AMY-ING TO NAIL MOMENT IN SPOTLIGHT

SHE has two ARIAS and an APRA award, has featured on two major US talk shows and is about to release her debut album. But for Amy Shark’s parents, her solo turn at Suncorp Stadium for the State of Origin tonight looms as their biggest thrill. “Being a Queenslander State of Origin has been a big deal in my family since I can remember. I’m pretty sure my parents are more excited for this than they are for any American late night show I’m on,” Shark said.

Shark confessed that after her phenomenal year – she has also become the first Australian Apple Music “Up Next artist’’ – she had given herself a small reward after her phenomenal year of success.

“I did buy a Christian Dior bag. It’s my big spend so far. We were on Rodeo Drive (in Los Angeles) and I had this old backpack I’d been travelling with for ages and I thought ‘no, I’m going to buy a nice one’,” she said.

While she said she was constantly prompted by music executives to move to the US, Shark said it was Queensland fans who kept her based in Australia.

Ahead of the release of her album Love Monster this Friday, Shark is performing during a special pre-match tribute ahead of the Origin clash.

“Every now and then there will be someone who comes up to me and says ‘oh we love your music’ and ‘we are so proud of you’ and it’s such a warm feeling, honestly, and I think that’s why I’ll probably stay on the Gold Coast,” she said.

Shark will perform at two in-store appearances next week, Queen St Mall in Brisbane on Tuesday and Robina Town Centre on Thursday.