Kate DeAraugo to hit Cairns stage
With a new album on the way, former Australian Idol star Kate DeAraugo is celebrating a return to form for 2010, kicking off with a visit to Cairns.
Australian Idol Kate DeAraugo’s career has been eventful, to say the least.
Turned down twice after auditions for Australian Idol in the first and second season in 2003-4, the former swimming teacher hit the road from hometown Bendigo to travel to the Gold Coast for singing lessons with the acclaimed Venetta Fields.
The move paid off with a move to Queensland in 2005, when she beat Lee Harding to ensure her place in the grand final. A win over Emily Williams finally earned her the crown as the third Australian Idol with the closest vote in the show’s history.
Her debut album, A Place I’ve Never Been, was recorded in just six days, offering up her single Maybe Tonight which occupied the No.1 slot for two weeks.
Kate remembers the early days fondly: "I feel blessed to have done those things and to have had such a big entrance into music."
Further mainstream success quickly followed in the shape of Young Divas, featuring fellow Australian Idol contestants Emily Williams, Ricki-Lee Coulter and Paulini Curuenavuli. But the line-ups changed rapidly as Jessica Mauboy replaced Ricki-Lee and then both Mauboy and Curuenavuli left the Divas to concentrate on their solo careers.
Kate remembers: "It’s been an interesting four years. The Divas played at The Ashes, AFL finals and had hit singles and albums. Everything went so fast after Idol, it’s been like a machine."
The 25-year-old now hopes her next album will be ready for release by August, 2010.
"I haven’t got a working title for it yet," she says. "Basically, the album will be about what I have been through in the past few years. You know the sort of thing – relationships, the ups and downs of life. Some of it has been very public.
"I needed a year off after the split with my management, to assess where I’ve been and what I am about.
"I’ve put the pieces back together again, and now I feel like a million bucks – 2010 will be a good year."
Kate says she is looking forward to playing on the Esplanade.
"I don’t always perform on Australia Day, but I am glad to be this year. It’s all about being a proud Australian."
Kate DeAraugo will play The Esplanade from 7.15pm-9pm, Australia Day, January 26.
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Idol, but not idle: Kate DeAraugo is fitting in a visit to Cairns in her busy touring schedule.
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