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Platinum Princess
Sunday, 24 May, 2009
Platinum Princess (Living Black SBS)
Teen singer Jessica Mauboy has had an exceptional few years.
Her album has gone platinum, she has a feature film about to hit the cinemas, an MTV and ARIA award under her belt, and even a nail polish dedicated to her.
Watch online: Platinum Princess
Not bad for a teenager propelled from obscurity onto reality TV's Australian Idol program just three years ago.
"No matter where you come, from no matter what culture you are, no matter where you live, you can make it", Jessica told Living Black.
Living Black's Allan Clarke caught up with Jessica in Sydney and heard the platinum princess' advice for other Aboriginal girls dreaming of singing their way to stardom.
TRANSCRIPT
Jessica Mauboy shot to fame in 2006 as the runner-up in 'Australian Idol'. Three years on, she's hit the top of the charts, acted opposite an Oscar winner and as Allan Clarke found out, she's about to make a splash overseas.
VOICEOVER: It's a wintry afternoon in Sydney and Jessica Mauboy is exhausted after a day full of publicity interviews, but she's still feeling on top of the world.
JESSICA MAUBOY: You know, radio in the morning, doing a bit of rehearsing, I'm doing a couple of gigs - it can get pretty hectic sometimes.
Jessica is currently dominating the Australian music charts, has a feature film about to hit the cinemas, an MTV and ARIA award under her belt, and even has a nail polish dedicated to her. Just three years ago, at 16, the Darwin girl was plucked from obscurity and thrust into the limelight as one of the 'Australian Idol' contestants. After a series of musical projects, last October Jess released the album 'Been Waiting'. More than 70,000 copies have been sold so far, propelling it to platinum status.
JESSICA MAUBOY: I'm still young, like I'm only 19, and I'm already living my dream and getting to do all the things that I've always dreamed of, and to be able to be recognised as a real artist now is just like, "Whoa!"
VOICEOVER: Not bad for a teenager who used to sing Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton in the backyard. Born and bred in the Northern Territory, Jessica's unique Aboriginal and Indonesian heritage is a constant source of pride and inspiration.
JESSICA MAUBOY: I have the Australian culture, the Aboriginal culture and the Indonesian culture - so all that bunched together. I've had the experience to see into those cultures and, yeah, be really proud of it. I do feel really proud of all the cultures that I am, and you know, it makes me me.
VOICEOVER: Industry experts believe Jessica has what it takes to be a global superstar.
JAY DEE SPRINGBETT, SONY MUSIC: When you start off with a great voice, such as she's got, the ability to write songs, the ability to connect with a whole vast array of people - I believe she met the Prime Minister this year, and then seeing her just talking to her average fan on the street - she's got just a grace and style that not many people can encapsulate, you know?
JESSICA MAUBOY: My biggest dream is to have the whole world grooving to my music, singing the songs.
VOICEOVER: Away from the microphone, Jessica's unique looks are creating a buzz. She recently graced the cover of 'WHO' weekly's 'Most Beautiful' edition.
JESSICA MAUBOY: It's been amazing just to see the reaction of the whole country, the whole of Australia, and knowing that your people are backing you up and they wanna be supportive and they really believe in your music.
VOICEOVER: You'd be hard-pressed to find paparazzi pictures of Jessica stumbling out of clubs like many of her contemporaries. Instead, she's relishing the chance to be a role model.
JESSICA MAUBOY: It's really, really exciting to be up there and being a role model for your own people, and you know, for anybody really - and I guess just showing them that no matter where you come from, no matter what culture you are, no matter where you live, you can make it.
VOICEOVER: Not content with topping the charts, Jessica's been flexing her acting chops. She's set to hit the big screen later this year in 'Bran Nue Dae', opposite Oscar award-winner Geoffrey Rush.
JESSICA MAUBOY: I've never acted in my whole entire life, so this was pretty random - this was just out-of-the box kind of thing. I read the script and really connected with the character.
VOICEOVER: Jessica's cultural pride and growing popularity could also help Indigenous performers crack the mainstream music scene.
JAY DEE SPRINGBETT: I think people always want diversity in their artists. I think the fact this is Indigenous has just been great for Australia and for the Indigenous community of Australia to see one of their own make it through.
VOICEOVER: And for all the young Aboriginal girls who want to pursue a career in music, Jessica has these words of wisdom.
JESSICA MAUBOY: Don't be shame! 'Cause I know all you girls can get shame. I guess that's the one thing - you gotta stand up, and really tell it how it is and be in control.
VOICEOVER: With Jessica's album scheduled for release in the UK later this year and plans to crack the US market, it might not be very long before her dreams of becoming an international superstar come to life.
