"Irish Leith enjoying life as Aussie Idol"
Nov 28, 2006 0:48:26 GMT 10
Post by winterlong on Nov 28, 2006 0:48:26 GMT 10
Read the full article here
from the west.com.au
Irish Leith enjoying life as Aussie Idol
27th November 2006, 14:54 WST
Irish musician Damien Leith is planning to take his wife and baby on tour with him following his stunning victory in the Australian Idol competition.
The final attracted a television audience of more than two million.
The 30-year-old County Kildare-born singer, who early in the competition was told he was "too ugly" to be a serious contender, was "over the moon" that he proved them all wrong in Sunday night's finals.
Leith, who has given up his day job as a chemist, says juggling a new life as a travelling musician, father and husband will be a challenge.
But he says it should not be impossible and will take his inspiration from Shannon Noll.
Noll, who was crowned runner-up of the Network Ten reality program in 2003, has managed to balance a hectic touring schedule while raising a young family.
Leith, who now lives in the Sydney suburb of Newtown, intends to include his wife Eileen and 14-month-old son Jarvis in all his travels.
"It's definitely going to be hectic, but we have chatted about it ... we will try and go on tour together, all three of us," he told AAP following his victory over Northern Territory schoolgirl Jessica Mauboy.
"I don't think there is an easy road at all ... the record industry is always hard. I think I have to work hard.
"Shannon Noll is a hard worker and manages family and music ... that's something I would like to do as well."
Leith joins fellow Australian Idol winners Guy Sebastian, Casey Donovan and Kate DeAraugo, scoring a recording contract with Sony BMG.
In a departure from previous years, Leith will have more than two months to record his debut album instead of seven days.
The album will feature his first single, Night Of My Life (in stores November 28) and a song written by Leith called Come To Me.
"I would have hated to have been rushed to do an album I had no influence on," he said.
"I am really over the moon with how they are going to do it. They have already taken one of my own songs, Come To Me, for the B side of the single ... hopefully that's an indication of things to come."
During the competition it wasn't Leith's unique operatic/rock vocal tones that caused concern, it was his looks.
He says he had to develop a thick skin after judge Mark Holden called him "ugly" on national television. He was told he had tic-tac teeth.
"That was hard to take ... they never showed the footage of exactly how I felt after that," he said.
"It really did hurt me ... for a long time actually. It was one of those things I took on the chin and just figured that's the way it was."
Leith, who quit his job at a pharmaceutical company this week, will become an Australian citizen next year.
The crowning of the fourth series winner, held at the Sydney Opera House, attracted a national average audience of 2.2 million viewers.
Comparatively, the 2005 finale between winner DeAraugo and Emily Williams attracted a national audience of 1.9 million viewers, compared to the 3.35 million who watched Donovan claim victory over Anthony Callea in 2004.
The first series finale between Sebastian and Noll attracted 3.32 million viewers.
While Leith's work as a recording artist begins making his first video clip from 4am (AEDT) on Tuesday, Mauboy was hopeful she would secure a recording contract too.
"Denis Handlin (CEO at Sony BMG) ... wants to meet up and talk with both my parents and me ... so hopefully," the 17-year-old said.
The runner-up admitted she was uncertain whether she would return to school to complete year 11.
"I am not sure, because I am in a bit of a head-spin at the moment," she said.
"I have always wanted to finish school, but I will just go with the flow and see what opportunities come up."
AAP
I know its all old news, but this bit:
He says he had to develop a thick skin after judge Mark Holden called him "ugly" on national television. He was told he had tic-tac teeth.
"That was hard to take ... they never showed the footage of exactly how I felt after that," he said.
"It really did hurt me ... for a long time actually. It was one of those things I took on the chin and just figured that's the way it was."
...actually just made me cry!
I know its probably past my bedtime and I'm a little tired and emotional still after last night, but damn. Hes right. They never really showed his reaction to all that...
..and I feel just ill about it!
I really really REALLY hope he knows that thats NOT the way it is...hes never been ugly, or even close to it. I remember very clearly watching that audition, thinking he was completely adorable and rather cute, and being gob-smacked by that comment from Holden...
