Upside down career

By Tania Martin
SCOTT Newnham has given up his trowel to pursue a singing career.
The 20-year-old Mount Evelyn man captured the hearts of the nation recently as one of the underdogs on the popular talent show, Australian Idol.
Newnham was thrust into the spotlight in August when he made the top 100 of Australian Idol.
The unsuspecting former bricklayer never expected to even make it that far.
He decided to enter after a friend told him he “sounded all right” and that he should enter.
For the past two years Newnham has been planning to enter but never made it to the auditions.
“It was pretty nerve wracking – I didn’t know what to expect,” he said.
Newnham’s family were the most surprised at his success – they didn’t know he could even sing.
“They didn’t have a clue,” Newnham said.
“Mum didn’t believe me until I showed her the piece of paper and was really excited,” he said.
Newnham had never sung in public before which was a real challenge for the budding singer.
“I had only ever sung in the shower and in the car,” he said.
“I enjoyed singing but wasn’t sure if other people thought I could sing.”
The Idol hopeful impressed judges in his first audition with his raw talent but his nerves almost derailed his journey in the top 100 round.
But the judges gave the hills rising star a second chance and put him through to the top 24 finals.
Newnham was shocked to make the top 100.
“It was pretty weird. My head started spinning from then on and it’s been spinning ever since,” he said.
He then went on to receive a standing ovation for his rendition of Chris Brown’s song Run It and scored a spot in the top 12.
Following the top 100 selections, Newnham returned to the hills to practise his singing.
He even took the chance to perform live at his old primary school in Mt Dandenong.
“I needed to get some practice under my belt because, compared to everyone else, I was definitely a rookie,” Newnham said.
“It also was a good chance for me to get used to performing in front of a crowd which was stupid because I didn’t get use to it but it was worth a try.”
In the end it was the Pink theme that tripped the budding star up.
Newnham admits the show has helped him mature a lot.
“It made me realise how hard the industry is to get into and being on Idol is like being on a rollercoaster.
“Now that I’m off it I have to create my own rollercoaster and start making things happen without any help,” he said.
Newnham hopes to break into the R&B dance music scene and start performing locally. “My dream job would be touring overseas and doing their support,” he said.
Newnham knows he has years of hard work ahead of him.
“I have jumped in at the opposite end, usually artists start playing at pubs gigs but I just jumped straight into Idol – I think I missed a vital part of becoming an artist,” he said.
Newnham is now looking gigs in the local area.
Anyone wishing to give this rising star a chance should contact the Mail on 9736 1044.