Isaiah Firebrace returns, as first three Australia Decides artists are confirmed

Image: SBS

Australia’s 2017 Eurovision artist Isaiah Firebrace has headlined the first three acts announced to take part in ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’ next year. PAULINI and former Australia Decides artist Jaguar Jonze join Firebrace for the 2022 national selection to be held on the Gold Coast.

Firebrace finished in 9th place at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 with his ballad ‘Don’t Come Easy’, and will be singing a duet with a yet-to-be-named artist at Australia Decides.

“I’m over the moon to be jumping onto the stage for ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022’,” Firebrace said.

“When I first represented Australia at Eurovision in 2017, I was 17, it was my first time in Europe and I feel like everything was a blurry dream that went by so quickly – I’ve grown so much as a singer, a performer and as a person since then and I’ve definitely got unfinished business!” he added.

After building a cult following with her entry ‘Rabbit Hole’ in 2020, Jaguar Jonze is returning to the national final set-up.

She has also recently made a name for herself from her commitment to getting results for survivors in an industry which has ignored reports of harassment and assault.

“The imagination, creativity and talent of the performances is always so inspirational, it’s such a special place to express yourself as a musician and an artist,” Jonze said.

“My song is going to be a moment that celebrates our resilience and the little steps that lead to big change, as well as push my creative boundaries to another level.

“So much has happened since we were all together, and being back with the added strength of my Eurovision family and fanbase will make it a show worth waiting for,” she stated.

PAULINI is an experienced singer who made her name in Australia after making the top four in the inaugural season of Australian Idol in 2003, alongside former Eurovision representative Guy Sebastian.

The Fijian-born vocalist is still 1 of only 10 Australian female solo artists to have a #1 album debut on the Australian ARIA Charts.

She will be making her ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’ debut next year and is excited to deliver a memorable vocal performance.

“It’s been ages since any of us have really been able to perform to anyone other than our families … it’s been a little while since I’ve been able to belt out any of the big notes I’m known for,” PAULINI explained.

“It [Eurovision] brings together so many countries and cultures— and while it’s a competition I see it as uniting much of the world through music,” she said.

The songs submitted to the ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’ song portal during the four-week entry period have been shortlisted, and are in the process of being matched with artists.

Creative Director of ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’, Paul Clarke, has noted the quality and variety of entries.

“This year we received over 700 songs from Australian songwriters, with a handful co-written by American and European songwriters – unexpected co-writers like Boris Milanov,” Clarked said.

“COVID has created some really dramatic song writing themes – one gothic epic, a couple of exciting power ballads but it’s a year of incredibly joyful music,” he elaborated.

‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’ will be presented at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February.