Hobart-raised singer Amanda ‘Stellar’ Perry makes her mark on The Voice

Tasmanian singer Amanda “Stellar” Perry has learnt to embrace her quirkiness, her sensitive side and her eclectic taste in music, and hopes that will serve her well as she showcases her vocals to the nation.

GROWING up in Hobart, Amanda “Stellar” Perry never felt like “one of the cool kids”.

But she said finally, at age 36, she has learnt to embrace her quirkiness, her sensitive side and her eclectic taste in music, and hopes that will serve her well as she showcases her vocals to the nation on the new series of The Voice.

Ms Perry – who runs her own cleaning business in Geelong, where she now lives – was approached to appear on The Voice by the show’s producers.

Amanda “Stellar” Perry is appearing on The Voice.

But she was reluctant at first, after having a less-than-positive experience on another TV talent show, The X Factor, 10 years ago.

‘’I was pretty scarred by the X Factor experience because the way I was portrayed was not at all in alignment with who I am as a person or how I conduct myself,’’ she said.

But she said The Voice had proved to be a “completely different ball game”.

“They have a lot of integrity and respect for artists,’’ Ms Perry said of the show’s producers.

“I felt a lot more calm and confident to go through the audition process.’’

“Being a Gemini, I’m always in two minds about things … but I felt like everything was a sign and was pointing me in the right direction and I was on the right path.’’

Ms Perry previously spent a lot of time trying to break into the music scene, but there had always been something holding her back.

“I used to try and fit myself into certain boxes to please people because I wanted so badly to be successful in music, so I thought it was worth compromising yourself for,’’ Ms Perry said.

But she realised her nerves, her emotions and her unconventional look were things to embrace, rather than hide.

“There are lots of different genres I like and lots of different looks I like,’ she said.

“It has taken me so much longer than most people I know to become sure of myself.’’

She was determined to give her blind audition her all and was proud to know her mum and dad, who live in Hobart, were watching in the audience.

“Whether I turned a chair or not I needed to go to that place when I sang the song, that I’d be proud of myself when I watched myself later,’’ she said.

“To let down your guard and let people in is the most brave thing you can do”.

Amanda “Stellar” Perry.

She grew up as Amanda Grafanakis in Hobart and changed her surname to Perry when she got married.

But on stage she becomes Stellar – in the same way Stefani Germanotta becomes Lady Gaga or Beyonce channels alter-ego Sasha Fierce.

Ms Perry chose the name Stellar to honour her good friend’s baby, Stella, who died about 12 years ago, at just 10 days old.

“Because I have pretty bad anxiety, I feel like Stellar can get away with a lot more,’’ Ms Perry said.

“There’s also something about being raised in Tassie – you never want to be too big for your boots’’.

“The name Amanda is so personal, so me – but Stellar sounds … less conceited … it’s more like a fun, creative project.’’

“One is like a job and a passion, and Amanda is just a normal person trying to pay bills and live her life.’’

Meanwhile fellow Tasmanian Jesse Teinaki, 28, will return to The Voice stage this year, after making it to the Battle Rounds last year before being eliminated.

The Voice starts on Sunday on Channel 9 at 7pm.