected with a lot of people like
I've had a lot of people message me about it,
like I've had grown men messaged me to like grow
a grown man. I'm crying, like what's going on?
Speaker 3 (12:54):
And I think, you know, I.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Wanted to take part of that and put put that
into music, where you know, you really try to create
music that connects with people on an emotional level, and
it's not just kind of you're putting out whatever you're
trying to create music, like for example of Taels a
fantastic example of whenever she puts out music, it just
connects with just so many people as well as Lewis Capaldi.
(13:17):
You know that music that really connect with an individual.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Yeah, I remember thinking the first time I heard your voice,
it was like reminded me of listening to like Paolo
Natini or you know, like an artist that you just go,
oh my god, that person is a singer. You know
that that's a sound, that's an original sound that goes
to that person and can't really be duplicated. That's really
a good element to who you are as an artist
as well, because I don't feel like many people can
(13:43):
do what you can do.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
It's something that I've tried to work on through my
whole careers is really just trying to sound like me.
I think a lot of people will hear an artist
and then just be like, oh, I'll just copy how
they sound. And I think I think it's great to
study all the current artists and the great artists pass
and take inspiration for that. But I think for every artist,
you know, it's so important that you just try and
(14:05):
sound like yourself.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
I'm running out of time, and I feel like I
could talk to you forever because I think you're like
the soul of the earth, honestly, you know, and not
only are you a great artist, but you're a really
interesting man. I want to ask you some idle questions
just because I know that's people will want to hear that.
But do you have a pick as to who you
want to win? At this point? I mean, we're right
down to the point of end. We've got two weeks
left with this.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Honestly, like, I really don't know who's who's going to
win it. You know, you've got a lot of talented
people left, and I really think it's up to who
the viewers want to win.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Who do you want to win?
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Me?
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Well, God put it back in Charlie.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
Yeah, welcome. Well, I mean what I will say is
there's a couple of things that have blown me away
from the show. Like, for example, Iland really blows me away.
I don't know who'll win, but just is to have
that voice at eighteen years old, it's just ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
It's absolutely ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
I chatted to him about I said, do you and
like how good you are eighteen? And he doesn't get
it because he's because he's eighteen. And it's just like
I've seen people it takes them another ten years, but
at eighteen, it's like what's going on?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You know?
Speaker 4 (15:11):
And for me, like Trey is so good at R
and B. John is just like an enigma on stage,
the screens in the audience is.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Just like wild, like you have to cover your ears
with that loud.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
When he's what he's on. And just her just her own,
her own person completely, like she has her own original
sound as well. And then Kilane, you know he's kind
of like this kind of ballad soulful kind of guitar guy.
And Kesha as well. You know, she's rock and has
her own sound. Everybody is just this kind of like
(15:44):
individual there and they will have their own like fan
bases just going hell for lever supporting them. So I
really do think it's anyone's game right now. It will
be maybe someone you don't expect to win or I'm
not sure, to be honest, Well, before you.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Go, the last thing I ask everyone is behind the
scene secret. If you got anything from behind the scenes
that people who watch astray and I wouldn't know.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Contractually, I don't know how much I'm allowed to say.
I think for me, the thing that this is, this
is my own opinion. I could be completely wrong. I
reckon Kyle sandel And is probably the biggest selfie out there.
Like he's such a nice guy. You know, everyone kind
of thinks he's like super controversial dude. Yes he does
see some super controversial things, but you can see like
(16:25):
how nice he is with his son, and I reckon
he's just like really just a really really nice, solid dude.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Now he knows what he's doing.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Yeah, you think you don't see on the shows, like
during the ad breaks and before and after the show,
he's down there like talking to kids, getting photos, digning things,
just like being really gracious with the fans.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
That's the best behind the scenes secret I've had this season,
so I appreciate it. Charlie. I have to let you go,
but can I just say I'm in your audience. I
can't wait to see what you do with your music,
and thank you for being so generous with your time
chatting with me this morning.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Thanks so much your time.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
All right, guys, that was Charlie. And what I love
about that chat is how much heart he brings to
his conversation, not just to his music, but to the
way he connects with people through his story. Now where
shifting gears slightly because Samela is a completely different kind
of artist, powerful, polished, and honestly one of the most
consistent performers this season. Her elimination shocked a lot of viewers,
(17:20):
myself included. In this next chat, she will open up
about that moment she was eliminated, what was going through
her mind, and while she believes that this is just
the beginning for her. Here's my conversation with Samella. Hi, Samela,
how are you?
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Ben good?
Speaker 1 (17:34):
How are you? I am a little bit star struck.
I have to tell you with me, Yes, I'm obsessed.
I cannot believe I'm talking to you. Because I feel
bad about admitting this, but I've only voted for one
person this season, and it's you. As much as I've
connected to different people, I had my girlfriend come over
right at the start when you first turned up on
this show. We're all big Dawson's Creek fence spoiler alert.
(17:57):
We played your song and my girlfriends are really tough critics,
and they were like, oh my god, Ben, you're so
embarrassing getting out the YouTube and playing you know, someone's
audition on Idol, and I was like, no, you must
listen to this.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Ben, Well, that's really nice. Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
I'll be listening to that version of that song forever.
And you know what's so funny is I was watching
a reunion for Dawson's Creek where they had the cast
together and they were all admitting to not understanding the
meaning behind the song. And I think a lot of it.
Ye people don't know the meaning behind that Paula Cole song,
And for some reason, you articulated it in a way
(18:34):
that made me feel like, that's the first time I've
heard it, and it's the first time I've understood it.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, I feel like it was like that for a
lot of people, and myself included to be honest, like, yeah,
it was why with the reaction, and I'm so glad
that people actually felt how I felt singing it. And yeah,
I'm so glad that it was really authentic and it
was honestly, it felt like my story. I was honestly
singing my story. So yeah, I'm so glad that it
(19:00):
was received how I hoped it was going to be received.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
There were so many great moments from you, and I
think if Tina Arena, like I think of big, powerful
female Australian voices, and I think that is where you belong.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Thanks Bern.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
I honestly like every time I performed, I left no
stone unturned like I and I'm really proud of that.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I just gave it everything every.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Time and I'm really consistent in my delivery. But I just, yeah,
every time, every time there was nothing I left. I
really hold onto that. And yeah, thank you for saying that.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
What do you think is going to happen now? Because
like I was watching you being eliminated last night, I
could see you were overwhelmed. I felt like you were
very emotional and I don't know what was going on
in your mind at that point. How are you feeling
about it today.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, Look, I didn't anticipate the journey to end. I honestly,
I didn't know when it would end. But I didn't
anticipate it to end because I have so much more
to give and to show. But it didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
And I think for me, it was a.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Lot of emotions in that moment, and I was disappointed
because I just I wanted to keep going to show
to sing, like I just wanted to keep singing. The
fact that I've stopped last night was really upsetting, But
that's just the nature of the competition.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
What's interesting about it is that singing competition that's reality,
is about creating moments, and you know, that's how this
show is for a lot of these people on it.
