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The Assembly - Australia - Season 3 Episode 5 - Jessica Mauboy
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00:00One, two, three.
00:06Hello, gang.
00:08How are we? Oh, Abby.
00:10Looking a million bucks today.
00:11Love your dress, you look great.
00:13Gorgeous.
00:13Thank you, Lee.
00:14Hey, Sam. How are you?
00:16Good, how are you?
00:17Yeah, good, thank you.
00:18What about you, Abby?
00:19I'm feeling a bit starstruck today, Lee.
00:25Oh, I think that's her either.
00:28Oh!
00:30It looks like her walking behind you now, Abby.
00:33Here she is.
00:33Behind you.
00:34Act normal.
00:37Okay, calm down.
00:39Hi, Jess.
00:40Hi, so nice to meet you.
00:41Absolutely.
00:43You're going to have such a great time today.
00:45I'm looking forward to it very much.
00:47Come through and say hi to everyone.
00:49Hi.
00:49Hi, everyone.
00:50Hi, Jess.
00:51Hi.
00:52Hi, Jess.
00:52Hi, I'm Jessica.
00:54Hello.
00:54Andrew.
00:55Andrew.
00:55Nice to meet you.
00:56Happy to meet you.
00:57I'm so excited for today.
01:00Hello, Jess.
01:00We are a collective of autistic journalism students, and we are very happy to have you here today.
01:07Our rules are, there is no subject that is out of bounds, no question is off the table,
01:11and anything could happen.
01:13Welcome to the assembly.
01:15You're going to do great.
01:17Yeah.
01:17Yeah.
01:21When you're going to be on camera yourself, you just straighten up your shirt like that.
01:24Okay.
01:25You're good to go.
01:27Yeah.
01:28Straight down the barrel of the camera, okay?
01:30Everyone good?
01:30Good.
01:31Okay.
01:31In three.
01:34Tonight, the assembly returns.
01:37And graduates from past series are back.
01:40Prep day one.
01:41Prep day one.
01:42Hey, guys.
01:43And Lee Sales is mentoring us.
01:47Hi, everybody.
01:48The students have graduated from the Journalism Foundations course, and they're ready for the
01:53next step.
01:54Taking us on the road.
01:55Wow.
01:55Let's keep going.
01:57And behind the scenes.
01:58This is really awesome.
02:01To level up our media skills.
02:03Hey, Abby.
02:04We're about to record a song.
02:05Okay.
02:06I'm ready to go.
02:07On both sides of the camera.
02:09So stay on your mark.
02:10Some of Australia's most celebrated names are taking the hot seat.
02:15No making me cry, okay?
02:16For interviews like you've never seen before.
02:19What intentional decision have you made knowing that you will die?
02:22Um.
02:22Have you ever been arrested?
02:24That is a good question.
02:25What is the most bogan thing you've ever done?
02:27Oh, ho, ho.
02:29You've got this, Jess.
02:31Sorry.
02:32Tissue girl is back again.
02:34Cheeky question.
02:36We are the assembly.
02:47Let's go, team.
02:49Let's go.
02:49Watch out your knuckle out of it.
02:52Ha!
02:54All righty.
02:56Well, how are you, James?
02:58Yeah, great.
02:59Good to see you.
02:59Good to see you, Tim.
03:01Just pop it there.
03:03Who cares?
03:04Have you seen how hectic King Mark can get sometimes in the toy section?
03:07Oh, yes.
03:08How are you, Pat?
03:09I'm all right.
03:09Are you feeling all right?
03:11Yeah, I'm fine.
03:11Mmm.
03:12That's good.
03:13Of course, I'm fine.
03:16Good morning, everybody.
03:19How are we all today?
03:20Good.
03:21Yeah?
03:22Good?
03:22Ready for action?
03:23Oh, yeah, yeah.
03:24Let's do it.
03:25Let's go.
03:26Okay.
03:27Our next guest is a beloved Australian singer, award-winning actor.
