Royston Sagigi-Baira | |
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Born | Australia | December 25, 1998
Origin | Mapoon, Queensland, Australia |
Occupation | Singer |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2018–present |
Labels | Sony Music Australia (2023–present) |
Royston Sagigi-Baira, also known as Royston Noell, [1] is an Australian singer best known for winning the eighth season of Australian Idol in 2023. He officially won the title in March 2023, $100,000 prize money and a recording contract with Sony Music Australia. [2]
Royston Sagigi-Baira is a Thanakwith (Aboriginal) and Wagadagam (Torres Strait Islander) man from Mapoon, Queensland. [3]
Sagigi-Baira reflected saying "Most kids wanted to play rugby or go fishing, but I just wanted to sing It's all I ever wanted to do.". [4] In year 2, his teacher gave him High School Musical DVD as a prize, saying "I took it home and watched it over and over again and completely fell in love with music, especially singing." [4]
Sagigi-Baira sang in church and in school. Sagigi-Baira attended the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) in Brisbane and as of 2023, is in his second year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) degree at the Queensland University of Technology. [4]
In 2018, Sagigi-Baira competed on the Australian version of All Together Now , becoming the first contestant to snag a perfect score of 100 performiong Sam Smith's "Lay Me Down" [5] eventually been the last contestant eliminated behind Lai Utovou and Tarryn Stokes. [6]
During NAIDOC Week in July 2022, Aboriginal Christian leader, poet and writer Brooke Prentis spoke with Sagigi-Baira on national radio about the theme "Get Up! Stand up! Show up!" [7]
In November 2022, Sagigi-Baira released his debut single "When I Fall Apart" under the name Royston Noell. [8] [9]
In 2023, Sagigi-Baira audition for the Seven Network reboot of Australian Idol with the song "I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith, receiving a golden ticket to the top 50. [10] [11] He went on to advance through from the top 50 to the top 24, and then made it to the top 12 live shows. [12] [13]
Sagigi-Baira advanced through to the top ten, then top eight and then top 6 before finding himself in the grand finale, and final three. [14] [15]
Upon being announced as a grand finalist Noell said "I can't believe this. This is crazy. This is a testament [to the fact] that no matter where you come from, as long as you work hard, you can follow your dreams, and they can come true." [16]
Australian Idol performances and results (2023) | |||
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Episode | Song | Original Artist | Result |
Auditions | "I'm Not the Only One" | Sam Smith | Through to Top 50 |
Top 50 Part 1-Round 1 | "Wrecking Ball" | Miley Cyrus | Through to Round 2 |
Top 50 Part 1-Round 2 | "I'll Be There" | Jess Glynne | Through to Part 2 |
Top 50 Part 2 | "Everything I Wanted" | Billie Eilish | Through to Top 24 |
Top 24 | "Versace on the Floor" | Bruno Mars | Through to Top 12 |
Top 12 | "Man In The Mirror" | Michael Jackson | Through to Top 10 |
Top 10 | "I Won't Let You Go" | James Morrison | Through to Top 8 |
Top 8 | "The Climb" | Miley Cyrus | Through to Top 6 |
Top 6 | "True Colors" | Cyndi Lauper | Perform Head to Head |
Top 6-Head to Head | "I Want to Know What Love Is" | Foreigner | Through to Grand Finale |
Grand Finale-Top 3 | "I Can't Make You Love Me" | Bonnie Raitt | Through to Top 2 |
Grand Finale-Top 2 | "When You Believe" | Whitney Houston | Winner |
"Invincible" | winners single |
After a performance on Whitney Houston's "When You Believe", Sagigi-Baira was announced as the winner. [17] [18] [19]
Immediately after the announcement, his winners single "Invincible", written by Tones and I, was released. [20] [16] The song was compared to Rihanna's "Diamonds" on Radio 6PR. [21]
In November 2023, he released "Dreaming". [22]
In November 2024, Noell released "Feeling Good" and announced the release of his debut EP Sunrise. [23]
Sagigi-Baira is currently residing in Cape York, in far north Queensland. [24]
Title | Details |
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Sunrise |
|
Title | Year | Album |
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"When I Fall Apart" [8] | 2022 | Non-album singles |
"Invincible" [16] | 2023 | |
"Dreaming" [22] | Sunrise | |
"Say It Loud" [25] | 2024 | |
"Feeling Good" [23] | ||
"Way Up" [26] | 2025 |
The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
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2023 | Himself | New Talent of the Year | Nominated | [27] [28] |