Where with you, you could literally do a YouTube channel
or do any of this work by yourself, because the
music is enough, like your performances, thank you, your connection
to the audience is enough. Where there's a lot of
(20:42):
people that are still in this competition that are going
to require an Australian idol you know, two hundred and
fifty crew that are working on sound and music to
elevate them, where with you you could just have a
guitar and sing that music and people will feel connected
at home. So you have a superpower. It goes beyond
what other people probably have.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Yeah, thanks, Ben, I honestly feel like it is a superpower.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
And I'm just going to continue to work really hard
and to really embrace the opportunities that are going to
come and that have come from this. So I want
to release some really amazing original music that I haven't released,
and I want to do some really great, great gigs
around Adelaide and also Interstate. So this is just like
a stepping stone in a really big picture and I'm
(21:26):
really excited for what's to come.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
What about these kids at school? What are the kids
at school thing? Do they think that we've finally got
a teacher that's cool.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
I don't know, finally the cool teacher. I had to
just go on a whole TV show to be cool. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
No, they think that I'm They think I'm really cool,
and they think that, look, look what my teacher can do,
and like, maybe one day I can do that.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And I really hope that my journey has inspired them
to go out and dream big.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
And because life's too short, and if you're given a gift,
you need to use it and you need.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
To use it properly. So I hope that I've really
showed them how.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
To do that.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
How do you go about taking time off from school?
Like as in my I was raised by child educators,
so my mum was a primary school teacher. You're a
high school teacher. But I can imagine it's an interesting
conversation to go into the principal's office and say I'm
going to be taking up some time because I'm going
on Australian idol.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Yeah. Look, it doesn't happen often, and I don't think
my principal's ever experienced this, so it was new territory
for both of us. But they've been honestly very supportive
of the whole journey, and I'm just overwhelmed by how
supportive they've been. But yeah, in terms of time off,
thankfully I got long service leave, so I've tapped into
that a little bit. But how it looks going forward,
(22:36):
I'm not really sure. Like I'm just going to navigate,
navigate what to do now, but yeah, it might be
back in the classroom, might not be.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Well, that's a big question that I think everyone wants
to know. I mean, it would be difficult going back
into a classroom because I mean, you have this storyline
now that makes you kind of bigger than being just
a teacher in front of the classroom. I mean at
some point that probably needs security for the first few
days of you being back there.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
It's need a bouncer outside the door for sure. Yeah,
it's going to be It's going to be very interesting
going back. I don't honestly, I don't know how how
that looks. I'm just going to try to navigate it
when I get home, and yeah, just really take into
my stride the different avenues that I can, I can
go on.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Now, do you miss it? You miss being in that classroom?
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Sometimes I do?
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Yeah, sometimes I do. But honestly, I feel most comfortable
and at home singing on a stage or just singing
in general. I feel like that is definitely my calling
in life. And how that looks in terms of, you know,
going forward, I don't know, but I'm just going to
try to do whatever I can to make it work.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
I feel pretty powerful singing.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
I thought that the song choices that you had really
showcased your voice the whole way through the competition. You know,
how did you go about picking those songs. Did you
go into Australian Idol, you know, because with your audition
and then there's quite a few months before you come
back into the whole competition. Were you plot pointing which
songs you want to do or were you working that
out week by week?
Speaker 2 (24:00):
It's a week by week seeing and I worked like
we work pretty closely with the music teams to pick
songs that align with the week's themes that will showcase,
showcase our.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
Voices and really tell us story through the songs.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
So there's definitely difficulty in picking the right song. But
I think that with every song that I did, I
did perform.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
I feel like I did get my story through.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
And I executed it the best I could and in
an authentic and true manner.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
And I really enjoyed. I genuinely enjoyed.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Each performance and I had a ball. I honestly had
the best time on the stage.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Now, when the show finished last night, I said to
my partner who was watching it with me, Wo'd miss
some of your performances. I was like, did you see
when she did the Lion King? And we've got to
watch this big and we were. We watched all of
your performances that you've had on the show so far,
and I just think being able to watch it like
that and see it all put together, you can really
hear the Cimela sound that you have as well, and
(24:58):
the pin that you've been able to put on every
reperformance that you did.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yeah, I just I'm really proud that I've been a
really consistent, like an unwavering consistency in this competition, and
that's something I'm really proud of and it's something that
I'll continue to do after this show. Just really showing
up every time and giving it a hundred. There was
not a moment on the show where I was like, oh,
(25:21):
I wish I did that better. I honestly gave it
everything each time. And I feel like I'm a really
diverse singer and I can do a lot of genres
and I'm a strong vocalist, and I just I'm really
proud that I did that. I'm really proud of myself.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Yeah, because I think you could easily fit into doing
quite a few different categories, Like I could imagine seeing
you live in theater, you know, I could imagine you
doing concerts like you do have a sound that people
need to hear live. I mean, there's just so many
different options out there. Do you work out who's going
to help mentor you from this point, because I guess
you've been mentored quite a lot through the process and
(25:58):
the machine of Australian idol, you know. Moving forward, who
do you look to mentor you with your growth out
of the show?
