Natalie Gauci
Natalie Gauci | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 26, 1981 Melbourne, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, producer, music educator |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Known for | Winner of Australian Idol (2007) |
Natalie Rose Gauci (born 26 November 1981) is an Australian artist, producer, and educator in music. After completing her studies at the Victorian College of the Arts, she established a band performing around Melbourne while simultaneously teaching music. Her participation in the national radio station Triple J's talent showcase, Unearthed, preceded her victory in the fifth season of Australian Idol in 2007.
Following her win, Gauci secured a recording contract with Sony BMG Australia and launched her debut single, "Here I Am", which climbed to number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and achieved gold status. Her first album, The Winner's Journey, reached number eleven on the ARIA Albums Chart and was awarded platinum certification. In 2010, she co-created the electro-pop group Tune in Tokyo alongside producer Paul Brandoli, releasing singles such as "Dreamer" (2010) and "Ray of Love" (2012). On 1 July 2012, Gauci unveiled her second studio album, the jazz-influenced Ha Ha Ha, under The Gauch Records label, followed by the alternative-electronic EP Elektrik Field in September. By August 2012, she had relocated to London, continuing her career as a recording artist and music instructor.
Early life
Hailing from Melbourne, Gauci possesses Maltese and Italian heritage. She attended Emmaus College before completing her senior education at Box Hill Institute of TAFE and later pursued music studies at the Victorian College of the Arts. At age 17, she began crafting songs. Early on, she worked as a session musician and independently released her initial three-track extended play titled Take It or Leave It in 2006. This EP featured Gauci on lead vocals and piano, accompanied by musicians including Simon Burke and producer Michael Carmona.
In 2006, she assembled the Natalie Gauci Band with Jules Pascoe on bass, Conrad Tracey on drums, and Kumar Shome handling guitar duties. The group performed a blend of soul, pop, and jazz at various local venues and corporate functions. Gauci uploaded selections from Take It or Leave It onto Triple J’s platform, gaining exposure through the Unearthed competition. To support herself financially during this period, she taught vocal lessons at the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy as well as Assumption College in Kilmore.
Australian Idol
In 2007, Natalie Gauci auditioned for the fifth season of the television talent show Australian Idol held in Melbourne. Her audition included an original composition titled "Free Falling", co-written with James Kempster, alongside a cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". Judges Ian Dickson and Mark Holden commended her performances; Dickson even predicted she had potential to win. Gauci advanced into the top 24 but initially did not receive sufficient public votes to enter the top 12 after performing Christina Aguilera's "Hurt". However, judges selected her for the wildcard round. Her rendition of Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" secured her a place in the final top 12.
Throughout the competition, Gauci consistently progressed and only landed in the bottom three once during week eight when five contestants remained. Her interpretations of songs like Rihanna's "Umbrella", Kate Bush's "Running Up that Hill", and Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" were met with praise, earning several "touchdowns" from judge Holden.
In the finale showdown against Matt Corby, Gauci performed alongside him for the title. The winner’s single "Here I Am", penned by Lindy Robbins and Tom Leonard—known for their work with Backstreet Boys—faced criticism from both finalists. Gauci modified the song to suit her jazz style despite initial uncertainty due to its male demo vocals. Corby expressed that it did not align with his musical taste.
On 25 November 2007, Natalie Gauci was announced as the winner of Australian Idol 2007, marking her as the first contestant to claim victory after being saved by a judges’ wildcard selection.
Australian Idol performances
| Week | Theme | Song selection | Original performer | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 24 | Contestant's Choice | "Hurt" | Christina Aguilera | Wildcard entry |
| Wildcard | Contestant's Choice | "Feeling Good" | Cy Grant | Selected by judges |
| Top 12 | Contestant's Choice | "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind" | Powderfinger | Safe from elimination |
| Top 11 | Rock | "Sweet Child o' Mine" | Guns N' Roses | Safe from elimination |
| Top 10 | Disco | "I Will Survive" | Gloria Gaynor | Safe from elimination |
| Top 9 | Acoustic | "Man in the Mirror" | Michael Jackson | Safe from elimination |
| Top 8 | Brit pop | "Rehab" | Amy Winehouse | Safe from elimination |
| Top 7 | Year of birth theme | "Endless Love" | Lionel Richie/Diana Ross | Safe from elimination |
| Top 6 | Judge's Selection – Marcia Hines Contestant's Selection |
"Nothing Compares 2 U" "Umbrella" |
The Family Rihanna |
Safe, received a Touchdown |
| Top 5 | Australian Made music | "Boys in Town" | Divinyls | Bottom two, earned a Touchdown |
| Top 4 | Big Band Big Band |
"Orange Colored Sky" "How High the Moon" |
Janet Brace Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock |
Safe, awarded a Touchdown |
| Top 3 | Audience's Choice Contestant's Choice |
"Ray of Light" "Nobody Knows" |
Madonna Pink |
Safe from elimination |
| Finale | Contestant's Choice Contestant's Choice Winner's Single Grand Final performance |
"Apologize" "Running Up that Hill" "Here I Am" "Man in the Mirror" |
OneRepublic Kate Bush Natalie Gauci Michael Jackson |
Winner declared |
2007–2008: The Winner's Journey
Natalie Gauci launched her winner’s single, "Here I Am", as a digital release on 25 November 2007, followed by a CD single on 28 November 2007 which included the additional track "All in My Mind". The single entered the ARIA Singles Chart at number two, marking the first time an Australian Idol winner’s debut did not claim the top spot, with initial sales of 7,463 copies—significantly lower than those of previous winners.
