Mauboy back to the start
New single’s link to Idol
themercury.com.au
WHEN Jessica Mauboy wrote her latest single Butterfly, she had completely forgotten a famous song of the same name helped launch her to stardom.
It was 14 years ago when the 17-year-old Mauboy performed a confident rendition of the Mariah Carey R&B ballad Butterfly to land in the top three of Australian Idol, eventually finishing the series as runner-up to Damien Leith.
“Wow … holey moley, hang on, I need to look that up! I totally forgot I sang that song,” Mauboy exclaimed as she started singing along to the
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YouTube video performance.
“That show opened my eyes about how to bring a performance together, it made me want to be in that world; it really launched me on the path to continue to do it, to where I am today.”
As she contemplated what to do next in the pandemic shutdown, Mauboy decided to release her Butterfly to close the chapter on last year’s No.1 album Hilda.
The deeply personal song was inspired by the struggles, resilience and “imperfect love” of her parents’ relationship.
But she felt the soaring balof her 2006 lad had resonance for those seeking to redefine their lives in the wake of COVID-19.
“So this song is about watching the struggles of my parents. They showed me that things aren’t perfect … but they also showed me the way to love even harder,” she said.
Mauboy admits she has struggled with the lack of physical connection with fans because of the pandemic-induced isolation, so she has thrown herself into learning how to be the “queen of digital”.
Her music director Darryl Beaton and friends are helping build a small studio in her Sydney home so she can get cracking on the next album.
Part of her new set-up is last week’s surprise birthday gift from her partner Themeli Magripilis, who proposed to Mauboy last October while they were on holiday in Greece.
His present reveals a musical secret Mauboy has kept for years.
“Them bought me a piano! I’m still in shock. He sneaked it into the house last week when I was out at work,” she said.
“I co-wrote Butterfly and Fallin’ on the piano – it’s been a bit of a hidden talent.”
Mauboy recorded a special performance of Butterfly to air on new music show, The Sound, this weekend.
STAGE one of the Richmond Maze redevelopment is nearing completion after initial delays.
The Mercury reported on Friday that the $6m project had been abandoned.
Work on the roof of the cafe and visitor centre has begun and the first stage is expected to be completed by next week.
The article also referred to SolutionsWon as the proponent for VSC Distillery, but the company is projecting managing the development.