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yeah, look, that's a really good question. I think there's
different opportunities and different people that I'll probably reach out
to and get some mentoring from moving forward, But a
lot of it, I think initially is self driven. So
I'm going to really try my best to build some
really strong connections in the industry and really push myself.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Out there because I don't want to.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
I don't want to just fall through the cracks now,
so I really need to embrace the opportunities and the
people in this industry.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Amy Shark's a good one. Can I tell you that
I used to do breakfast radio in Queensland and we
had her record label ring up and offer Amy Shark
to talk about her music. This was as some of
her newest her first few songs were coming up through
the charts and she really has worked hard, Like maybe
people don't notice this when they're watching Austrain Idol. How
(26:53):
someone like Amy Shark has been able to elevate her
music and cultivate this career. But she gets and I
don't know what's sort of access you now get, like
whether Amy Shark gives you a business card or you
can email her or how that process works.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, I mean how is that going to I guess
it's us reaching out to them. So I'm definitely going
to reach out to her because I feel like we
actually had a connection, like a full on connection.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
She really got me.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I think she understood me and what I was about,
and in particular being an older contestant on the show
and also her career started later, she understood my hustle.
So I definitely want to reach out and really really
utilize the connection I've made with her.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Yeah, I remember we were in central Queensland and I
think that's where Amy was from from memory, like this
is now dating back to ten years ago, but I
remember hearing people in the town, you know, knowing how
she worked and how she got to where she got to.
I think it was her mum that lived actually in Gladstone.
I need to fact check that, but I think some
of those stories. So much of this Smilla is luck,
(27:57):
chance and circumstance. So you know, you've got to just
do the work and see where it comes out of
this from there, and sometimes it just picks up like wildfire.
And I think for you, being positive and embracing all
of this and just moving forward is going to be
really important for you.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Absolutely, I think that's going to be my outlook moving forward,
just being really positive and embracing what I've just experienced
and really really utilizing the things that I've learned. And yeah,
it's honestly onwards and upwards from here. Yeah, I'm really
I'm really really glad that people saw me and then
heard me from.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Me being a bit older changed anything for you. Like,
I think you seem to fit in with this collection
of cast, and from what I've heard, the cast all
gets along famously, which is fabulous. But do you think
it makes it a little bit harder when you are
a bit more older or like even for you and Charlie,
it's interesting you both come out of this competition at
the same time because both of you feel like old
souls that you are conduits to being able to sing music.
(28:58):
That's much deeper than probably some the other artists. How
does being a little bit older and the competition work.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
There's something pretty special about being an older contestant and
having a lived life a little bit longer. There's real
power in our stories because we've lived and we've experienced
things that the younger contestants probably haven't yet and they absolutely.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Will, but just not yet. So I think there's a
power in that.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
However, it's also tricky being an older contestant in a
competition like this because naturally people gravitates to younger people.
And that's okay too, and that's just the nature of
a competition like this.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
I think you're right because if you think about who's
going to vote, like, I can tell you that it
would take a lot for me to get up and vote.
And ps, just so you know, I did vote for
you than on the person I voted for the season thinking.
You know, I also did something which I never do,
and that is because I know that I'm going to
interview that people started commenting on Facebook onto the Australian
(29:51):
Idol post when you were put into the bottom four.
I then started posting and I had to stop myself
because I was like, this, You've reached whole new level
of weird now, Ben, you.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Know that's so funny.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Ben step away from the social media and I was like,
I don't care who survives out of this, for Samela
has to stay there. And then people were liking it,
and I was like, maybe I should delete this comment
because people are going to think I'm such a weird.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
That is so funny. No, it was.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
It was honestly like even reading the comments this morning
and seeing the influx of different opinions and things, it's been.
It's been wild and for whatever reason, my journey has
come to an end, and that's okay, but yeah, I'm
really excited for what's to come.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
It's been wild.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
It's been really cool, very cool, and you're very cool,
I have to say, away cooler than I am. I
can tell you just watching you on the show before
you go, I've been asking everyone like it behind Actually no,
I can't ask that. Just really quickly, who's left in
the competition? Who do you think? Who do you think
is going to win? And then who do you want
to win? I think I feel like those two questions
very controversial, but I feel like you can you can
(30:55):
give it to me.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, okay, I feel like it's anyone's game. Honestly, after
the night, after the last night's decision, I'm honestly very confused.
I think it's anyone's game. But I would love to
see Harlan take it. Yeah, that boy, that boy's magic.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Well, Kylie just said the same thing before.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
I love him to bits, and he works very, very hard,
and he's very good at what he does. So and
to be eighteen and that good is just out of
this world.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
I don't think he realizes the gift that he's got.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
He's just he's just unwavering.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
He's just phenomenal vocalist, his performance presence, Like, I would
love to see him take it out because of how.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Good he is. Well, like a lot of people, I'm
reevaluating who I want to win after the last night's elimination.
So I have to now look, I have to wait
for next week's episodes to see how I go. Can
you give me a behind the scenes secret. What's something
from behind the scenes if being on Australian ID or
something that viewers out there wouldn't know from being on
a show like this.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Behind the scenes, Well, we get like we get a
lot of time in a wardrobe, but it's actually not
very I mean it's kind of cool. We got a
lot of time in wardrow and we get like custom
fits made.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Oh that's pretty exciting because you had some pretty outrageous outfits.
Unusual that Yeah, I would say, yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
So my last to the Food Fighters outfit and also
the Bachelor Girl outfit, they were both all custom, so
pretty impressive stuff and such an incredible talented wardrobe team.
Hailey Burton is phenomenal. So having that and I felt
like Cinderella like every week. Yeah, that was very very cool.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
And I actually learned a lot about fashion.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Well there you go.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
But yeah, the custom.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Fits were cool, and this probably something that people don't
actually realize. We work pretty tightly with the wardrobe team.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Well.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
I love watching this show live. I've been up to
Sydney to watch it a few times. And when you
go and watch it being made, you realize how many
people are making this show. It's crazy the next.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
Level the magnitude of producers and stuff, and it's like
a yeah, it's a full production, isn't it. It really
is that.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
I love watching it all come together.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
Mate.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
I want to say to you. I'm in your audience,
and I can't wait to see what you do with
this competition. I will be buying your music, I will
be coming to watch you wherever you're going to perform.
