By Mitchell Clarke
Many would be unfamiliar with the fact that singer-song writer and recording artist Vanessa Amorosi is actually a local girl, born and raised in Emerald.
“I grew up in Emerald, I absolutely loved this part of town,” Ms Amorosi told the Gazette.
Completing her studies at Emerald Primary School and Emerald Secondary College, music was always a passion – and Vanessa still refers to herself as “one of the band kids”.
Also one of the band kids, a familiar face, Cardinia Shire Council mayor Jeff Springfield, who Vanessa vividly remembers.
“Of course I remember him,” she laughed.
“I used to be in a band and he used to be in another band and our groups would always hang out together.
“They were such good times.
“We were all in that circle of annoying musicians at school,” she explained.
Once her schooling was complete, Vanessa moved from the leafy suburb to Narre Warren before she moved out to Officer, but her career had already began.
At just 12-years-old, Vanessa began performing in shopping centres and at local council concerts and even had a stint of Young Talent Time until she started working in Carnegie at a Russian club.
It was at this club that she was discovered and signed to a record contract in 1997.
“Growing up, I was never expecting any of this. Absolutely not,” she admitted.
“I was just hoping I could make music my living, I was never expecting success on this level at all.
“But the cool thing about it all, I was already doing so much music so when things started to take off and I became known, so it didn’t really feel that different to me.”
Over her decorated career, the Aussie chart topper has released hits like ‘Absolutely Everybody’, ‘This Is Who I Am’, ‘Perfect’, ‘Shine’ and ‘Mr Mysterious’.
“It’s pretty incredible to look back at where I started to where I am now though,” she added.
Now, the 38-year-old is based in Los Angeles, where she’s lived for the past decade, a stark contrast to her small town beginning in Emerald.
But she’s returned home in light of the release of her fifth studio album: ‘Back to Love’ where she’s enjoying the opportunity to perform in front of Australian audiences.
“I miss Australia all the time so I absolutely love being back at home,” she said.
“Being home also means getting out into the country and performing to rural audiences who’ve supported me for so long.”
And that’s exactly what she did as one of the headline acts at Gumbuya World’s first ever live music event: Sounds of Nature on Saturday 30 November.
“Our band room was at the back of the pools and if I had of known it was going to be like an LA band room, I’d have been there earlier,” she joked.
“It was amazing. As a kid I remember always going there, so to see what they’ve done with the park, it’s amazing.
That’s the same word used by revellers young and old, all captivated by Vanessa’s presence on the night.
Beginning with ‘Absolutely Everybody’, the song which shot her to the top, it didn’t take long for the crowd to walk down memory lane and soak up the anthemic hit.
“I’m constantly switching up my sets,” she said.
“I’ve been doing a few shows and I’m constantly changing our set lists.
“It really just depends on the audience. It’s all about what the audience is getting into and how they’re responding.
“If I feel like people are a little bit nervous to come forward or there’s a bit of disconnect, I’ll jump into the crowd and take the show there.”
So that’s exactly what she did, ditching the stage for the grass and pacing through the mosh pit and up to the nosebleeds to ensure everyone was able to get involved in the action.
“I just feel sometimes at gigs there can often be people sitting back, they’re wanting to get involved in the action but they’re often not sure how to,” she laughed.
“They just sit back, they don’t want to be the first to get up, so I thought I’d take the show to them.”
But up the front remained Vanessa’s biggest fans, including two super fans who had been lining the barrier. Their dedication was soon recognised when Vanessa brought the duo up on stage for a song.
“When I saw them at the corner of the stage, I said to them, c’mon girls get up and show us what you’ve got,” she laughed.
“They knew every lyric so I just brought them up and they were amazing.”
Vanessa will remain in Australia where she’ll perform at a Bush Christmas Appeal for Aussie Farmers before heading up to Sydney for Carols in the Domain.
She’ll spend Christmas in LA and will return in no time, when she contends against Casey Donovan and a list of yet-to-be-announced Australian artists for the shot of representing Australia in Eurovision.
“I was watching Kate Miller-Heidke’s performance at last year’s Eurovision which was incredible and it really got me excited,” she explained.
“It just made me want to get involved.
“I definitely think there’s still very much a need for Australia (to be involved), it’s not just about the song – now it’s about the whole experience – it’s about the meaning behind the song, it’s about the performance, the lighting and the whole visual.”
Eurovision: Australia Decides will be staged at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre of February 7 and 8.
