Australia’s Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen reveals why he’s auditioning on The Voice
Australia’s Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen reveals how his dream of becoming a popstar failed and why he will be having another go on The Voice.
Three years after northern beaches schoolboy Jack Vidgen won Australia’s Got Talent his dream of being a popstar was over, his $250,000 prize money had all gone and worst of all: he had fallen out of love with music.
For five years he said he has been doing “normal things” and has worked at an old aged dementia care home in Manly and at before and after school care in Balgowlah.
But now the former Balgowlah Boys pupil, who came out as gay when he was 19, is having a second crack at stardom on The Voice.
He will be auditioning on the Channel 9 show on Sunday at 7pm.
To help him with his comeback he has been seeking help from northern beaches vocal coach Margi Coen, who was a major factor in his Australia’s Got Talent win in 2011, and who he also regards as a life mentor.
But it’s been quite a journey for Mr Vidgen to get to this point.
“About five years ago I fell out of love with music,” Mr Vidgen, 22, said. “I stopped singing. I just wanted to do normal things like other teenagers.”
Mr Vidgen, who grew up on the beaches, but now lives in the Inner West, said a lot of his winnings went while he was in LA trying to make it in America.
By the time he returned aged 17 he had fallen out of love with music and wanted to be like other teenagers.
“People don’t realise how much it takes to pursue a music career. I had a whole year in LA by myself.
“I had a good time but there were stumbles and hurdles and I open up about that on the show.
“When I got to the end of that year I was not in a healthy place anymore.
“I needed to come back to the beaches to friends and family.”
Mr Vidgen said he has loved working with the elderly and kids.
“That connection with people has been so therapeutic,” he said.
“It can be challenging, but I had the loveliest patients at the dementia respite centre.”
Mr Vidgen said it was while he was in the car with his mum, Rachel Hayton, that a song came on the radio and he started singing along with it, the first time in years.
He said he was now in the right personal space to have another go at a music career and he was excited for people to hear his voice, which has changed since he was 14, and his interest in different styles of music.
But it’s not only the voice that’s changed, but also his look, in part due to his cosmetic fillers, which has also got people talking.
“It’s The Voice, so that’s what I’m judged on,” he said.
“I’ve got the love back for performing. I’ve got to a place personally that is right.
“I have self love and self worth.
“I have my life together personally.”
He said while he was single he was on the look out for a husband.
Mr Vidgen added that he hoped his comeback on The Voice where he is open about his sexuality might help others that might be struggling.
“That would be the most amazing thing,” he said.
Inquest call 50 years after mystery disappearance of Sydney woman
A tormented family is calling for an inquest into the mystery disappearance of a young Sydney woman 50 years ago — they believe she may have been murdered.
Pain game! Stairway to rugby dream for Waratahs young gun
It’s a time he hated with a passion but this painful interlude in Waratahs young gun Henry O’Donnell’s life could well pave the way to his future success in the game. Tahs v Brumbies squads