I think you just need to grab onto this opportunity
and go with it because I think I'm not alone,
and I think there's going to be a lot of
people out there that will want to connect to your
(33:20):
music the way that I do.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Yeah, thank you, Ben, I really appreciate that. J really
really nice to hear, so I'm really hungry for more.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
So I'm really going to embrace this and really utilize
every aspect of this journey for sure,
It's in the news today, but it was actually on
TV Reload, the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Plans to Beat the Life.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome back to TV Reload. My name is Benjamin Norris,
and today we have a very special Australian Idol episode
because we are diving into not one, but two of
the most talked about contestants from this year. First up,
I'm chatting with Charlie, a performer whose story has genuinely
stopped people in their tracks, from the emotional connection to
music to the way that he has used his platform
(00:25):
to honor his mum and raise awareness. This conversation goes
well beyond just the competition. We talk about the unforgettable audition,
the meaning behind that beanie that's now become a part
of his identity, and what it's really like stepping into
the spotlight after years of putting your family first. Then
later I sit down with Samela, whose voice honestly has
been one of the most powerful this season. We unpack
(00:47):
her shock elimination, why she feels that she had more
to give, and what happens next when you walk away
from a show like Australian Idol knowing that you've connected
with an audience in such a big way. Plus we
get into what the future looks like for both of them,
from music releases to navigating life after reality television. These
are two very different chats, but both incredibly honest, emotional
(01:09):
and worth your time. So guys, let's get into it.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, not too bad. It feels quite surreal to be
talking to you at this point because I think when
we were introduced to you on the television, we felt
like we were watching the winner of the show. It
seems a bit strange to say you're wanted the competition
at this point.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah, it is what it is.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
The same time, I'm very grateful to have noted a far.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
You know, I think in some ways you were one
of the biggest cells for me. And I know I
talked about the promo for this series of Australian Idle
to a lot of people, and I think you were
one of the biggest sells for a lot of people.
I can't remember a time where I've watched an advert
and have that sort of time frame to watch just
a little bit of content, to have that kind of
an emotional reaction to your story. So I want to
(01:55):
thank you for your vulnerability and for sharing a story
with us because it was incredibly powerful.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Thank you man.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yeah, you know, I think that in a way like
I to be able to share the story I've been
able to. You know, cancer is affecting a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I think the way in which you were able to
use your story and use it with music was really powerful.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
I'm really really glad that I've been able to do that.
I'm trying to work with some cancer foundations at the
moment to keep you know, spreading awareness and helping to
I guess, bringing kind of positivity into people's lives.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
I mean, the beanie is a really great way of
being able to do that. I've seen orange beanies over
the last month, and every time I think about it,
I think of Charlie, I think of you.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
From me having an object it is really.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Strange, but it's a way that you've been able to
connect with your audience. Am I right by saying that
you'd been approached to do Australian idol in the past?
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Yeah, I did. You get to post a couple of
times in the past on multiple years, but I was
hearing for my mum at the time, so I wasn't
I wasn't able to take up the offer.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
How did that happen to people slide into your DMS
and say we heard you've got a really good voice.
Can you share that backstory?
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Yeah? I had some scouts, but I didn't being like hey,
you know, like the kind of people within the Perth
community who knew me and they were in conjunction with
the IDOL and saying like, you know, you've got a
good voice, do you want to come on the show?
And I was meditated and said, look, you know, I'm
really sorry. I'm looking after my mom at the moment.
It's not something that I have the time to do.
And to me, you know, looking after my mum was priority.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
And then when it comes back around this time, did
it feel quite serendipitous to then say yes to this?
And had you maybe even had a conversation with her
before her passing about your priorities with maybe applying for Idle, Well.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
I mean something that she always wanted me to do
with do a show like this. You know, she was
she was my biggest fan and she she would have
been absolutely a static that I was able to do
to do this. Unfortunately I didn't really get to chat
to her about that prize or a passing. You know,
someone has a brain treamer, it kind of them unfortunately,
so you know, we were kind of not talking about
(04:05):
those things at that time because she was unfortunately different person.
But this time around, I saw the advertisement come up
on my face because I was strolling, and I was like, oh,
why not, We'll give it a go and just see
what happens. It was just kind of a spare of
the moment team for me that I know that I've
been asked in the past, and I was I was like,
we'll give it a try and to see what happens.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Did you feel like your mum is somewhat a part
of this? I mean, I would like to share with
you at this point that I lost my father, so
I know what it's like till he's a parent. And
I did a reality show and I did well, and
it was really weird. When I won that show, I
remember feeling like my father was there. It was really weird.
It felt like I'd somehow connected to him. And I
(04:48):
think sometimes reality TV have a way of being able
to draw out a lot of emotions that are behind
the scenes. So I'd be curious to know about your
your relationship with that.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Yeah, I mean it's really interesting for me during different
performances I've done, I feel like my mom watching since
just feel the presence just watching and then especially give
in my audition massively, and then a lot on the
show Phil at Tuney and watching good feel the presence there.
And that was quite baffling for me that I could,
you know, feel her there being like, oh, you're doing this,
(05:20):
this is cool, and I was like, whoa, Okay. It
was really interesting for me. Like during the last performance
last night with the Isn't she Love this song? I
came off and for my partner and she was very
upset and she was like, I saw your mom And
I was like, what do you mean what? And she
said that she felt that she was there. So I
(05:41):
felt her a lot during this, during this experience.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Sorry, that's very emotional to hear that. I mean, I
believe in those things. It's funny because if you haven't
been in a situation where you've lost a loved one,
you probably here's some of that stuff and you think, oh,
that's a bit woo woo, And then if you can
connect to it, if you have lost someone and you
have those moments the very real.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
Really are you know? I've heard her coming through a lot,
and she really was my biggest fan by a long way,
even compared to my dad. Sorry dads, but it's just
I really started coming through a lot and she would
have been very very proud and very happy me being
able to do the show. She it has been absolutely astatic, and.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I think the way that you carry yourself as well.
I think Marsha did this amazing thing in your audition.
Straight away she spoke about, you know, the first love
you have is your mother, and I think that's very
very true. Did you feel connected to Marsha throughout the
competition because not that you can pick favorites or maybe
she does. I don't know, I'm not Marsha. Did you
feel as though she had a paternal or maternal sort
(06:44):
of wing over you throughout the competition?
Speaker 4 (06:46):
I did so then I kind of felt, you know,
connected to her because of that. She has a mom
energy to her and she's very gracious, and my mum
was also a very gracious person, So I definitely, you know,
I really kind of look forward to being able to
talk to each time on stage.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I recognize that I was watching that and seeing that.
