Exclusive: The real reason Jess Mauboy left her record label

15 years after her Australian Idol stint, singer Jessica Mauboy talks about feeling stifled by her record label, postponing a wedding, and her greatest fear ahead of The Voice.

Jessica Mauboy has become a dog person. She and fiancé Themeli Magripilis welcomed spoodle Leo to their family last year. His name comes from his star sign (which is the same as Mauboy’s) and the fact that “he looks a bit like a lion cub”, she says.

Dog training, as well as heated games of Uno, have become welcome lockdown distractions, with Magripilis (who works in construction) and Mauboy both working from their Sydney home. “Leo has been such great company,” the singer and actor tells Stellar over the phone.

“I’m not an essential worker, so we’re bunkered down with Leo, teaching him tricks. I’m doing work stuff on Zoom, but I’m also enjoying being a homebody.”

Staying put indoors for a spell is second nature to Mauboy, who recalls a childhood centred around the home.

“I’ve never been more terrified than being on that chair.” (Picture: Supplied)

“I grew up in Darwin and watched my mum being a homebody. Looking after the home is a full-time job, and that’s something I value and respect so much. There’s a sense of satisfaction in being able to do things at home I wouldn’t necessarily have time to do.”

On a recent walk with Magripilis and Leo, Mauboy had what she calls a “gratitude moment. I looked over and said, ‘I’m really lucky to have you in my life. I’m grateful for you and the person you are, and that we can keep each other in check. I value our relationship so much.’”

The pair have been together for 14 years, and announced their engagement in 2019. However, with their large families unable to fly into Sydney anytime soon, wedding plans are currently on hold. “It’s definitely happening somewhere down the line,” Mauboy says.

“We may not have had a ceremony yet – haven’t had that big traditional event – but we both come from very traditional families and cultures, and they’ve been able to see how much we love each other and how we look after each other.”

The ‘Little Things’ singer, who will turn 32 this week, explains, “One day we will celebrate everything and thank everyone for believing in us and being hopeful for us. I’m so lucky to have him, that’s the truth. But I don’t have too much clarity right now on a wedding date. Things are getting busy.”

Jessica Mauboy with Guy Sebastian in February. (Picture: Getty Images)

Speaking of busy, Mauboy has joined Keith Urban, Rita Ora and Guy Sebastian as a coach on the rebooted version of The Voice. Fortunately, the reality show managed to film in Sydney earlier this year with a live, unmasked audience, and under strict Covid-safe protocols, but the pandemic was constantly on Mauboy’s mind.

“I was sitting on the edge of that big red chair thinking this could be shut down at any minute,” Mauboy recalls. “We didn’t take being able to film for granted.”

While she’s been offered similar roles scouring for musical talent on TV in the past, something has always stopped her: fear.

“Oh, I’ve never been more terrified than being on that chair on The Voice,” she freely admits.

The show’s feel-good ethos of mentorship – in other words her role is as a coach, not a judge – is what got her over the line.

“We both come from very traditional families and cultures, and they’ve been able to see how much we love each other and how we look after each other.” (Picture: Steven Chee)

“To be there and support these artists, to watch them grow, to feel as terrified as they are, that was the most powerful thing for me. That leadership really excited me; to bring that belief out of them. Because I know what that feels like.”

This year marks 15 years since a 17-year-old Mauboy auditioned for Australian Idol. It wasn’t her first singing contest – at age 14 she won the Telstra Road To Tamworth competition, landing a deal with Sony Music Australia.

When a country cover of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ failed to connect, she returned to school in Darwin, waiting two-and-a-half years before giving Idol a crack in 2006, eventually becoming runner-up to Damien Leith.

In those 15 years, Mauboy has scored four ARIA number-one albums, sold more than one million singles and scored the supporting-act gig for global superstar Beyoncé on one of her Australian tours.

