Meet the former Voice contestant representing Australia at Eurovision 2022
After a tight race at this year’s Eurovision - Australia Decides 2022 competition, 22-year-old Sheldon Riley will be representing the country at this year’s Eurovision.
The young performer first shot to notoriety when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2016, where he came in third place.
Following his time on The X Factor, Sheldon auditioned for The Voice Australia 2019, where he was coached by Delta Goodrem before he was eliminated in the semi-final.
Sheldon also appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2020, but was eliminated in the third-quarter final.
The young artist performed his original song Not the Same at the Australia Decides competition, and spoke to Pedestrian after he was crowned the winner.
“This is the stage I have watched for years and years and years and now I’m going to be standing on it!” Sheldon said.
He reflected on his experience in competitive singing shows and the way they tried to mould him into personas he didn’t identify with.
“Now I’m standing on a stage being respected as an artist not as a competitor. That means the world to me,” he explained.
Sheldon also touched on the meaning behind his emotional power ballad Not the Same, and how it reflects his own struggles.
“There is such an unseen community in Australia who have no idea who they are and what they’re capable of,” Sheldon said.
“I come from a very religious and reserved family [and I’m also] a kid of public housing.”
“I didn’t know what I was going to be able to achieve and create. Now I work with Australia’s best and I’m about to represent the country!”
“It’s just a little crazy, isn’t it?”
You can catch Sheldon Riley in the second Eurovision semi-final on May 13th on SBS.
Image credits: Instagram @sheldonriley