You know, I also believe that people, the people that
are no longer with us go into other people, if
that makes any sense, Like I think sometimes they Yeah,
it happens to me a lot where I've seen that
where I think my dad's gone into someone because there's
something that's been transpired or communicated, and I think that
that's really strange. That's something that my father would have said,
(07:26):
and that's all. That's the care that my father would
have offered, you know.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Yeah, It's just there was a couple of things for me,
like during the show that happened then I was like,
oh my mom did that. Like for example, before I
did it with a little help from my friends. So
you know, I was getting ready to go on and
they said, okay, get ready, go wait, go way back there.
I said, okay, I'm waiting, and I was. I was
getting nervous and just kind of hanging around there and
(07:52):
I'm trying to forget in my lyrics and ah, it's
not good. And they go, okay, just you're gonna be
on the second waiting and waiting the kind of something's
wrong with camera, like just chill here, Okay, I'm waiting.
I go thank you so long. I'm getting really nervous.
I just want to go and do this song. And
they come back and yeah, it's still not right. It's
going to be like thirty minutes. I was like, oh okay.
(08:12):
And so during that time, like the judges come backstage,
the Amy Sharks gives me a fish farm. I see Marshes.
He smiled at me to see Kyle, and I start
to get less nervous, and the band starts playing the
song I could hear the song in my eight years,
and I start singing along to it, remember all the words.
And then they go, yeah, you're good to come out,
and camera's all fixed and I go out there and
(08:34):
I smash it and I get fast passed, and I go, oh,
that was my mom.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Man, that has to beg You think of those moments
and they are a line, you know, they line up
like that, and then you think.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
How could it not be yeah, because it's just like
it's a multi million dollar show, and they go, oh,
one of the cameras are not working, and my dad
doesn't happen often.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
No, that's that's that's more than a fast past, you know,
it's it's interesting about you. I watched you through the
competition from the moment you got picked, and I fell
fel like you were bigger than this competition throughout it,
Like I mean, I did think you could win. I'm
not saying that you should have won or anything like that.
I just think there was a presence that you had
that we are watching already a very established brand. And
(09:13):
so I hope when you look at coming out of
the show at this point more as that was a
great experience, not that that summarizes who you are as
an artist at this point, if that makes any sense.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Yeah, yeah, you know, I feel the same, like I've
really enjoyed the experience, and it's not that I didn't
get in not to win. I went in with no
kind of expectations and hoping that, you know, people can
can see me as an artist. And I've been working
with this craft for seventeen years since I was a teenager.
Wanted music university for it. I've been doing gigs for
(09:47):
a long time, and it's just trying to get exploded
from Perth difficult because we're so isolated. So that that's
why I wanted to do to do something like this
in order to try and kind of be like, hey,
I'm over here in per.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Come find me. I mean, or you know, or you
can take it to other cities. I think now you've
got a name as well after doing Idle.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Yeah, I mean, there's something that I would love to do, Like,
I really love performing, I love writing songs, and I'm
very excited about what I can do after this.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
And then with the other people that are still left
in the competition, you know, I'm going to ask you
some questions about them, because you know, we've got some
amazing people still left. But in some way, I think
if you like the Star Wars universe, I think if
you like Obi Wan Kenobi bowing out at the start
of Star Wars and New Home, you know, I feel
like you've been able to help these people and we
only get to see glimpses of how that all happens
(10:34):
on the show. Am I right by seeing that you've
been able to probably be there for them in a
maybe an older sense and more of a wiser sense,
a little.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Bits and pieces, you know, where you can. You know,
I've had experience in the industry for a while and
I've been able to say, like, oh, you guys used
to do this and you to do that and add
this lyric in here, or change this rhythm or kind
of just offer like condolences because you know, like a
lot of the younger guys are going there like very
very diary eyed and knew the whole experience, and you
kind of offer a bit of wisdom and advice of
(11:06):
being like, hey, you know, like you're okay, like you're
good today, kind things like that. You can you can
kind of tell when someone's not to coping so well
with the situation because it's I mean, it's a lot
for me, and I'm thirty too. I can't imagine what
doing a show at sixteen is.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Like it's a lot. You know that we don't have
many live shows anymore either, Like this is a real
opportunity for you to be in people's laund rooms live.
You know, that's powerful, I mean, and that's a lot
of pressure, it is, and like.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
I think, you know, like it was difficult the other
week when I'm sick because I feel like I didn't
perform as well but normally can.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
But it's a lot of.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Pressure, but you kind of get used to it in
an industry. I still felt the pressure for sure. To me,
Like you know it's a bit cliche, but pressure builds.
Diamonds from pressure can help you and competitives can help
you become better, help you kind of sharpen your craft,
help you to work harder and bring out the best
of you in a.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Way, did you work out sort of where you want
to go as an artist with your music? Because I
think when you're singing other people's songs, you know you
can follow someone's paint by numbers in a way, do
you know what I mean? But then at the same
time you could start to then move towards how you
want to sound with your own original music. Did being
on Australian Idol help you work out who you want
(12:20):
to be as an artist moving forward? Or did you
feel like you already knew that?
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Well? A bit of both really. I think, you know,
I've been working on some things for a while and
kind of refining my music. But like you go on
the show and you can kind of see what resonates
with people, what points really stick you know, For example,
my auditions really has really stuck with people with Knopy.
Emotion is all part of it, in the rawness of
(12:43):
it as really connected with a lot of people like
I've had a lot of people message me about it,
like I've had grown men messaged me to like grow
a grown man. I'm crying, like what's going on?
Speaker 3 (12:54):
And I think, you know, I.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Wanted to take part of that and put put that
into music, where you know, you really try to create
music that connects with people on an emotional level, and
it's not just kind of you're putting out whatever you're
trying to create music, like for example of Taels a
fantastic example of whenever she puts out music, it just
connects with just so many people as well as Lewis Capaldi.
(13:17):
You know that music that really connect with an individual.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Yeah, I remember thinking the first time I heard your voice,
it was like reminded me of listening to like Paolo
Natini or you know, like an artist that you just go,
oh my god, that person is a singer. You know
that that's a sound, that's an original sound that goes
to that person and can't really be duplicated. That's really
a good element to who you are as an artist
as well, because I don't feel like many people can
(13:43):
do what you can do.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
It's something that I've tried to work on through my
whole careers is really just trying to sound like me.
