Ever since her first appearance on Australian Idol back in 2006, Jessica Mauboy, 35, has been a crowd – and a WHO – favourite.
She lights up a room as easily as she does a stage. As she drops her Yours Forever Tour Live EP, capturing soaring performances from her tour of the same name, the performer talks to WHO about her new music, her life with husband Themeli Magripilis – who she’s reportedly expecting her first child with – and why she describes her life as “wild and chaotic”.
You’ve been having a big year. Your John Farnham tribute at the Logies was epic!
Thank you! I didn’t want it to end, to be honest. I remember when I got the call – the invitation from John Farnham to perform – I was in shock. Even during the performance, I thought, “I’m actually doing this.” It was really surreal. ‘You’re the Voice’ is not just his song, but it’s everyone’s song, you know? That’s got to go to the top – one of my greatest moments
And congratulations on your new live EP. You know you’re an amazing singer when you can release a record of yourself singing live.
I had to think on that. I have worked really hard to get to where my vocal is now and worked hard to be present, because not all of us can be in the moment. The nerves or the fears can take over.
You don’t sound nervous or fearful in your performances.
It was a little scary. But it was almost the first time I’ve ever let my hair down, particularly for a tour. It was probably my hardest and most easiest in a way. Each song runs into itself and I have a sound bite on each song about what it means to me.
That’s a very Stevie Nicks move.
Yes! (laughs) I love Stevie! And that’s what I wanted. I wanted it to be raw and for the fans to relive the moments.
Do you have a method or ritual when it comes to writing your music?
I tend to lock myself away. It takes me quite a while to get to a place of realness and to get to the meaning of things. If I want to write a song, it has to transcend. This album was all about embracing and respecting how far I’ve come. I grew up in a very unsafe space a lot of the time, being so young coming into the music industry.
Would you encourage your future children or a young family member to join the industry?
For any young person who wants to be in this industry, I would recommend talking about it, really thinking and writing things down about how you want to be treated and how you want to treat others – because it goes both ways. If those values cross, and that is always measured, I think they’d be OK. And remember it’s hard work! You’ve got 4am starts and you might be recording for 12 hours – that can be a lot on the emotions. Then being in front of the cameras all the time. Trial it out, do the pub gigs and be ready for the judgement. Also, your heart is always going to tell you what’s right and what’s wrong.
Do you ever take a break?
I’ve always thought about it, but then something that sounds good to me comes up and I think I should give it a go. (laughs) Music is always in my soul and my body. And I’ll never stop writing. One thing I want to really get back into is acting. Windcatcher came out in March and that gave me a real buzz again.
If you were to take a break, what would that look like?
I’d probably be on a Greek island with a margarita in hand.
Your husband is of Greek heritage, right? Tell us about your life together.
Yes! My life feels like one of those that is yet to be planned. There’s something wild and beautiful and chaotic about it. It does keep me on my toes. I live an unplanned life. And both Them and I, I love him so much. I’m so lucky to have someone who’s so happy to see and hear what I do. And vice versa. He inspired me to want to create art. He’s so good for me because he also gets me out of the zone with all my music stuff.