03:34She's been in Eurovision for Australia.
03:38Her own amazing singing and her charisma has made it very popular with the Australian public.
03:44Jessica Malboy.
03:45Jessica Malboy.
03:48Wow!
03:48How did she know?
03:50I don't know.
03:51I just guessed.
03:51Wow.
03:52What do we know about Jessica Malboy?
03:55She's a beautiful pop star.
03:57Yeah.
03:57With her pop star music.
03:59I make big things out of little things, and I watch you keep missing them.
04:06She won an aria for best female artist.
04:09Yeah.
04:09In 2013.
04:10This is so incredible.
04:13To be an indigenous Australian woman.
04:18She was on The Voice.
04:19That's right.
04:20She's a judge on The Voice.
04:21Were any of you old enough that you watched her on Australian Idol?
04:24One of my earliest television memories was watching Idol, and all the ads had gone,
04:30Australian Idol goes regional.
04:34What are you going to sing, darling?
04:35Today I'll be singing I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston.
04:38Oh, yeah.
04:39Take my love, I'll never ask for too much.
04:46Abby?
04:47She was in the movie The Sapphires.
04:49Yes.
04:59And she has just recently had a little baby.
05:02Okay, so it sounds like there's going to be tons to ask her about.
05:04Should we split into our groups and get ready to work on our questions?
05:07Okay, good.
05:08Let's do it.
05:13Let's get our questions ready for Jessica Mowboy.
05:17How would Jessica Mowboy go on 7.30?
05:21I think she could stand up to Sarah Ferguson.
05:24Uh-huh.
05:27Evie, you're a super fan.
05:28Oh, oh, oh.
05:29I wouldn't say super fan.
05:30I know like four songs, but they're four really good songs that I love listening to.
05:35And you're such a music lover too, so you'll have that great point of connection with her.
05:39Yeah.
05:39Have you ever been to a recording studio?
05:42Ooh, I don't think so.
05:46Okay, ready?
05:48Coming to a recording studio means the students are going to see firsthand how music is put together.
05:54Welcome to Forbes Street Studios.
05:56And I think that'll be really useful in helping them come up with some questions for Jess.
06:02So keen today to find out all about the ins and outs of recording.
06:08And it'll help us know more about Jess, get insights into Jess's world.
06:13Thanks so much for having us in, Tash.
06:16Yes, you're welcome.
06:16So Tash is a music producer.
06:18So you've worked with Jess Mowboy, who the students are interviewing?
06:20Yes.
06:21She's such an amazing vocalist.
06:23She's such a beautiful person as well.
06:26Is there a connect, like one thing that connects to you and Jessica?
06:29Yeah, actually, um, her partner is Greek.
06:33I'm Greek!
06:34Are you?
06:35Yeah!
06:35Yeah!
06:36Who wants to have a go talking into the mic?
06:39Um...
06:39I'll have a go.
06:40Okay.
06:40Jumping niche.
06:42You'll be able to adjust the level.
06:45We are the assembly.
06:47Thinks about to go crazy.
06:50We're walking for hours.
06:51You can see how the vocals...
06:53Oh, yeah!
06:54...perfecting the VU meter there.
06:56Many of the students absolutely love music, so bringing them to an actual music studio is really invaluable.
07:01Hey, Abby, we're about to record a song.
07:04Okay, I'm ready to go.
07:06Alright, let's do this!
07:06They think up questions on the spot.
07:08It's really good for them, actually, in their process.
07:11I make big things out of little things
07:16And I watch you keep missing them
07:19Coming to the studio today, I've got so many more questions for Jess.
07:24You did so well!
07:25It's her world.
07:27Her roots, essentially.
07:30Really cool to see that side of things as well.
07:33Very excited to meet her.
07:38Hello, everyone.
07:40Hi, Leigh.
07:41How y'all doing?
07:42Good.
07:43Are we excited about Jess?
07:44I think so.
07:45Yeah?
