Australian Idol is an Australian singing competition, which began its first season in July 2003 and ended its initial run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller. Australian Idol was televised on Network Ten for its first seven series and was broadcast on the Southern Cross Austereo Radio Network between 2005 and 2007. The series returned in 2023 after Seven Network announced they would be picking up the show.
Pauline Curuenavuli, known professionally as Paulini, is a Fijian-Australian singer and songwriter. Born in Suva, Paulini moved to Sydney with her family at the age of four. She rose to fame in 2003 as a contestant on the first season of Australian Idol and placed fourth in the competition. Paulini subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony BMG Australia and released her debut studio album One Determined Heart (2004), which debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum. The album included the platinum single "Angel Eyes", which spent three consecutive weeks at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart. Paulini received two ARIA No. 1 Chart Awards for both the album and single.
Ricki-Lee Dawn Coulter, also known mononymously as Ricki-Lee, is a New Zealand-born Australian singer, songwriter, television, and radio presenter. She was born in Auckland, New Zealand, grew up on the Gold Coast, Queensland and began performing at the age of 15. Coulter rose to fame in 2004 on the second season of Australian Idol and placed seventh in the competition. She subsequently signed with Australian independent label Shock Records, and released her self-titled debut album Ricki-Lee (2005), which produced the top-ten hits "Hell No!" and "Sunshine". Both singles were certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The following year, Coulter became a member of Australian pop girl group Young Divas, before leaving in early 2007 to resume her solo career.
Audius Tonderai Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean singer-songwriter and record producer, who often works mononymously as Audius. From 1996 to 2012 he lived in Australia. At the APRA Music Awards of 2009 he was co-winner of Urban Work of the Year for writing "Running Back" with its singer, Jessica Mauboy, and with American rapper, Sean Ray Mullins.
Katherine Jenna DeAraugo is an Australian singer-songwriter who in 2005 was the third winner of Australian Idol. After Idol, DeAraugo signed to Sony BMG and released her debut single, "Maybe Tonight", in November 2005. The single debuted at Number 1 on the ARIA Charts and was certified platinum. Her debut album, A Place I've Never Been, was released in December 2005 and was also certified platinum. DeAraugo later became a member of the multi-platinum-selling girl group Young Divas, which disbanded in 2008.
Hayley Michelle Aitken is an Australian pop singer-songwriter and record producer who also performs mononymously as Hayley. She had a top 40 hit on the ARIA Singles Chart with her second single, "Kiss Me Quick". Aitken has worked as a songwriter or producer for other artists, and is a prolific producer for many K-pop artists.
Young Divas was an Australian pop girl group formed in 2006 by Sony BMG Australia, initially for a one-off single and national tour to promote all members as solo artists. The original line-up consisted of former Australian Idol contestants, including season one finalist Paulini, season two finalist Ricki-Lee Coulter, season three winner Kate DeAraugo and season three runner-up Emily Williams. Young Divas released a cover version of Donna Summer's "This Time I Know It's for Real" to attract attention for the tour. The song peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
"Hell No!" is the debut single of Australian singer Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was released on 13 June 2005 as the lead single from her self-titled debut album, Ricki-Lee (2005). "Hell No!" debuted and peaked at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments of 35,000 copies. The music video for the song was directed by Bart Borghesi and filmed at Flinders Street, Melbourne.
"Breathe" is a song by Australian singer Ricki-Lee Coulter from her self-titled debut album, Ricki-Lee (2005). It was released both physically and digitally on 9 January 2006 as the third and final single from the album. "Breathe" peaked at number 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart. The music video was directed by Bart Borghesi and filmed in Port Melbourne, Victoria.
"Sunshine" is a song by Australian singer Ricki-Lee Coulter from her self-titled debut album, Ricki-Lee (2005). It was released both physically and digitally on 26 September 2005, as the second single from the album. "Sunshine" peaked at number eight on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments of 35,000 copies. The music video for the song was directed by Bart Borghesi.
Brand New Day is the second studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was released in Australia on 11 August 2007 and in Japan on 9 January 2008. Brand New Day debuted and peaked at number 37 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The album produced Coulter's most successful single to date, the lead single "Can't Touch It", which peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified platinum. Its subsequent singles "Love Is All Around" and "Can't Sing a Different Song" were also ARIA top-ten hits.
