Final 5 Week

It is getting harder to say goodbye to people. Basically, everyone gets along…

This has been an intense journey and it has gone so fast, but at the same time it’s been a fun experience and I’ve learnt a lot.

I am thinking of this journey as an experience, although it is a competition too. I still feel that I have to produce the best.

I will feel so relieved if I get to perform as the winner at the Opera House, because during this whole journey I have experienced good things - and the bad things that I’ve gone through, including some horrible comments that are lies I have heard. I think it would be a massive relief because although I’ve had a good experience there are times that I suffered as well.

Being the Final 5 in this competition is one of the greatest things in the world. I really thank all my fans for voting for me and supporting me. You standing with me during this journey actually makes me feel special and loved.

-Tarisai

Final 6 Week

I think the judges have their favourites in this competition, but in the end it is just all about the contestant giving their all to the judges and their audience - as well as their fans.

I think I am going great so far. I still have room to show my wild side, which most people want to see… and it is coming soon!

I value all the judges’ comments. They are all valuable because they have different perspectives - which are all different but very essential.

I do not want to disappoint my fans and everyone who supports me  -although no one is perfect and sometimes I do make mistakes just like every individual in this whole world. They do expect the best from me and want me to perform my best, which I understand and totally agree with them.

How do I feel when I listen to music? Ummm, it depends on the type of music as well as the lyrics. With some songs I feel good and some I can feel bad. It just depends with the song and how it relates to me as an individual. Personally, music makes me feel good because it enables me to understand my feelings in a better way.

- Tarisai
 

Final 7 Week

If I could sing any song for the viewers of Idol, I would sing "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. Frankly, I love that song. I love that song! It's my favourite song, it's an all-time classic. If I could do a duet with anyone it would be Whitney Houston - she is an awesome singer and she is one of my favourite artists of all time.

The most dangerous thing about fame is when a lot of lies are created about you and people believe them and take them too far… I just try and keep believing in myself and keep it real!

Writing your own song is really easy but rearranging is easier – you already have ideas in your head. But singing another person's song is hard, because their emotions may be different to yours. Bottom line, being able to call something ORIGINAL makes it special, because original songs come from the heart.

I would like to be remembered as Tarisai - the nutty person, who can be crazy and has a bit of a booty! 

I just want to thank all my fans for voting for me – THANK YOU!

-Tarisai

Final 8 Week

I choose songs based on my life experiences. I listen to them on my iPod and usually I have already sung the songs I select. I also choose songs based on how I feel at the time.
 
It is important to stay myself in this competition and it's important for everyone else too. For me, I feel that I want to pursue a lot in my music career and I also want to share my energy, which is positive, with Australia. I want to share my musical ability with Australia and be a big part of the entertainment industry.
 
I am really confident about myself and I think the comp has added more confidence to that. It's getting deeper every day.
 
A great moment came when I went to the Ronald McDonald House and fed a baby. I know I talked about it last week too, but that was the best moment so far.
 
The toughest part has been just working hard on my songs. I am putting in double the time because I am writing songs while I am in the house too.
 
I don't think my life will ever be the same again after this competition. I have improved in a lot of ways due to Idol, which has definitely changed me. Personally and professionally – things have changed in me that will never go back to how they were originally.
 
I just want to thank all my fans, my friends and my family for voting.

-Tarisai

Final 9 Week

The coolest thing to happen this week was when I got to visit the hospital and Ronald McDonald House. I got to give a baby his bottle and it was really great to see all the kids!
 
The best advice I have been given so far has been to enjoy the song I am performing and really mean the lyrics when I sing them. I think I am getting better at doing that.
 
I haven't had any bad advice really everyone has their own opinions and I don't look at them as bad or negative.
 
Before I go on stage, I pray sometimes and I warm up my voice doing vocal exercises. Occasionally, I will watch the show before I go out and perform too.
 
I've taken a few things from home to Idol HQ - I like reading books so I've taken some of them with me and I carry my iPod and my book to write songs in. I've written a lot of songs since I've been at Idol HQ.
 
Being in the competition hasn't changed my personality ­ I'm always the same girl, no matter what. But it has taught me a lot of things and helped me improve. Professionally, I've grown a lot and I've learned to take life easy, but work really hard at the same time. I'm learning to calm down and concentrate on what's important in life.
 
I am looking forward to Acoustic night, because it's so different to other genres. It's really soothing. I am looking forward to seeing the other Idols perform too.
 
I am missing Lana so much! Watching her leave for the last time was weird! But I'm getting there I will get to see her at the Grand Finale, which is good!
 
I just want to thank all my fans for voting for me and supporting me. I love you all!

-Tarisai

Final 10 Week

I have not been out of my comfort zone too much… just a bit when I had to sing ‘Hard to Handle' on Rock night. I think I did the best I could do and I was happy with my performance!
 
