Turin 2022🇦🇺 Australia

Seann Miley Moore, Charley, Jude York & Voyager added to Australia Decides 2022 line-up as TikTok wildcard announced!

An 11th wildcard act will also be added to the line-up for the February 26 final!

Earlier this year, SBS the national broadcaster of Australia announced the return of their live selection format, Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022. Already SBS have revealed that PAULINI, Isaiah Firebrace, Jaguar Jonze, Sheldon Riley, G-Nat!on and Andrew Lambrou will be performing at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on February 26. Now SBS have added to the line-up with Seann Miley Moore, Charley, Jude York and Voyager Australia! As well as revealing that a special 11th act will be joining the fun through a TikTok wildcard contest!

Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022

Everyone will be saying ‘good morning, Europe!’ once more on February 26 2022, as the Australian national final returns for its third year. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic the show has been on hiatus since 2020. During that time Australia Decides 2020 winner, Montaigne, was internally selected for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 after the cancellation of the 2020 edition. Now, with travel restrictions set to be lifted, Australia is once again ready to take over the Gold Coast and showcase its best up and coming talent to Europe. 

In total, eleven entries from the 700 submissions received, will take part in the national final, with the winner being selected by a combination of public and professional jury voting. As February approaches, the line-up is beginning to take shape. So far the line-up includes – PAULINI, Isaiah Firebrace, Jaguar Jonze, Sheldon Riley, G-Nat!on and Andrew Lambrou. Now SBS have revealed the final four names ready to entertain the Gold Coast. Plus a surprise TikTok wildcard twist!

Seann Miley Moore

A familiar name to both sides of the world, Seann Miley Moore is an Australian-British-Filipino singer and actor from Sydney. Back in 2015 Seann came to prominence on the UK edition of The X Factor, where a soulful rendition of Queen, left even Simon Cowell stunned. After five years away from home, Seann returned to Australia in 2020. Recently Seann caught the attention of the public once more on the recent series of The Voice AU, reaching the Knock-Outs as part of Team Jess. As well as this, Seann has wowed audiences on the stage, starring in Rent at the Sydney Opera House.

I don’t stand here like ‘I want to be different’, ‘I want to be unique’, or ‘I want to wear all this to be seen and heard.’ I stand here as a proud queer man, a proud brown man and most importantly, a proud Australian – it comes down to authenticity and happiness.

Doing all these things make me happy. They make me feel alive. That’s what matters. Eurovision is about celebrating your pride and I’m ready to give you all the fabulous joy baby! EveryBODY is welcome in Seann Miley Moore’s world – so Australia, pack your bags, we’re going to the Gold Coast! xoxo SMM.

Charley

A newcomer to the industry. Sydney-based, but Gold Coast-raised will be the home town hero for the audience next February. The talented singer-songwriter delivers edgy pop with personal emotion and connection to the songs. Already this year she has successfully released ‘Hard For Me’ and ‘Arizona’ through EMI Australia. As well as working with established artists such as CXLOE, touring with her in America. Meanwhile she cites her musical inspirations as Kelly Clarkson and The Veronicas.

Eurovision has always seemed so out of reach, but now I feel one step closer by performing at ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides ‘on the Gold Coast. I’m so excited as my family and I are huge fans and I can’t wait to do them proud. I wrote my song two and a half years ago about my biggest heartbreak, so being able to turn something so dark into something beautiful is a really special moment for me.

Charley, (Eurovision.TV)

Jude York

Previously we were introduced to Jude York and his rousing ‘I Won’t Need To Dream’. Of course he’s not dreaming now as he is confirmed to be part of the Australia Decides 2022 line-up! Jude York is 22 and from Toowoomba, Queensland. Although he started out as a Jazz crooner, he also has a passion for songwriting.

When I found out that my song was selected from the portal, I was already incredibly honoured and excited. Now to know that I’m also performing it live on one of Australia’s biggest platforms is more than I could have possibly asked for! The song is all about believing that dreams do come true, and I feel like mine really are right now!

