October 2009

Northern Star

She’s the Darwin girl who made good, with two chart-topping albums and an upcoming tour with Beyoncé. Next stop, Jessica Mauboy takes on the world

WORDS KATHY BUCHANAN

Mischievously poking her head around the corner of Sony’s Sydney boardroom, petite singer Jessica Mauboy is wearing fitted black pants and a cool T-shirt, with her long brown hair flowing free. She giggles immediately when I ask who designed her cool black PVC rocker jacket. Turns out she snapped it up for a bargain AU$10 at a local market. It’s this natural, down-to-earth charm which is quickly making Mauboy Australia’s new media darling.

After 10 minutes of being in a room alone with Mauboy (or “Hilda” as her mum lovingly calls her), there are a few things you know for sure: at 156cm and with massive brown eyes and a warm smile, she’s the definition of cute.She’s ambitious, with plans to become an international singing sensation like her idols Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. Yet she’s also a genuinely lovely person with a heart as big as Australia and her feet firmly on the ground. The combination is irresistible.

“Every day after school in Darwin when I’d come home, the first place I would go would be the bathroom. I’d sit in front of the bathroom door and just sing whatever came out. That was my stage and it had a beautiful reverberating sound,” says Mauboy, who proudly admits she’s essentially a self-taught entertainer.

“The five of us, all of my sisters sing. Even when I was five years old I’d sit in front of the TV singing along with commercials, I grew up singing in church and in the school choir. The principal in primary school asked me to sing the national anthem every Friday in front of the whole school, which was great training.”

It’s difficult to imagine anyone not instantly falling in love with this diminutive diva with a unique heritage — Mauboy’s mother is indigenous Australian and her father has a Timorese Indonesian background.

“We all grew up singing together. Dad would get out the guitar and he’d be in the backyard having a jam singing Indonesian songs, church and country music. My grandmother was a singing teacher and she’d take me to church and encourage me to sing. It was so beautiful growing up with both the Aboriginal and Indonesian cultures. Having both cultures has helped make me a wise and down-to-earth kind of person.”

Since the 16-year-old schoolkid from Darwin with the big voice came a close second to Damien Leith on the 2006 Australian Idol, she’s visited Indonesia as a cultural ambassador with the Australian Government’s In2Oz: Creative Australia program and appeared on Indonesian Idol. Then there was the short spell with fellow Idol contestants in the girl group Young Divas; winning the “Best Aussie” award at the Vodafone MTV Australia Awards 2009; and let’s not forget her platinum-selling album Been Waiting, which she co-wrote.

Her debut album is being released by the Ministry of Sound label in the UK later this year and her first feature film Bran Nue Dae premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in early August, in which Mauboy stars alongside Geoffrey Rush, Ernie Dingo and Missy Higgins. All this and she’s only just turned 20.

“I’m a bit of a mix musically — Americaninfluenced R&B and pop. Mariah Carey and Beyoncé are big influences. So, when Beyoncé’s father — who is also her manager — rang up and said they wanted me on her Australian tour later this year, I was so excited.”

Mauboy says she thought of becoming a vocal coach or a music teacher. However, it was her favourite teacher from primary school who gave her the confidence to pursue her dream. “I was very quiet when I was young.

I had a fairly normal upbringing and whenever stuff got me down, I’d turn to music. I call my choir teacher Mama Judy. She’s still very close to the family. She’d put me out the front to lead the choir and that made me more confident and gave me the support I needed.

“I’d always be getting into trouble during class for humming or singing. I wouldn’t even realise and I’d be sent out of the room! I’ve always had a journal I write everything in. Singing was my freedom. Music is still helping me grow and find where I’m meant to be.”

When asked if she feels like she was put on this planet to sing, Mauboy laughs and nods her head furiously. “Definitely! I haven’t stopped singing since I was three. Mum says I’d run around with kivvies (nappies) singing “Black or White” by Michael Jackson. I didn’t know how it was going to happen, but I knew I was going to be a singer.”

She may be living the transient life of an on-tour diva-in-training, however family and friends are always at the top of her list. She adds thoughtfully, “Mum and dad have always been very supportive and make me feel like I can do anything.

“When I started writing my own stuff, I felt afraid of what other people would think. After being picked up by a record label and having them really believe in me gave me a lot of confidence.”

Whenever she gets the chance, she flies back to Darwin to write songs on the beach and spend time with her boyfriend. “I live in Sydney but Darwin is definitely home. We have the best sunsets. I ride to the beach on a bike and just sit there on the cliffs, sing and work out melodies.” When she was writing her latest single “Been Waiting”, Mauboy had just ended a three-year relationship with her first love.

“I’d broken up with that guy a couple of days before and I was going through that whole ‘I love him but I know it’s not going to work’ thing. I’d never written anything that powerful. To put all these songs together on one CD was to take a whole journey. You can always turn that pain around and create something good.”

Mauboy has since found new love with a local Darwin boy. “I met Themeli on a girls’ night out. He’s Greek and so beautiful and we have been going out for about six months now. He’s so divine and works in a family business. He’s a year older than I am, is a good friend and very supportive.”

As well as finding love, this is Mauboy’s biggest career year thus far. “The Beyoncé tour is the ultimate honour. I’m hoping this will take me to another level. I just want to keep working with more people overseas and keep creating and writing cool music.”

She still can’t quite believe all her dreams are coming true and it all started auditioning for TV show Australian Idol. “I just thought Australian Idol was another competition. But it was life changing for me and my family. Even though I didn’t win, it was a really happy time and it really brought my family together.

“Next, I’m going to be writing in New York. The next album is going to happen straight after the Beyoncé tour. So much has happened in such a short time. I’m living an incredible life — flying to all these amazing places, being on Top Model with designers wanting you wear their clothes. Mum always told me it’s really important to never forget who you are and where you’ve come from. It’s all about looking back on your journey and just going ‘wow’. I wonder what will happen next?”

The new Been Waiting deluxe edition album is in stores now. Bran Nue Dae is set to be released nationally in cinemas 14 January, 2010.

JESSICA MAUBOY’S FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS:

DARWIN
“I’m so comfortable in Darwin. I grew up there and it’ll always be home. The scenery is really beautiful. Some people think it’s just desert, but the weather is amazing and there’s great festivals and food.”

BALI
“I’ve been to Bali many times. I like it as I’ve got family there but the food… oh my god! The spicy dishes with peanut sauce are the best. It’s a great holiday spot.”

GOLD COAST
“I really like the Gold Coast in Queensland because there are so many things to do there. The nightlife is great and it’s also really relaxing.”

SYDNEY
“I love Sydney. I just bought a place in the city. It’s really cool. This is where I mainly am so I need a base. I’m a very independent person so I like discovering new local haunts and venturing out on my own.”