Update: ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’ lineup nearly complete 🇦🇺
24 January 2022 at 00:40 CET📺 Watch: Eurovision: Australia Decides announcement
The 10 acts competing in Gold Coast are:
- Andrew Lambrou
- Charley
- G-Nat!on
- Isaiah and Evie Irie
- Jaguar Jonze
- Jude York
- PAULINI
- Seann Miley Moore
- Sheldon Riley
- Voyager
Newcomer Evie Irie was added to the lineup on Sunday 23 January, when it was revealed she would perform with Isaiah.
SBS is also running a contest to find an 11th competitor from the general public via a Tik Tok competition. The results of this unique opportunity will be revealed on Friday 4 February.
The TikTok Wildcard Artist
The TikTok Wildcard Artist contest via #EurovisionAustralia is open for submissions from today until Sunday 16 January 2022. There are no restrictions on the number of videos artists can submit. Entrants can submit a video as individuals or as a group with up to six members in total. Full details on the SBS website.
KEiiNO to perform Down Under
Before we look at the latest acts, we can also reveal that Norwegian superstars KEiiNO will take to the stage Down Under.
📺 Watch KEiiNO – Spirit In The Sky (Tel Aviv 2019)
The Norwegian fan favourites said:
We can’t wait to perform during Eurovision – Australia Decides, as the first stop of our Australian tour! To be guest-starring in this impressive line-up of artists is a true honour, and we promise to put on a show that will bring back memories of 2019 and turn them into an epic moment of 2022.
The Australian audience is amazing, so there’s no other place in the world we’d rather be than on Gold Coast the last weekend of February!
Who are the final four artists to complete the Australian line-up? Well, here they are:
Charley
Charley said:
‘Eurovision has always seemed so out of reach, but now I feel one step closer by performing at ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides ‘on the Gold Coast. I’m so excited as my family and I are huge fans and I can’t wait to do them proud. I wrote my song two and a half years ago about my biggest heartbreak, so being able to turn something so dark into something beautiful is a really special moment for me.’
Seann Miley Moore
Seann Miley Moore announced:
‘I don’t stand here like 'I want to be different’, 'I want to be unique’, or 'I want to wear all this to be seen and heard.' I stand here as a proud queer man, a proud brown man and most importantly, a proud Australian – it comes down to authenticity and happiness.
Doing all these things make me happy. They make me feel alive. That’s what matters. Eurovision is about celebrating your pride and I’m ready to give you all the fabulous joy baby! EveryBODY is welcome in Seann Miley Moore’s world – so Australia, pack your bags, we’re going to the Gold Coast! xoxo SMM.’
Voyager
Voyager’s Danny Estrin reveals:
‘Eurovision is the greatest show on earth, so getting a chance to represent Western Australia and to showcase our keytar driven brand of heavy music is one of the most exciting and surreal opportunities to ever come our way!! So, thank you Australia for giving us the opportunity to take you on a voyage with us in what has been a lifelong dream.’
Jude York
Jude York said:
‘When I found out that my song was selected from the portal, I was already incredibly honoured and excited. Now to know that I’m also performing it live on one of Australia’s biggest platforms is more than I could have possibly asked for! The song is all about believing that dreams do come true, and I feel like mine really are right now!’
Charley, Sean Miley Moore, Voyager and Jude York will join the 6 acts already announced:
Isaiah and Evie Irie
📺 Watch: Isaiah – Don’t Come Easy (Australia 2017)
'When I first represented Australia at Eurovision in 2017, I was 17, it was my first time in Europe and I feel like everything was a blurry dream that went by so quickly – I’ve grown so much as a singer, a performer and as a person since then and I’ve definitely got unfinished business! I can’t tell you anything more except that I’m singing a duet with someone incredible and that we co-wrote the song.'
In 2017 Isaiah was selected by an internal panel of judges but qualifying this time around (in the words of his 2017 entry)… Don’t Come Easy… he’ll be competing against 9 other acts for the ticket to Turin.
On Sunday 23 January it was announced that Isaiah will be joined by Evie Irie.
The pop-punk newcomer had this to say:
'If there’s one thing I like as much as creating music for my own projects, it’s writing with other artists for their projects: it’s not work, it’s just fun! So when Isaiah and his team asked me to do Eurovision with this random wonderful song called, When I’m With You, that we had such a great time writing together, I was seriously shook. I never EVER thought I’d have the chance to play at Eurovision and I just can’t say no to Isaiah.'
Jaguar Jonze
Also returning to the Eurovision family is Jaguar Jonze who took part in Australia Decides back in 2020 with the song Rabbit Hole:
‘My song is going to be a moment that celebrates our resilience and the little steps that lead to big change, as well as push my creative boundaries to another level. So much has happened since we were all together, and being back with the added strength of my Eurovision family and fanbase will make it a show worth waiting for. I can’t wait to see you on the Gold Coast!’
PAULINI
And finally, SBS revealed a third act, powerhouse entertainer PAULINI:
‘Eurovision to me is like the Olympics for singers! It brings together so many countries and cultures— and while it’s a competition I see it as uniting much of the world through music.’
Sheldon Riley
Successes include a third place finish in The Voice – Australia and a run to the quarter finals of America’s Got Talent.
The fashion-forward pop star had this to say about Eurovision:
‘It has always been the highlight, waking up at 5am every year to watch from Australia. Growing up on the Gold Coast, watching Conchita for the first time was proof to me that the world will choose different if given the chance to see it.
I am different but I have found my place on mainstream television where I never fit the mould, on radio that has never played music like mine, festivals you’d never think I’d fit the bill for because I always dare to dream… in my fashion and my music always bringing that little bit of Eurovision magic with me every time.
I’m so proud of the artist I am today, wearing my crystal mask in so many parts of the world. It would be an honour to represent Australia and bring my sparkle to Europe! After all these years of dreaming and creating the artist I am today. It’s all coming to life in epic fashion, LIVE on stage!’
G-Nat!ion
Can you believe this is the first girl group to be involved with the Australian selections? Neither could we!
Adelaide-based G-Nat!on are a six-piece, all-girl R&B/pop group, described as a ‘powerhouse of harmonies’. They already have a string of bangers under the belts and the moves to match.
📺 Watch: G-Nat!on – Girl’s Night Out
Emma from the group said:
‘We are beyond honoured to be the first ever girl-group to perform at Eurovision – Australia Decides! It is so exciting to be a part of the creativity, inspiration, and diversity that Eurovision brings every year, and we cannot wait to bring our song to life on the national stage.
Full of strong harmonies and edgy choreography, our song is a dance-pop explosion set to provide the ultimate live show experience. We hope our performance inspires other young people to be strong, powerful, and confident in themselves – see you on the Gold Coast!’
Andrew Lambrou
Andrew is a singer-songwriter and social media sensation from Sydney, with distinctively soulful vocals.
Like the other participants, Lambrou already has a catalogue of tracks for curious fans to listen to.
Andrew could barely contain his excitement when he found out he’d been chosen for the show:
‘I’m so thrilled to be a part of Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022! I’ve grown up watching Eurovision with my family, admiring all that goes into it and seeing artists show their craft to the world, and to be a part of this show is like a dream come true. I’m so excited to show Australia my artistry, and to potentially represent my country in this amazing song contest is the most encouraging thought for me.’
Hosted by comedian Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst, Eurovision – Australia Decides will showcase the best of Australian music and talent on Saturday 26 February.
Tickets are available to buy (if you’re lucky enough to live in Australia) and the full line-up will be revealed shortly.
Is this shaping up to be the best 'Australia Decides’ ever? Let us know via the official Eurovision Song Contest Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook channels.