Jude York, (Eurovision.TV)

Voyager

Lastly to round out the Australia Decides 2022 line-up are Voyager. They are a progressive-metal band from Perth. Originally formed at the University of Western Australia in 1999, the band have found most of their success in the European market, which has a thriving and diverse metal scene. Over the last twenty-years they have performed with the likes of Nightwish, Deftones and Alestorm. Most recently the five-piece group presented their new album Colours In The Sun in partnership with the European Space Agency and their Space Rocks concert at Indigo At The O2, London in 2018. Many eagle-eyed fans will also have spotted that Voyager were part of the Australia Decides 2020 longlist, but did not make the live final on that occasion.

‘Eurovision is the greatest show on earth, so getting a chance to represent Western Australia and to showcase our keytar driven brand of heavy music is one of the most exciting and surreal opportunities to ever come our way!! So, thank you Australia for giving us the opportunity to take you on a voyage with us in what has been a lifelong dream.’

Voyager, (Eurovision.TV)

But wait there’s more!

If that was not enough to get excited about, SBS and Blink TV are giving you, the fans an opportunity to participate! Another 11th wildcard will be added to the line-up through a collaboration with TikTok Australia. Any Australian over the age of 16 can submit a one minute vocal clip using the hashtag #EurovisionAustralia on TikTok. A panel of experts will then go through the submissions to select one wildcard act to join the 10 already on their way to the Gold Coast!

These four new artists complete our 10, but at Eurovision everyone is welcome. That’s why it’s such an exciting initiative with TikTok to find the TikTok Wildcard Artist for 2022 from all the millions of users of TikTok in Australia – one of them will be on our stage in February. Four great new artists, KEiiNO, and the TikTok Wildcard Artist! This is one of our biggest announcements ever, now we can concentrate on making Australia Decides a brilliant show – please come along and don’t miss out, it’s going to be our best yet.

Paul Clarke, (Creative Director, Eurovision – Australia Decides)

When and where to watch Australia Decides 2022

Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022, hosted by Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst, will be broadcast live on SBS on 26 February 2022 at 20:30 AEDT (9:30am GMT/10:30am CET). Meanwhile, Australian fans can purchase tickets, here.

Meanwhile in another shock announcement, the Eurovision 2019 televote winners KEiiNO will return to Australia after their successful 2019 tour of the country and be the special international guest act!

We can’t wait to perform during Eurovision – Australia Decides, as the first stop of our Australian tour! To be guest-starring in this impressive line-up of artists is a true honour, and we promise to put on a show that will bring back memories of 2019 and turn them into an epic moment of 2022.

The Australian audience is amazing, so there’s no other place in the world we’d rather be than on Gold Coast the last weekend of February!

KEiiNO, (Eurovision.TV)

Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Although many Australians have performed on the Eurovision stage, it wasn’t until 2015 the nation took part ‘as a guest’. Guy Sebastian flew the flag with the uptempo ‘Tonight Again’, finishing in 5th place. Due to the resounding success and positive response, Australia have been doing tonight again ever since. In 2019, the EBU guaranteed Australia’s ability to participate until 2023. So far, Dami Im holds the crown for ‘best Australian result’. Almost winning the contest with ‘Sound of Silence’ in Stockholm 2016.

Last year, Montaigne was selected as Australia’s representative after winning Eurovision – Australia Decides 2020 with her song, ‘Don’t Break Me’. After the contest was cancelled, SBS invited Montaigne back to compete in the 2021 Rotterdam contest. Her entry ‘Technicolour’ placed 14th in semi-final one with 28 points. Unfortunately resulting in Australia’s first non-qualification. 

Who are you most excited for in Australia Decides 2022? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, give us a follow on Spotify for the latest music from your favourite Eurovision acts. As well as subscribing to YouTube for our reactions in the run up to the national final season and the Turin 2022 contest!

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