Matt Corby
- Favourite Season: 2006
- Favourite TV Show: Heroes, Seinfeld, Friends
- Favourite Food: Beef Macaroni
- Favourite Colour: Blue
- Favourite Sport: Surfing/Skating
- Favourite Album: Beneath the Medicine Tree
- Favourite Song: "California" - Copeland
- First Job: South Beach Seafood
About Matt Corby
As the very first contestant to make it through to the Australian Idol Final 12, it's fair to say that Matt Corby started out in the competition as favourite.
Aged just 16 (he celebrated his 17th birthday just last week) the keen surfer and skater from Cronulla in Sydney's south impressed judges and audience members alike with his amazing voice, instrumentation, effortless stage presence and sheer breath of musical knowledge.
Scoring the season's first Touchdown with a rendition of Earth, Wind & Fire's cover of The Beatles' "Got To Get You Into My Life", Matt's string of fearless song choices seemed to know no bounds, covering everything from Coldplay's "The Scientist" to the controversial "Music Of The Night" from The Phantom Of The Opera.
"There are some moments in the show where I did exactly what I wanted to do, which is cool," Matt says. "I forgot about playing the game and just did it. [Led Zeppelin's] ‘Immigrant Song' and [Death Cab For Cutie's] ‘Transatlantacism', they were just highlights for me; I just really enjoyed doing them."
That's not to say there haven't been hard weeks. Harsh judge's comments, hounding paparazzi and a hectic schedule have at times been tough on young Matt, but he's ploughed through and acknowledges it has all made him a stronger person – and artist.
"I think Idol has helped me realise exactly where I want to go," he says. "There's a lot of stuff [comments from judges] on this show that I've strongly disagreed with, but I think it really did help me. Now I'm firmer in what I want to do. I'm really glad that I've done this. It was really awesome fun and a really good learning curve for a 17 year old."
Matt's pin-up good looks haven't gone unnoticed, either. His rendition of Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter" resulted in judge Kyle Sandilands announcing to the stunned performer: "That was so beautiful I would like you and I to be gay lovers."
And Kyle wasn't the only fan. The judge and breakfast radio host recently revealed that Keith Urban has been racing home on Sunday night's especially to see Matt Corby perform.
"That sent me bonkers for like two nights," Matt says of hearing Keith was a fan. "I love Keith Urban, I reckon he's an incredible guitarist, he's a great song writer, an awesome singer. Just to hear that is sort of a pat on the back. It really lifted me a lot. It said, ‘Keep going, do what you're doing'."
His time on Australian Idol has also given the budding musician a chance to see the local music industry from the inside, something he's found invaluable.
"It's a lot smaller than I thought it was," he admits. "Heaps smaller than I thought it was. And then the immensity of America is mind-blowing.
"Also, just meeting some awesome musos had been so cool. Not just these guys in the Final 12, but when we did the benefit show; meeting Katie Noonan and Darren Hayes and Vanessa Amorosi and people like Delta Goodrem who come on the show. It's really amazing how nice they are and how supportive they are of us."
So, with his version of the winner's song in the bag ("I'm pretty happy with it," he says. "It's quite a melodic song, the chorus is very poppy") it's time for the newly worldly Matt Corby to take what he's learnt to the people – and the Sydney Opera House.
Not that he'll be dwelling on it too much.
"If I think about it, it scares me," he says. "So I don't!"
Q&A with Matt
Q:I first realised I wanted to become a professional singer when…A: I got pushed up on stage in Year 2 to sing a 'Sister Act' song.
Q: What is your favourite genre of music? Why do you love that particular style?
A: Acoustic Melodic - just because it's simple and beautiful.
Q: Which previous finalist do you find most inspiring and why?
A: Bobby Flynn- because I believe he completely changed Aussie Idol.
Q: Have you auditioned for a previous series of Australian Idol? If so, how far did you progress? What motivated you to audition this year?
A: No - my main motivator was my friends.
Q: Describe your feeling at your first audition?
A: Excited and anxious.
Q: Obviously, it's important to have a strong voice, but what other aspects give a performer star quality'?
A: Personality - so the public can relate.
Q: Idol shows often follow a special theme like Disco, Rock or Big Band. What would your 'dream theme' be and why?
A: I would love to sing Big Band because its flippin' awesome singing with an entire ensemble.
Q: What would you call your debut album?
A: I don't know, it'd be work in progress.
Q: Why do you think Australian Idol is an important part of our local music industry?
A: Because it unearths all kinds of brilliant musicians.
Q: Which artist (dead or alive) would you most like to perform a duet with and why?
A: Elvis because he is God.
Q: What's the best thing about being on Australian Idol?
A: Being seen and sharing with Australia what I've got
Q: Who is your favourite judge and why?
A: I love them all.
Q: How do you prepare yourself before a performance?
A: I tend to go to the toilet.
Q: What's the best bit of advice someone has given to you?
A: Open your eyes.
Q: If you win, who would you thank first?
A: My family and church.