I've had some sleepless nights, rehearsing some of my songs and writing originals in the house as well… but I make sure that I regain my sleep in order to feel fresh again.
 
The biggest learning curve I've had here is to listen to the judges' comments all the time. If they are grilling comments, I turn them into positive comments to help myself achieve better results. I really rely on my father for support – he gives me advice all the times that I need him.
 
The best fan moment I've had was on Wednesday. I was walking down a street and a fan stopped me to warn me that a paparazzi photograher was running after me, taking photos of me while I was shopping. I really loved the way she took her time to warn me and I really appreciated what she did for me. I ran into a shop and hid in there for about 45 minutes, waiting for the paparazzi guy to leave… but he wouldn't leave until I got out!

-Tarisai

Final 11 Week

I have been working on my song this week. I had a style shoot with Sheridan the stylist too, which was fantastic. I got to wear different outfits - one of them was a striped jacket which looked really good on camera. I hardly ever wear striped stuff but I really liked the jacket!

Hanging out with the other contestants has been great. I've enjoyed going for a swim and the spa – and sharing our talents. For example, singing together. We're a big family full of joy!

It has been important for me to have time to myself because I need to think about my performances and how I am going to deliver them to the audience. I felt nervous when we had the Monday night verdict. It was scary! Holly leaving and all the talk about song choice has taught me a lesson to choose songs that people know and that they can relate to. That's when they will enjoy them.

When it comes to staying true to myself, it is not hard for me to be Tarisai. In fact, it makes my work a whole lot easier because I'm not
trying to be a tryhard. That just destroys personalities. I love being myself!

Erana the vocal coach is great. She is professional and she has heart in everything that she teaches. I love Erana because she is very honest. The best way to achieve my goals is to have an ear to people when they give me advice.

When it comes to media attention, it can be weird. As long as the truth about me is covered, then that will not bother me. Basically, I concentrate on my work and performing the best to the audience. I'm trying to keep it out of the way, really.

In this whole process, I just want to have a good music career. I want to entertain Australia with my original music and I want to be a contribution in the music industry as well.

-Tarisai

First week in the Final 12

The best moment this week has been moving into Idol HQ. It's so big and massive and clean. It's old looking, but really lavish and beautiful. Lana and I are sharing a room. What's happening in Idol HQ is that we're all getting to know each other more and we're all getting on well.

We don't have any house rules so far – we just go with the ones Sam the house manager has set. One of them is just to be clean and tidy and we're all trying to respect that.

I think I have two sides to my personality. I think that can really work for me because every song has a different meaning. I have had a lot of experiences in my life – I've gone through a lot of good and bad times. The bad times have allowed me to turn into a tiger and that helps me to get through them. The good times make me turn into a kitten.

I've had good and bad experiences when it comes to love and they have made me grow into a really strong girl. I am also a really honest person – if I don't like something about you, I will tell it to your face and not talk behind your back. I'm a really nice girl but I have a cheeky side too.

I do need my own time and space sometimes - I'm a really sensitive person. I can't spend a minute being angry at someone – I just want to sort it out and I get hurt easily, even though I'm strong.

It's very important – especially at Idol – to have time and space alone. I am always so hyper on camera but when I am alone in my room, I am very serious as well. Especially when I am thinking about my song choices. When it's time to work, I work and when it's time to have fun, I have fun. I know when to be serious and when not to. I am here to give quality and achieve my goals. You have to stay focussed and do that or else you drop down – and I don't want that to happen to me!

Throughout the competition so far, I've learnt to be patient when I do stuff. I'm a very orderly person and I've learnt to try and equalise my time up fairly between voice training, movement and everything else – so that people will never fall behind their schedule because of me.

I love all my fans – my fans are like my friends. This week, I went to the Hairspray premiere and I was signing autographs and getting photos taken… it was amazing! I feel like I have made so many new friends and I feel so good about that. I accept everyone for who they are.

-Tarisai

How does it feel to be in the Final 12?

I was really happy and surprised to learn I had made the Top 12. It was seriously like a dream come true.

Everything is fun – the only surprises so far have been positive ones. I've been talking to a lot of people and meeting a whole lot of people.

Lana is my best friend on the show so far, but I am very much looking forward to living in the house with everyone.

The best thing so far has been getting to know everyone – especially the judges. I used to see the judges on TV and wonder what their personalities were really like. It's been cool getting to know them. They have given us all constructive comments, so I don't take it personally - they're just doing their job.

I'm looking forward to trying to pursue my career and making it big and providing entertainment to the music industry in Australia.

I am nervous about the stuff coming up. I know I talk a lot, but there are times I do get nervous and just have some time to myself…

-Tarisai