I really hope he knows how beautiful he is
from the west.com.au
Irish Leith enjoying life as Aussie Idol
27th November 2006, 14:54 WST
Irish musician Damien Leith is planning to take his wife and baby on tour with him following his stunning victory in the Australian Idol competition.
The final attracted a television audience of more than two million.
The 30-year-old County Kildare-born singer, who early in the competition was told he was "too ugly" to be a serious contender, was "over the moon" that he proved them all wrong in Sunday night's finals.
Leith, who has given up his day job as a chemist, says juggling a new life as a travelling musician, father and husband will be a challenge.
But he says it should not be impossible and will take his inspiration from Shannon Noll.
Noll, who was crowned runner-up of the Network Ten reality program in 2003, has managed to balance a hectic touring schedule while raising a young family.
Leith, who now lives in the Sydney suburb of Newtown, intends to include his wife Eileen and 14-month-old son Jarvis in all his travels.
"It's definitely going to be hectic, but we have chatted about it ... we will try and go on tour together, all three of us," he told AAP following his victory over Northern Territory schoolgirl Jessica Mauboy.
"I don't think there is an easy road at all ... the record industry is always hard. I think I have to work hard.
"Shannon Noll is a hard worker and manages family and music ... that's something I would like to do as well."
Leith joins fellow Australian Idol winners Guy Sebastian, Casey Donovan and Kate DeAraugo, scoring a recording contract with Sony BMG.
In a departure from previous years, Leith will have more than two months to record his debut album instead of seven days.
The album will feature his first single, Night Of My Life (in stores November 28) and a song written by Leith called Come To Me.
"I would have hated to have been rushed to do an album I had no influence on," he said.
"I am really over the moon with how they are going to do it. They have already taken one of my own songs, Come To Me, for the B side of the single ... hopefully that's an indication of things to come."
During the competition it wasn't Leith's unique operatic/rock vocal tones that caused concern, it was his looks.
He says he had to develop a thick skin after judge Mark Holden called him "ugly" on national television. He was told he had tic-tac teeth.
"That was hard to take ... they never showed the footage of exactly how I felt after that," he said.
"It really did hurt me ... for a long time actually. It was one of those things I took on the chin and just figured that's the way it was."
Leith, who quit his job at a pharmaceutical company this week, will become an Australian citizen next year.
The crowning of the fourth series winner, held at the Sydney Opera House, attracted a national average audience of 2.2 million viewers.
Comparatively, the 2005 finale between winner DeAraugo and Emily Williams attracted a national audience of 1.9 million viewers, compared to the 3.35 million who watched Donovan claim victory over Anthony Callea in 2004.
The first series finale between Sebastian and Noll attracted 3.32 million viewers.
While Leith's work as a recording artist begins making his first video clip from 4am (AEDT) on Tuesday, Mauboy was hopeful she would secure a recording contract too.
"Denis Handlin (CEO at Sony BMG) ... wants to meet up and talk with both my parents and me ... so hopefully," the 17-year-old said.
The runner-up admitted she was uncertain whether she would return to school to complete year 11.
"I am not sure, because I am in a bit of a head-spin at the moment," she said.
"I have always wanted to finish school, but I will just go with the flow and see what opportunities come up."
AAP
I know its all old news, but this bit:
He says he had to develop a thick skin after judge Mark Holden called him "ugly" on national television. He was told he had tic-tac teeth.
"That was hard to take ... they never showed the footage of exactly how I felt after that," he said.
"It really did hurt me ... for a long time actually. It was one of those things I took on the chin and just figured that's the way it was."
...actually just made me cry!
I know its probably past my bedtime and I'm a little tired and emotional still after last night, but damn. Hes right. They never really showed his reaction to all that...
..and I feel just ill about it!
I really really REALLY hope he knows that thats NOT the way it is...hes never been ugly, or even close to it. I remember very clearly watching that audition, thinking he was completely adorable and rather cute, and being gob-smacked by that comment from Holden...
I really hope he knows how beautiful he is