(SINGS) # Crazy in love with you, yeah! #
Source: Living Black SBS
Her album has gone platinum, she has a feature film about to hit the cinemas, an MTV and ARIA award under her belt, and even a nail polish dedicated to her.
Watch online: Platinum Princess
Not bad for a teenager propelled from obscurity onto reality TV's Australian Idol program just three years ago.
"No matter where you come, from no matter what culture you are, no matter where you live, you can make it", Jessica told Living Black.
Living Black's Allan Clarke caught up with Jessica in Sydney and heard the platinum princess' advice for other Aboriginal girls dreaming of singing their way to stardom.
TRANSCRIPT
Jessica Mauboy shot to fame in 2006 as the runner-up in 'Australian Idol'. Three years on, she's hit the top of the charts, acted opposite an Oscar winner and as Allan Clarke found out, she's about to make a splash overseas.
VOICEOVER: It's a wintry afternoon in Sydney and Jessica Mauboy is exhausted after a day full of publicity interviews, but she's still feeling on top of the world.
JESSICA MAUBOY: You know, radio in the morning, doing a bit of rehearsing, I'm doing a couple of gigs - it can get pretty hectic sometimes.
Jessica is currently dominating the Australian music charts, has a feature film about to hit the cinemas, an MTV and ARIA award under her belt, and even has a nail polish dedicated to her. Just three years ago, at 16, the Darwin girl was plucked from obscurity and thrust into the limelight as one of the 'Australian Idol' contestants. After a series of musical projects, last October Jess released the album 'Been Waiting'. More than 70,000 copies have been sold so far, propelling it to platinum status.
JESSICA MAUBOY: I'm still young, like I'm only 19, and I'm already living my dream and getting to do all the things that I've always dreamed of, and to be able to be recognised as a real artist now is just like, "Whoa!"
VOICEOVER: Not bad for a teenager who used to sing Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton in the backyard. Born and bred in the Northern Territory, Jessica's unique Aboriginal and Indonesian heritage is a constant source of pride and inspiration.
JESSICA MAUBOY: I have the Australian culture, the Aboriginal culture and the Indonesian culture - so all that bunched together. I've had the experience to see into those cultures and, yeah, be really proud of it. I do feel really proud of all the cultures that I am, and you know, it makes me me.
VOICEOVER: Industry experts believe Jessica has what it takes to be a global superstar.
JAY DEE SPRINGBETT, SONY MUSIC: When you start off with a great voice, such as she's got, the ability to write songs, the ability to connect with a whole vast array of people - I believe she met the Prime Minister this year, and then seeing her just talking to her average fan on the street - she's got just a grace and style that not many people can encapsulate, you know?
JESSICA MAUBOY: My biggest dream is to have the whole world grooving to my music, singing the songs.
VOICEOVER: Away from the microphone, Jessica's unique looks are creating a buzz. She recently graced the cover of 'WHO' weekly's 'Most Beautiful' edition.
JESSICA MAUBOY: It's been amazing just to see the reaction of the whole country, the whole of Australia, and knowing that your people are backing you up and they wanna be supportive and they really believe in your music.
VOICEOVER: You'd be hard-pressed to find paparazzi pictures of Jessica stumbling out of clubs like many of her contemporaries. Instead, she's relishing the chance to be a role model.
JESSICA MAUBOY: It's really, really exciting to be up there and being a role model for your own people, and you know, for anybody really - and I guess just showing them that no matter where you come from, no matter what culture you are, no matter where you live, you can make it.
VOICEOVER: Not content with topping the charts, Jessica's been flexing her acting chops. She's set to hit the big screen later this year in 'Bran Nue Dae', opposite Oscar award-winner Geoffrey Rush.
JESSICA MAUBOY: I've never acted in my whole entire life, so this was pretty random - this was just out-of-the box kind of thing. I read the script and really connected with the character.
VOICEOVER: Jessica's cultural pride and growing popularity could also help Indigenous performers crack the mainstream music scene.
JAY DEE SPRINGBETT: I think people always want diversity in their artists. I think the fact this is Indigenous has just been great for Australia and for the Indigenous community of Australia to see one of their own make it through.
VOICEOVER: And for all the young Aboriginal girls who want to pursue a career in music, Jessica has these words of wisdom.
JESSICA MAUBOY: Don't be shame! 'Cause I know all you girls can get shame. I guess that's the one thing - you gotta stand up, and really tell it how it is and be in control.
VOICEOVER: With Jessica's album scheduled for release in the UK later this year and plans to crack the US market, it might not be very long before her dreams of becoming an international superstar come to life.
(SINGS) # Crazy in love with you, yeah! #
Source: Living Black SBS
