Sheldon’s a star reborn
GOLD Coast wonder boy Sheldon Riley’s spectacular performances on The Voice haven’t just made his dad proud – they’ve helped show off his artistic talents too.
Win, lose or draw, there’s no doubt Riley, 19, is one of the most original and promising talents The Voice Australia has ever uncovered.
The singer cites his parents and young sister as his greatest supporters and says he draws inspiration from his dad Russell D. Hernandez – “an amazing artist” with “a boring paint job” who helps bring his son’s flamboyant fashion designs to life.
It’s why Riley was thrilled when his dad’s artwork was incorporated into the show’s set for his performance of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way.
Inspired by his son’s rendition of Scars To Your Beautiful, Mr Hernandez depicted Riley as the Ace of Spades in a one of several cards adorning the set.
A King of Diamonds design was based on Riley’s Blind Audition, while other cards depicted Riley as The Joker, in bright red lipstick as the Jack of Spades and as The Queen of Hearts.
“He painted George a pair of overalls,” Riley said.
“I’ll come up with an idea and I’ll go, “Dad, let’s do it.” I make the sketch idea and then dad just puts it into play. He makes it happen.”
Riley was one of this season’s frontrunners from the moment he took the stage in a purple fake fur jacket during the Blind Audition rounds.
The creative all-rounder has cemented his star power – and crystallised his own expectations of what’s possible – with every performance since, matching his fabulous original fashion creations with self-aware, inventive interpretations that give pop hits added depth.
He said his run on the show had already transformed his life.
“I’m not even the same person anymore. I feel like I am finally myself,” he said.
“There have definitely been heaps of different moments but I think the big moment was when I chucked on the purple jumper for my Blind Audition. When people saw me in that outfit my world was changed. Once the genie was out of the bottle there was more than three wishes. I was not stopping anything I was ready to do – roses and glitter and sequins.”
Riley will compete for a place in the show’s live final and a chance to win a recording deal with Universal Music Australia on Sunday. Fans can use the Voice app to cast up to six free votes for Riley.
The Voice Australia screens Sunday at 7pm on Channel 9.
I’M NOT EVEN THE SAME PERSON ANYMORE. FEEL LIKE I AM FINALLY MYSELF SHELDON RILEY