A Sunshine Coast performer is into the final stages of a reality TV singing competition, wowing audiences and judges with his powerful voice and energetic musicianship.
Marshall Hamburger, from Doonan, this week made it into the top eight of Channel Seven show Australian Idol.
He learnt of his progression on Tuesday’s episode after performing Daryl Braithwaite’s As the Days Go By, which received strong accolades from judges Marcia Hines, Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark.
“You are just so mesmerising … That was the best performance I’ve seen,” Shark said.
The 19-year-old’s family owns a music school on the Coast, which has influenced his desire to become a musician.
“Seeing so many people come to the school from different walks of life to perform in their own unique way was very interesting,” he said. “I remember being on the sidelines thinking: ‘That looks so cool. I want to be them one day.’
“I’ve been doing music since I was very little but I really only decided to become a professional musician in 2021-22.
“Year 11 and 12 were big change years for me. I was always into music but was leaning more towards acting and musical theatre. When I was in Year 12, I discovered this band called Lawrence and their music just set me on a different path.”
He said he was inspired to join the show thanks to the encouragement of his girlfriend.
“I remember watching it last year and being amazed at the variety of artists they picked,” he said.
“There was someone from the Sunny Coast and I thought: ‘There are people from my vicinity, and they are doing this out-of-this-world TV show’ – that was just seemingly unobtainable.
“I remember being in the car with my girlfriend and I mentioned it as an offhand comment. She suggested I audition.
“I sent in a video of me performing Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder and I thought: ‘If something happens, that’s awesome; if not, oh well. At least I tried.’ It’s been such a journey since then.”
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Marshall in recent shows has also performed The Heat is On by former Eagles member Glenn Frey and Benny and the Jets by Elton John, saying he liked to perform “anything that has a groove”.
“Or if it doesn’t have groove, then it has to have soul. Those are my two rules for anything I do musically or anything I write,” he said.
He said the most challenging part of the show was picking songs, especially for performing with a live band situation.
“There are so many factors you don’t think about. Can the producers get the rights for this song? Is this song known well enough that people will connect with it? Is it good for you to sing and does it fit your vocal range?” he said.
Marshall said live shows were also challenging.
“It is very stressful. There are so many things that can go wrong on live television,” he said.
“You really feel the pressure walking into the audition room. Not only are there three seasoned people from the music industry, but there are cameras filming everything: every note you hit or don’t hit.
“When it feels like way too much and my hands start shaking, I put myself in a bubble and I think, ‘OK, I’m just going to perform for me and impress myself.’ If I can do that and do right by the music and do right by me, I am happy.”
Marshall said the show had brought his talents to a wider audience, and as a thank you to his supporters he was planning a free concert in Noosa after the competition.
“I’ve definitely got more eyes on me at the shopping mall. It’s very surreal,” he said.
“Professionally, I feel like it’s shown me what the music industry is like compared to the Sunshine Coast. My mind is blown.”
Australian Idol returns on Sunday night, with viewers deciding what songs the top eight will perform.
The winner will receive $100,000 in prize money and an exclusive recording package with Hive Sound Studios.