I have a lot more clarity in where I’m going and what I’m saying within my music.” (Picture: Steven Chee)

Her fellow mentor on The Voice Sebastian, who also broke through as a contestant on Idol, tells Stellar that he understands why Mauboy was terrified about moving from artist to mentor.

“TV is very scary. Understandably, Jess was really nervous. I remember that feeling as well. We were all really aware Jess was feeling a bit of pressure because it was her first TV gig. But I kept saying, ‘Jess, you’re a good person. You’re always so sweet, always so nice to people. Just be yourself, don’t think you need to switch into a ‘TV Jess’. Just be you. Don’t overthink it.’ And she nailed it.”

For Mauboy, surviving 15 years in the music industry with the associated fame – especially coming from a reality TV show – is a milestone.

“There’s a quiet sense of [pride],” Mauboy says.

“I’m very sentimental, I think about it a lot when I’m sitting at home alone. I’ve done a lot of reflecting during Covid, just to remember those things and be completely humbled. I couldn’t have asked for a better journey: to connect with people along the way who helped me; [though] some suppressed me.”

“I’ve always been seen as very glossy, very smiley. I have more to say than to just sit there, smile, and be pretty.” (Picture: Georges Antoni)

Last year, the fiercely loyal Mauboy made the tough decision to leave both the management and record companies she’d been with since Idol.

“I felt like I was going around in circles from a creative point. I had so many ideas that I felt weren’t being acknowledged and respected. My craft and how that sounds and what it’s saying – that means everything to me. When it’s not being portrayed correctly, that’s where I draw the line. I think it’s good enough, so I’m going to make a stand. If it’s not, I’m clearly in the wrong place.”

While her former label Sony Music Entertainment Australia has been embroiled in reports of a toxic work culture – and CEO Denis Handlin has left the business – Mauboy clarifies her issues there were artistic.

“We’re seeing so many Indigenous talents coming up that are just not scared. They know who they are and they are representing that. I’m proud there are so many of us.” (Picture: Pierre Toussaint)

“It was a creative move for me. I’ve always been seen as very glossy, very smiley. I have more to say than to just sit there, smile, and be pretty, look poppy and be fabulous. I have a bit of grunge, I’ve got a deeper story, but that has always been covered up. It’s nice to be completely real now.”

Mauboy is now signed to Warner Music Australia and says she is able to work at her own pace, with the only deadline being when she’s happy with her new music. When asked what fans can expect from that, Mauboy is eager to share her vision.

“I’ve always been seen as Jess from Idol. That’s still how people see me. They tell me, ‘I voted for you.’ People need to see a deeper story now. I’m clearly stronger than I was before; I have a lot more clarity in where I’m going and what I’m saying within my music.”

The performer is excited about further exploring her cultural heritage in her music, a move inspired by her being asked to sing with Midnight Oil on their mini-album The Makarrata Project last year.

Jessica Mauboy stars on the cover of this Sunday’s Stellar.

“When I moved to Sydney, I’d come from Darwin, a place so full of Indigenous culture and language. Going into a space where none of that is taught, that really made me sad. I realised I had been in a bubble in the NT and realised there’s none of that education in the rest of the country. That was pretty terrifying.

“Now there are so many Indigenous voices and programs. The more voices that can shine the light the better. We’re seeing so many Indigenous talents coming up that are just not scared. They know who they are and they are representing that. I’m proud there are so many of us.”

As Mauboy continues to work on her new music, she knows she always has an honest sounding board at home.

“Every single song I’ve played to Themeli has sparked conversations like, ‘Oh wow, you said that. You went there!’ He’s loving that I’m not holding back. He’s been through it all with me – the shoulder to lean on and the one to hear my new music – and he’s not afraid to be honest.

“But everything I’ve played him so far, he’s been really excited by. That’s got me on a high. I’m in a good place, I’m on the ride and I’m really going for it.”

The Voice premieres on the Seven Network at 7pm on Sunday, August 8, and continues at 7.30pm Mondays and Tuesdays.