I think a lot of people will hear an artist
and then just be like, oh, I'll just copy how
they sound. And I think I think it's great to
study all the current artists and the great artists pass
and take inspiration for that. But I think for every artist,
you know, it's so important that you just try and
(14:05):
sound like yourself.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
I'm running out of time, and I feel like I
could talk to you forever because I think you're like
the soul of the earth, honestly, you know, and not
only are you a great artist, but you're a really
interesting man. I want to ask you some idle questions
just because I know that's people will want to hear that.
But do you have a pick as to who you
want to win? At this point? I mean, we're right
down to the point of end. We've got two weeks
left with this.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Honestly, like, I really don't know who's who's going to
win it. You know, you've got a lot of talented
people left, and I really think it's up to who
the viewers want to win.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Who do you want to win?
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Me?
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Well, God put it back in Charlie.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
Yeah, welcome. Well, I mean what I will say is
there's a couple of things that have blown me away
from the show. Like, for example, Iland really blows me away.
I don't know who'll win, but just is to have
that voice at eighteen years old, it's just ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
It's absolutely ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
I chatted to him about I said, do you and
like how good you are eighteen? And he doesn't get
it because he's because he's eighteen. And it's just like
I've seen people it takes them another ten years, but
at eighteen, it's like what's going on?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You know?
Speaker 4 (15:11):
And for me, like Trey is so good at R
and B. John is just like an enigma on stage,
the screens in the audience is.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Just like wild, like you have to cover your ears
with that loud.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
When he's what he's on. And just her just her own,
her own person completely, like she has her own original
sound as well. And then Kilane, you know he's kind
of like this kind of ballad soulful kind of guitar guy.
And Kesha as well. You know, she's rock and has
her own sound. Everybody is just this kind of like
(15:44):
individual there and they will have their own like fan
bases just going hell for lever supporting them. So I
really do think it's anyone's game right now. It will
be maybe someone you don't expect to win or I'm
not sure, to be honest, Well, before you.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Go, the last thing I ask everyone is behind the
scene secret. If you got anything from behind the scenes
that people who watch astray and I wouldn't know.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
Contractually, I don't know how much I'm allowed to say.
I think for me, the thing that this is, this
is my own opinion. I could be completely wrong. I
reckon Kyle sandel And is probably the biggest selfie out there.
Like he's such a nice guy. You know, everyone kind
of thinks he's like super controversial dude. Yes he does
see some super controversial things, but you can see like
(16:25):
how nice he is with his son, and I reckon
he's just like really just a really really nice, solid dude.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Now he knows what he's doing.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Yeah, you think you don't see on the shows, like
during the ad breaks and before and after the show,
he's down there like talking to kids, getting photos, digning things,
just like being really gracious with the fans.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
That's the best behind the scenes secret I've had this season,
so I appreciate it. Charlie. I have to let you go,
but can I just say I'm in your audience. I
can't wait to see what you do with your music,
and thank you for being so generous with your time
chatting with me this morning.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Thanks so much your time.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
All right, guys, that was Charlie. And what I love
about that chat is how much heart he brings to
his conversation, not just to his music, but to the
way he connects with people through his story. Now where
shifting gears slightly because Samela is a completely different kind
of artist, powerful, polished, and honestly one of the most
consistent performers this season. Her elimination shocked a lot of viewers,
(17:20):
myself included. In this next chat, she will open up
about that moment she was eliminated, what was going through
her mind, and while she believes that this is just
the beginning for her. Here's my conversation with Samella. Hi, Samela,
how are you?
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Ben good?
Speaker 1 (17:34):
How are you? I am a little bit star struck.
I have to tell you with me, Yes, I'm obsessed.
I cannot believe I'm talking to you. Because I feel
bad about admitting this, but I've only voted for one
person this season, and it's you. As much as I've
connected to different people, I had my girlfriend come over
right at the start when you first turned up on
this show. We're all big Dawson's Creek fence spoiler alert.
(17:57):
We played your song and my girlfriends are really tough critics,
and they were like, oh my god, Ben, you're so
embarrassing getting out the YouTube and playing you know, someone's
audition on Idol, and I was like, no, you must
listen to this.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Ben, Well, that's really nice. Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
I'll be listening to that version of that song forever.
And you know what's so funny is I was watching
a reunion for Dawson's Creek where they had the cast
together and they were all admitting to not understanding the
meaning behind the song. And I think a lot of it.
Ye people don't know the meaning behind that Paula Cole song,
And for some reason, you articulated it in a way
(18:34):
that made me feel like, that's the first time I've
heard it, and it's the first time I've understood it.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Yeah, I feel like it was like that for a
lot of people, and myself included to be honest, like, yeah,
it was why with the reaction, and I'm so glad
that people actually felt how I felt singing it. And yeah,
I'm so glad that it was really authentic and it
was honestly, it felt like my story. I was honestly
singing my story. So yeah, I'm so glad that it
(19:00):
was received how I hoped it was going to be received.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
There were so many great moments from you, and I
think if Tina Arena, like I think of big, powerful
female Australian voices, and I think that is where you belong.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Thanks Bern.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
I honestly like every time I performed, I left no
stone unturned like I and I'm really proud of that.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I just gave it everything every.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Time and I'm really consistent in my delivery. But I just, yeah,
every time, every time there was nothing I left. I
really hold onto that. And yeah, thank you for saying that.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
What do you think is going to happen now? Because
like I was watching you being eliminated last night, I
could see you were overwhelmed. I felt like you were
very emotional and I don't know what was going on
in your mind at that point. How are you feeling
about it today.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, Look, I didn't anticipate the journey to end. I honestly,
I didn't know when it would end. But I didn't
anticipate it to end because I have so much more
to give and to show. But it didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
And I think for me, it was a.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Lot of emotions in that moment, and I was disappointed
because I just I wanted to keep going to show
to sing, like I just wanted to keep singing. The
fact that I've stopped last night was really upsetting, But
that's just the nature of the competition.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
What's interesting about it is that singing competition that's reality,
is about creating moments, and you know, that's how this
show is for a lot of these people on it.