"Can't Touch It" is a song by Australian singer and songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was written by Coulter with Brian Kierulf and Joshua M. Schwartz of KNS Productions, who also produced the song. "Can't Touch It" was released as the lead single from Coulter's second studio album, Brand New Day, on 4 August 2007. Upon its release, "Can't Touch It" peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and number one on the ARIA Dance Singles Chart, where it remained for eight consecutive weeks. It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments of 70,000 copies.
"Wiggle It" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter, Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was co-written and co-produced by Coulter and Israel Cruz. The song features additional rap vocals by Samir. Released both physically and digitally on 13 September 2008 "Wiggle It" serves as the lead single from Coulter's compilation album, Ricki-Lee: The Singles.
Australian singer and songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter has released four studio albums, one compilation album, twenty one singles, and seventeen music videos. Coulter placed seventh in the second season of Australian Idol in 2004, and subsequently signed with independent label Shock Records. Coulter's self-titled debut album Ricki-Lee was released in October 2005, which debuted at number 30 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album produced two top-ten singles, "Hell No!" and "Sunshine", which were both certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Coulter briefly became a member of the Australian pop girl group Young Divas the following year, before resuming her solo career early in 2007.
The discography of Young Divas, an Australian pop girl group, consists of two studio albums, one compilation album, four singles, two album appearances and four music videos. The group was formed in 2006 by Sony BMG Australia which included previous Australian Idol contestants Ricki-Lee Coulter, Paulini, Kate DeAraugo and Emily Williams. Young Divas released their self-titled debut album in November 2006, which debuted at number four on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for shipments of 140,000 copies. A cover of Donna Summer's "This Time I Know It's for Real" was released as the album's lead single and peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart. The song was certified platinum by the ARIA, for shipments of 70,000 copies. The second single was a cover of Lonnie Gordon's "Happenin' All Over Again", which peaked at number nine and was certified gold for shipments of 35,000 copies. A cover of Hazell Dean's "Searchin'" was released as the third and final single from the album, and peaked at number 40.
"Don't Miss You" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter. Co-written by Coulter, Nikki Gregoff and Paul Weinber the song was initially released as the lead single from her unreleased third studio album, Hear No, See No, Speak No. It was released both physically and digitally on 3 August 2009.
"Raining Diamonds" is a song by Australian recording artist Ricki-Lee Coulter. It was written by Coulter, Billy Mann and Boyblue, who also produced the song. "Raining Diamonds" was released digitally on 18 October 2011 as the lead single from Coulter's third studio album Fear & Freedom (2012). The song serves as Coulter's debut release with EMI, after parting ways with her former record label Shock Records in May 2011. Lyrically, Coulter stated that the song is "all about knowing your value and not settling for less than what you believe you are worth."
"Do It Like That" is a song by Australian recording artist Ricki-Lee Coulter. She wrote the song with Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz of KNS Productions, who previously worked on her 2007 single "Can't Touch It". It was produced by KNS Productions, Scott Horscroft and Eric J Dubowsky. "Do It Like that" was released for digital download on 23 March 2012, as the second single from Coulter's third studio album Fear & Freedom (2012). She stated that the song is about "having fun and it's about dancing". "Do It Like That" earned Coulter her first ARIA Music Award nomination for Song of the Year.
Fear & Freedom is the third studio album by Australian recording artist Ricki-Lee Coulter, released through EMI Music Australia on 17 August 2012. The album is Coulter's first release since parting ways with her former record label Shock Records. Coulter had been working on her third album since 2009, under the title Hear No, See No, Speak No, and was originally due for release in November 2009. However, Coulter cancelled the album's release due to unsuccessful singles. After taking a break from her music career in 2010, Coulter began working on new material for the album in 2011. Unlike her previous albums, Fear & Freedom incorporates up-tempo pop genres, ranging from dance-pop, electropop, drum and bass and trance. Love and self-empowerment are its main themes.
Cosima De Vito, also known as Cosima, is an Australian pop and R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, she is best known for her cover of the classic Australian hit "When the War Is Over" (2004) which reached No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Her passion and love for the music industry stemmed from her influential grandfather, who was a gifted Italian tenor. From a young age, Cosima has performed, winning her first talent quest at the young age of 9. In 2003 Cosima appeared on the first season of Australian Idol. After reaching the semi-finals, Cosima had to withdraw from the series due to throat nodules.
