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Royston’s audition (I’m Not the Only One) for the Seven Network show aired on TV at the end of January and blew away high-profile judges Meaghan Trainor, Harry Connick Jr, Amy Shark and Kyle Sandilands.

Since then, the second-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) student has charged through seven weeks of the competition and tonight found out he had made the top three and next Sunday's grand finale.

 

Royston's amazing vocals have been put to the test on live national television, including Sunday night's semi-final performance of True Colors.

In tonight’s live verdict show, he was revealed as the first grand finalist, with West Australian singer Phoebe Stewart and Melbourne Josh Hannan also in the top three.

The winner of Australian Idol will be announced next Sunday night and receive $100,000 and a recording contract with Sony.  (Text ‘Royston’ to 0457 500 700 to vote for him.)

“It feels so crazy and I’m just so grateful,” Royston said.

“Thank you each and every one of you – everyone in Australia that voted for me.  I really appreciate it – it just means everything. 

“This competition is so tough, there’s so much talent, there’s so many amazing singers … I’m so grateful that people are connecting with me and my stories.”

Royston is a Thanakwithi and Badu Island man from the remote Queensland community of Old Mapoon, near Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula.

After graduating school, he attended the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, then moved to Melbourne in 2019 to work with a management team and do gigs around the city.

In 2020, he relocated back to Queensland during the pandemic and completed a business administration traineeship in Cairns.

But then the lure of music proved too strong again, so he applied for QUT’s music degree and started uni in 2022.

“There’s a lot of QUT musos and the music students who are all supporting me during Idol, as well as everyone back in Mapoon,” Royston said.

“All the elders are really proud of me. I’m so glad I get to represent my community.

“It’s so important for young people and kids to see someone who looks like them on TV. Even if I change one little kid’s heart and mind, that’s my job done.”

Royston’s musical journey has also had the support of QUT’s film students.

Four film students made the music video for his debut single last year, as part of a university assignment for their experimental film unit.  The When I Fall Apart official music video has now had more than 6000 views on YouTube since its release in November.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film, Screen and New Media) students involved were:

• Calvin Ko – Director/Camera
• Kaylia McGarry – Editor/Creative Director
• Kerrick Peh (now graduated) – Camera Assistant/Screenplay
• Felicity Sayer – Producer/First Assistant Director
   

 

“It was so much fun filming – I’ve never done a music video before,” Royston said.

“We filmed in the QUT film studios in Z Block at Kelvin Grove, which was really cool, and at some student accommodation.”

Royston also lived in student accommodation during his first year of uni, thanks to the QUT Indigenous Australian Student Accommodation Program. The 12-month transition support program is subsidised by the university and Student One.

He said the first year of his music degree and the accommodation program were both great.

“QUT’s been amazing – last year it was full on, I haven’t studied for a while, but I was up for the challenge,” he said.

“That accommodation program was so amazing and I’m so glad I was a part of it – just being around other mob and seeing what everyone else was up to,” he said.

During Idol, Royston has also paid tribute to one of his own idols – fellow talent show alumnus Jessica Mauboy.

“Jessica Mauboy was my inspiration, she was a black fella like me – I’m just trying to follow in those footsteps, I hope I make her proud,” he told audiences on the audition episode.

Royston grew up singing in church and at school, and has also given a big Idol shout-out to his Year 2 teacher at Western Cape College, Miss Alex, who encouraged his singing as a child.

She made a surprise appearance on Idol last week, during the live round where the contestants dedicated a song to someone influential in their life.

“I had no idea at all – I’m so glad she was in the building where I got to dedicate that performance [The Climb] to her,” Royston said.

People can follow Royston on his fast-growing social channels – TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook – where he’s been sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of Australian Idol.

QUT Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
- After hours, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au