Where with you, you could literally do a YouTube channel
or do any of this work by yourself, because the
music is enough, like your performances, thank you, your connection
to the audience is enough. Where there's a lot of
(20:42):
people that are still in this competition that are going
to require an Australian idol you know, two hundred and
fifty crew that are working on sound and music to
elevate them, where with you you could just have a
guitar and sing that music and people will feel connected
at home. So you have a superpower. It goes beyond
what other people probably have.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Yeah, thanks, Ben, I honestly feel like it is a superpower.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
And I'm just going to continue to work really hard
and to really embrace the opportunities that are going to
come and that have come from this. So I want
to release some really amazing original music that I haven't released,
and I want to do some really great, great gigs
around Adelaide and also Interstate. So this is just like
a stepping stone in a really big picture and I'm
(21:26):
really excited for what's to come.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
What about these kids at school? What are the kids
at school thing? Do they think that we've finally got
a teacher that's cool.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
I don't know, finally the cool teacher. I had to
just go on a whole TV show to be cool. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
No, they think that I'm They think I'm really cool,
and they think that, look, look what my teacher can do,
and like, maybe one day I can do that.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And I really hope that my journey has inspired them
to go out and dream big.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
And because life's too short, and if you're given a gift,
you need to use it and you need.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
To use it properly. So I hope that I've really
showed them how.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
To do that.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
How do you go about taking time off from school?
Like as in my I was raised by child educators,
so my mum was a primary school teacher. You're a
high school teacher. But I can imagine it's an interesting
conversation to go into the principal's office and say I'm
going to be taking up some time because I'm going
on Australian idol.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Yeah. Look, it doesn't happen often, and I don't think
my principal's ever experienced this, so it was new territory
for both of us. But they've been honestly very supportive
of the whole journey, and I'm just overwhelmed by how
supportive they've been. But yeah, in terms of time off,
thankfully I got long service leave, so I've tapped into
that a little bit. But how it looks going forward,
(22:36):
I'm not really sure. Like I'm just going to navigate,
navigate what to do now, but yeah, it might be
back in the classroom, might not be.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Well, that's a big question that I think everyone wants
to know. I mean, it would be difficult going back
into a classroom because I mean, you have this storyline
now that makes you kind of bigger than being just
a teacher in front of the classroom. I mean at
some point that probably needs security for the first few
days of you being back there.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
It's need a bouncer outside the door for sure. Yeah,
it's going to be It's going to be very interesting
going back. I don't honestly, I don't know how how
that looks. I'm just going to try to navigate it
when I get home, and yeah, just really take into
my stride the different avenues that I can, I can
go on.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Now, do you miss it? You miss being in that classroom?
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Sometimes I do?
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Yeah, sometimes I do. But honestly, I feel most comfortable
and at home singing on a stage or just singing
in general. I feel like that is definitely my calling
in life. And how that looks in terms of, you know,
going forward, I don't know, but I'm just going to
try to do whatever I can to make it work.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
I feel pretty powerful singing.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
I thought that the song choices that you had really
showcased your voice the whole way through the competition. You know,
how did you go about picking those songs. Did you
go into Australian Idol, you know, because with your audition
and then there's quite a few months before you come
back into the whole competition. Were you plot pointing which
songs you want to do or were you working that
out week by week?
Speaker 2 (24:00):
It's a week by week seeing and I worked like
we work pretty closely with the music teams to pick
songs that align with the week's themes that will showcase,
showcase our.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
Voices and really tell us story through the songs.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
So there's definitely difficulty in picking the right song. But
I think that with every song that I did, I
did perform.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
I feel like I did get my story through.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
And I executed it the best I could and in
an authentic and true manner.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
And I really enjoyed. I genuinely enjoyed.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Each performance and I had a ball. I honestly had
the best time on the stage.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Now, when the show finished last night, I said to
my partner who was watching it with me, Wo'd miss
some of your performances. I was like, did you see
when she did the Lion King? And we've got to
watch this big and we were. We watched all of
your performances that you've had on the show so far,
and I just think being able to watch it like
that and see it all put together, you can really
hear the Cimela sound that you have as well, and
(24:58):
the pin that you've been able to put on every
reperformance that you did.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yeah, I just I'm really proud that I've been a
really consistent, like an unwavering consistency in this competition, and
that's something I'm really proud of and it's something that
I'll continue to do after this show. Just really showing
up every time and giving it a hundred. There was
not a moment on the show where I was like, oh,
(25:21):
I wish I did that better. I honestly gave it
everything each time. And I feel like I'm a really
diverse singer and I can do a lot of genres
and I'm a strong vocalist, and I just I'm really
proud that I did that. I'm really proud of myself.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Yeah, because I think you could easily fit into doing
quite a few different categories, Like I could imagine seeing
you live in theater, you know, I could imagine you
doing concerts like you do have a sound that people
need to hear live. I mean, there's just so many
different options out there. Do you work out who's going
to help mentor you from this point, because I guess
you've been mentored quite a lot through the process and
(25:58):
the machine of Australian idol, you know. Moving forward, who
do you look to mentor you with your growth out
of the show?
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yeah, look, that's a really good question. I think there's
different opportunities and different people that I'll probably reach out
to and get some mentoring from moving forward, But a
lot of it, I think initially is self driven. So
I'm going to really try my best to build some
really strong connections in the industry and really push myself.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Out there because I don't want to.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
I don't want to just fall through the cracks now,
so I really need to embrace the opportunities and the
people in this industry.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Amy Shark's a good one. Can I tell you that
I used to do breakfast radio in Queensland and we
had her record label ring up and offer Amy Shark
to talk about her music. This was as some of
her newest her first few songs were coming up through
the charts and she really has worked hard, Like maybe
people don't notice this when they're watching Austrain Idol. How
(26:53):
someone like Amy Shark has been able to elevate her
music and cultivate this career. But she gets and I
don't know what's sort of access you now get, like
whether Amy Shark gives you a business card or you
can email her or how that process works.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, I mean how is that going to I guess
it's us reaching out to them. So I'm definitely going
to reach out to her because I feel like we
actually had a connection, like a full on connection.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
She really got me.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I think she understood me and what I was about,
and in particular being an older contestant on the show
and also her career started later, she understood my hustle.
So I definitely want to reach out and really really
utilize the connection I've made with her.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Yeah, I remember we were in central Queensland and I
think that's where Amy was from from memory, like this
is now dating back to ten years ago, but I
remember hearing people in the town, you know, knowing how
she worked and how she got to where she got to.
