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Guy Sebastian on his new album, making it in the industry, and why he loves the Top End

Ahead of his Darwin show, singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian reveals his favourite Territory memory, his advice to aspiring musicians, plus the NT News headline behind his wildest story.

Guy Sebastian will open the 2025 Darwin Festival on August 8.
Guy Sebastian will open the 2025 Darwin Festival on August 8.

Guy Sebastian will open this year’s Darwin Festival with an unmissable show, promising Territory audiences a world premiere of new music.

Ahead of the performance next week, the beloved singer-songwriter shares some favourite Territory memories, his advice to aspiring musicians, plus the possible NT News headline for his wildest story.

Q: You’ve been to the Territory to perform several times now – what keeps you coming back?

GS: I would say it’s mainly the combination of the people and the country. The people are so warm and receptive and they appreciate music and soul and culture, and the country is so full of history and landscape that has so much story to tell. I just love Darwin. It does remind me a lot about Adelaide, growing up in a smaller city compared to where I live now in Sydney.

Q: Your latest album, 100 Times Around the Sun, is being released the day of your Darwin Festival show. What can fans expect from the new album, and will Darwin audiences get to hear some of the new tracks?

GS: Darwin will be the first audience to hear these songs performed live. Obviously, I’m not going do all new songs but I will throw in a few from the new album, which excites me a lot because I can’t wait to play these songs with my band. It took four and a half years to make this album, but it only feels real when I get to actually play it on stage for a live audience.

Guy Sebastian will open the 2025 Darwin Festival with an unmissable show, promising Territory audiences a world premiere of new music. Picture: Tim Ashton.
Guy Sebastian will open the 2025 Darwin Festival with an unmissable show, promising Territory audiences a world premiere of new music. Picture: Tim Ashton.
Q: How did you approach songwriting and what influenced your creative process for this album? Has that changed over your career?

GS: It’s definitely changed. I used to think I had to deliver an album every year or so. I thought I was being irresponsible as an artist and not good to my fans if I took too long. Now I know that art shouldn’t be made out of feeling pressure, but should be made and released when it feels right and when I know I’ve given it everything I’ve got. I’ve lived a lot of life in the last five years; it’s been a lot of ups and downs which meant I had a lot to write about, because I had to process so much through the songs that I wrote. I couldn’t have put more into this album. I worked with some of the best musicians who I admire so much, some of the best vocalists and producers, and a lot of it was made at home in my studio. I love songwriting more now than I ever have, and I know it’s just going to continue to grow.

Q: Outside of performing, what’s been your favourite experience in the Territory to date?

GS: Many years ago Jules and I spent a day swimming with locals at Litchfield National Park. We drove around and took in some amazing scenery and also met some very kind locals. Recently I performed at Uluru and that was a proper spiritual experience.

Guy and Jules Sebastian with son Hudson as a baby. Source: Instagram
Guy and Jules Sebastian with son Hudson as a baby. Source: Instagram
Q: You got your break on Australian Idol in 2003. Applications are now open for the latest season, what’s your advice to any aspiring Territory singer thinking about auditioning?

GS: I would say there’s nothing available today that is going to guarantee anybody success in this industry. I don’t say that to discourage. I say that to remind artists that the most important thing, regardless of what vehicle you choose to express your art, is a song. The song is your hammer. You can only build a career if you have a song. People still think that there is some kind of fast-track hack to make it in the industry. That may be true for short stints in this industry but to really carve out a career, you have to be obsessed with making music and it needs to come from a pure place. Winning a show won’t guarantee you anything, I would say this is the toughest time I’ve ever witnessed in the industry to be a new artist – especially a local one in Australia. But cream will always rise to the top. If you’ve got something special, you just need to back yourself and believe in yourself, you need to work really hard to get a good body of work, with the most important element being the song.

Q: The NT News is known for its headlines – what could be the NT News headline for your wildest story?

GS: Guy Sebastian almost gets lost in the Northern Territory wilderness chasing a wild Brumby after a big night out.

Originally published as Guy Sebastian on his new album, making it in the industry, and why he loves the Top End

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/guy-sebastian-on-his-new-album-making-it-in-the-industry-and-why-he-loves-the-top-end/news-story/4355ad83d9bf649d0d9aa806d019bf1a