Two more songs have been released today for the upcoming national final 'Eurovision - Australia Decides'.
Kate Miller-Heidke has released her quirky at at time operatic song 'Zero Gravity'.
Kate explains the meaning behind the song: “Zero Gravity is an operatic pop song about coming out of depression. It uses the metaphor of a bad relationship to describe what it can feel like to be depressed. The choruses and the outro try to capture the feeling of transcendence. I love the double meaning of the word ‘gravity’ - that the song can also be about leaving seriousness behind.”
Kate classically trained at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, where Dami Im also studied.
Her genre is best described as indie-pop but has worked in diverse industries including Opera and musical theatre, so elements of this song shouldn't be too surprising! She recently co-wrote the music and lyrics for the Muriel’s Wedding musical where she was a Helpmann Award (Australia’s Tony Awards) for best original score.
The other song released today is 'Data Dust' by Ella Hooper (click on the image to play on Spotify).
Ella is the frontwoman of four-time ARIA award winners Killing Heidi, who have had both a number 1 single and album in Australia. Her song tackles the use of the digital world in our everyday life.
The song was written by Alice Chance who submitted the work as part of SBS's call out for songs. She was thrilled with her work being selected,
“It’s a huge privilege for my song to have been fished out of a pool of over 700 to be included in Eurovision – Australia Decides. Data Dust spilled out of my brain one morning while I was going to work. Even though it all happened very quickly, the things I talk about in the song are important to me and I’ve been thinking about them for a while. I’m so chuffed that these ideas also resonated with the judges and I am quietly confident they will resonate with Australia as well. I’ve always dreamed of writing a song for our Australian representative. It’s incredible to think I’m just one more step away from the fulfilment of this dream.”
Creative Director of Eurovision Australia Decides gives his reaction on the two songs chosen.
“These songs are hugely different, yet both so exciting in their own ways. We love the creative excitement and drama both Kate and Ella have brought to our Eurovision - Australia Decides show. Kate’s song is an exquisite fine balance of eurodance and opera, very hard to achieve, but she’s done it. Ella’s is the best Australian rock vocal I’ve heard in ages, probably since Chrissie Amphlett, who is clearly a big influence. Thunder and lightning it's getting exciting!
Australia Decide will take place on February 9 at 8:30pm AEDT.