Her first album, The Winner's Journey, was made available on 8 December 2007. In contrast to Damien Leith’s earlier album, Gauci’s release did not contain recordings of her Australian Idol stage performances but instead featured studio versions of songs she sang during the competition along with an interview conducted by John Foreman. This approach drew criticism from Fremantle Media, who implied that Sony BMG intentionally excluded certain content. The album debuted at number twelve on the ARIA Albums Chart and climbed to number eleven in its second week, selling 11,489 copies initially compared to Leith’s 89,257.
On 17 December 2007, Sony BMG also issued a second DVD titled The Final Two, showcasing individual performances by both Gauci and runner-up Matt Corby. Early in 2008, Gauci embarked on her Winner’s Journey Tour throughout Australia accompanied by her band and long-standing keyboard partner, delivering live performances while playing piano.
2009–2020: Independent label, Tune in Tokyo, and solo projects
In August 2009, Natalie Gauci parted ways with Sony Music, expressing feelings of being "pushed and prodded" by the company. Early in 2010, she partnered with European label Sorry Shoes and launched the single "Without You" in May.
During 2010, Gauci established the electro-pop group Tune in Tokyo alongside producer Paul Brandoli. Taking on the role of lead vocalist, she embraced a fresh sound inspired by Melbourne's LGBTQ+ dance scene and her then-husband Hamish Cowan (Cordrazine). Their initial release, "Dreamer", debuted in November 2010 and reached No. 3 on the ARIA Clubs Chart. The band followed up with "Ray of Love" in April 2012. Additionally, Gauci appeared in the 2011 movie Big Mamma's Boy.
By 2011, Gauci was touring across Europe and had moved to London by August 2012 to focus on recording and music education. Between 2013 and mid-2015, she performed under the stage name Nellie Bell.
In early 2012, Gauci toured Europe before relocating to Sweden, where she co-wrote "Just Dance" with Swedish songwriters Jonas and Jeanette von der Burg for Four on the Floor Records; however, this track was never released. In November 2012, Italian DJ duo Jack & Joy featured Gauci on their single "We Are the Stars."
Her second studio album, a jazz-oriented work titled Ha Ha Ha, was released in July 2012 through The Gauch Records. This was followed by the alternative-electronic EP Elektrik Field in September of the same year.
In August 2017, Gauci revealed intentions to issue multiple EPs over the subsequent months.
In 2020, she took part in the ninth season of The Voice (Australian TV series), performing Sia’s "The Greatest" during her audition and joining team Guy. She was eliminated during the battle rounds.
2021–present: Brand New Day
October 2021 saw Gauci release "Pictures of Mars," intended as the lead single from an album planned for 2022 bearing the same title; however, this album did not materialize. Subsequently, in July 2024, she unveiled the album Brand New Day, which Gauci described as a deeply personal narrative exploring themes of love, faith, and hope. Concurrently with the album's release, a children's book sharing its title was published.
Personal life
On 28 March 2009, Gauci married Hamish Cowan, frontman of art rock group Cordrazine. She provided backing vocals on Cordrazine’s second album, Always Coming Down (August 2010). Cowan regarded Gauci as his muse and credited her passion as a source of inspiration for his creative output. The couple separated in March 2011; Gauci later reflected that although their relationship was intense and supportive, it ultimately did not succeed. Her 2012 jazz album Ha Ha Ha captures this phase of her life, reflecting both personal and professional experiences. Throughout their marriage (2009–11), she performed under the name Natalie Cowan.
Between 2009 and 2010, Gauci also served as a personal trainer for Australian Idol judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Highest chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| The Winner's Journey |
|
11 |
|
| Ha Ha Ha |
|
— | |
| Brand New Day |
|
— | |
| "—" indicates releases that did not enter charts. | |||
Extended plays
| Title | EP specifics |
|---|---|
| Take It or Leave It |
|
| I'm Ready |
|
| Free Falling |
|
| Elektrik Field |
|
| Pictures of Mars: Part 1 – Back to Life |
|
| Happiness |
|
Singles
| Title | Year released | Highest chart positions |
Certifications earned | Associated album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||||
| "Here I Am" | 2007 | 2 |
|
The Winner's Journey |
| "Without You" | 2010 | — | rowspan="3" Template:Non-album singles | |
| "C U Later" | 2011 | — | ||
| "Pictures of Mars" | 2021 | — | ||
| "I Thought It Was You" | 2024 | — | Brand New Day | |
| "Fame" | — | |||
| "How You Feel" | — | |||
| Note: "—" indicates singles that did not enter the charts. | ||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year issued |
|---|---|
| "We Are the Stars" (Jack & Joy feat. Natalie Gauci) |
2012 |
| "Part Time Lover" (Voltaxx & Mike Kelly feat. Natalie Gauci) | |
| "Kandy Kandy" (Alexander Fog feat. Natalie Gauci) |
2013 |