I think it was her mum that lived actually in Gladstone.
I need to fact check that, but I think some
of those stories. So much of this Smilla is luck,
(27:57):
chance and circumstance. So you know, you've got to just
do the work and see where it comes out of
this from there, and sometimes it just picks up like wildfire.
And I think for you, being positive and embracing all
of this and just moving forward is going to be
really important for you.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Absolutely, I think that's going to be my outlook moving forward,
just being really positive and embracing what I've just experienced
and really really utilizing the things that I've learned. And yeah,
it's honestly onwards and upwards from here. Yeah, I'm really
I'm really really glad that people saw me and then
heard me from.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Me being a bit older changed anything for you. Like,
I think you seem to fit in with this collection
of cast, and from what I've heard, the cast all
gets along famously, which is fabulous. But do you think
it makes it a little bit harder when you are
a bit more older or like even for you and Charlie,
it's interesting you both come out of this competition at
the same time because both of you feel like old
souls that you are conduits to being able to sing music.
(28:58):
That's much deeper than probably some the other artists. How
does being a little bit older and the competition work.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
There's something pretty special about being an older contestant and
having a lived life a little bit longer. There's real
power in our stories because we've lived and we've experienced
things that the younger contestants probably haven't yet and they absolutely.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Will, but just not yet. So I think there's a
power in that.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
However, it's also tricky being an older contestant in a
competition like this because naturally people gravitates to younger people.
And that's okay too, and that's just the nature of
a competition like this.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
I think you're right because if you think about who's
going to vote, like, I can tell you that it
would take a lot for me to get up and vote.
And ps, just so you know, I did vote for
you than on the person I voted for the season thinking.
You know, I also did something which I never do,
and that is because I know that I'm going to
interview that people started commenting on Facebook onto the Australian
(29:51):
Idol post when you were put into the bottom four.
I then started posting and I had to stop myself
because I was like, this, You've reached whole new level
of weird now, Ben, you.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Know that's so funny.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Ben step away from the social media and I was like,
I don't care who survives out of this, for Samela
has to stay there. And then people were liking it,
and I was like, maybe I should delete this comment
because people are going to think I'm such a weird.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
That is so funny. No, it was.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
It was honestly like even reading the comments this morning
and seeing the influx of different opinions and things, it's been.
It's been wild and for whatever reason, my journey has
come to an end, and that's okay, but yeah, I'm
really excited for what's to come.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
It's been wild.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
It's been really cool, very cool, and you're very cool,
I have to say, away cooler than I am. I
can tell you just watching you on the show before
you go, I've been asking everyone like it behind Actually no,
I can't ask that. Just really quickly, who's left in
the competition? Who do you think? Who do you think
is going to win? And then who do you want
to win? I think I feel like those two questions
very controversial, but I feel like you can you can
(30:55):
give it to me.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, okay, I feel like it's anyone's game. Honestly, after
the night, after the last night's decision, I'm honestly very confused.
I think it's anyone's game. But I would love to
see Harlan take it. Yeah, that boy, that boy's magic.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Well, Kylie just said the same thing before.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
I love him to bits, and he works very, very hard,
and he's very good at what he does. So and
to be eighteen and that good is just out of
this world.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
I don't think he realizes the gift that he's got.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
He's just he's just unwavering.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
He's just phenomenal vocalist, his performance presence, Like, I would
love to see him take it out because of how.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Good he is. Well, like a lot of people, I'm
reevaluating who I want to win after the last night's elimination.
So I have to now look, I have to wait
for next week's episodes to see how I go. Can
you give me a behind the scenes secret. What's something
from behind the scenes if being on Australian ID or
something that viewers out there wouldn't know from being on
a show like this.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Behind the scenes, Well, we get like we get a
lot of time in a wardrobe, but it's actually not
very I mean it's kind of cool. We got a
lot of time in wardrow and we get like custom
fits made.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Oh that's pretty exciting because you had some pretty outrageous outfits.
Unusual that Yeah, I would say, yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
So my last to the Food Fighters outfit and also
the Bachelor Girl outfit, they were both all custom, so
pretty impressive stuff and such an incredible talented wardrobe team.
Hailey Burton is phenomenal. So having that and I felt
like Cinderella like every week. Yeah, that was very very cool.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
And I actually learned a lot about fashion.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Well there you go.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
But yeah, the custom.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Fits were cool, and this probably something that people don't
actually realize. We work pretty tightly with the wardrobe team.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Well.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
I love watching this show live. I've been up to
Sydney to watch it a few times. And when you
go and watch it being made, you realize how many
people are making this show. It's crazy the next.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
Level the magnitude of producers and stuff, and it's like
a yeah, it's a full production, isn't it. It really
is that.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
I love watching it all come together.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
Mate.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
I want to say to you. I'm in your audience,
and I can't wait to see what you do with
this competition. I will be buying your music, I will
be coming to watch you wherever you're going to perform.
I think you just need to grab onto this opportunity
and go with it because I think I'm not alone,
and I think there's going to be a lot of
people out there that will want to connect to your
(33:20):
music the way that I do.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Yeah, thank you, Ben, I really appreciate that. J really
really nice to hear, so I'm really hungry for more.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
So I'm really going to embrace this and really utilize
every aspect of this journey for sure,
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Kingdom of Fraud
It’s the unlikeliest of criminal partnerships: a devout polygamist from an insular Utah sect joining forces with a shadowy Armenian tycoon from LA. The result - a billion dollar fraud conspiracy. In Kingdom of Fraud, investigative reporter Michele McPhee traces the origins of the extraordinary alliance between Jacob Kingston and Levon Termendzhyan. Together, the two men trigger the largest tax investigation in American history and weave around themselves a web of dirty cops, influential political relationships and transnational money laundering. All this is set against the backdrop of Jacob Kingston’s clan – The Order. A powerful and secretive polygamist organization in Salt Lake City. To whom Jacob is desperate to prove his worth. Kingdom of Fraud is produced by Novel for iHeart Podcasts. For more from Novel, visit https://novel.audio/. You can listen to new episodes of Kingdom of Fraud completely ad-free and 1 week early with an iHeart True Crime+ subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “iHeart True Crime+, and subscribe today!