07:46Is anyone a particular fan?
07:47I love Pop a Bottle Fill Me Up.
07:49Surely she's gonna sing a song for us.
07:51Yeah.
07:52I want her to sing Pop a Bottle Fill Me Up.
07:54I'm excited to meet Jessica Mowboy because she's beautiful.
07:59She has a beautiful smile.
08:00She seems popular, well-loved.
08:03She just seems so sweet.
08:04What have we got here?
08:07I'm still thinking of a view.
08:09Yeah?
08:10I reckon just think creatively, Savannah,
08:12and see what unusual questions you can come up with that might surprise her.
08:15What stood out to you?
08:16That she's from Darwin.
08:18That she's from Darwin, okay.
08:19And also, she's in a family of five sisters.
08:23So, were you the popular girl in school?
08:26That is a great question.
08:27I would be very interested to see what she says to that.
08:30Me too.
08:31Got some good options there.
08:33All right.
08:34What are we brainstorming over here?
08:36All right.
08:37She's alive.
08:38She's 36.
08:39She's a she.
08:41And I know she likes collecting shoes.
08:44This time on the assembly, I am doing more research and just having fun with it, especially with the questions.
08:49What year did she win Idol again?
08:50She didn't win.
08:51She came second.
08:51Oh, she came second.
08:52What year did she come second?
08:53You get a freedom on this show to ask whatever you want, and I think that's the best part about
08:57it.
08:57Has she considered a career as a professional spy?
09:00Yes.
09:01That could be a route there.
09:02I mean, Darwin is close to Pine Gap, so she could.
09:08I'm thinking, like, what is her favourite train line, but at the same time, would it be bad of me
09:15to ask that?
09:16Because, you know, most neurotypicals don't care about trains.
09:21Hello.
09:22How are we going?
09:23I'm good.
09:24Good.
09:24Good.
09:24Who are you drawing there, Daniel?
09:26I am practicing doing Jessica Malvoy.
09:28Fantastic.
09:29Because I want to do a really good portrait for her.
09:31Great.
09:31Yes.
09:32I'm a visual artist and she's a singer, so it's a bit different.
09:35But being able to ask about areas that are related to the arts and creativity, I think, is so cool
09:42and such an amazing opportunity.
09:44Why don't we go through your questions first and have a look?
09:46Okay.
09:47All right.
09:48Well, since last time I was on the assembly, I've been very busy.
09:52I've been doing a lot of art.
09:53I also had a meeting with the Government-General to talk about a potential commission.
10:00Hello, Daniel.
10:02Good to see you.
10:02It's so good to see you.
10:03Welcome to Admiralty House.
10:05Thank you so much.
10:05Admiralty House to you.
10:09Wow.
10:11It's quite something, isn't it?
10:12It's quite something.
10:13Really?
10:13It's a lot to take him when he come in.
10:15It is.
10:17So, I've got a range of things here.
10:20So, one of my artworks I've brought on here on the front here is a print.
10:25Utterly beautiful.
10:26Oh, and now this looks very familiar given where we are.
10:29Now we are, yes.
10:30And given that we had started talking about whether there was a work that you could create, that we could
10:34have in one of our residences, this is just looking magnificent.
10:40Shall we go and see what I see when we look out at this incredible harbour view?
10:47Wow.
10:49It is truly quite an incredible view.
10:52I think I'm going to create a landscape of Sydney Harbour from the view of Admiralty House.
10:57I've given artworks to Maggie Beer, Guy Sebastian, and now I'm going to be doing an artwork for the Government
11:05General.
11:06And a drawing for Jessica Mowboy.
11:08It's such a surreal feeling.
11:18I love your outfit.
11:20I thought I would go kind of like a tranquil kind of feel look, you know.
11:24I'm just excited to meet you.
11:27Pop stuff.
11:30Hello.
11:31I'm Jessica.
11:32I'm James.
11:32James, lovely to meet you.
11:34Hi, I'm Jessica.
11:36Hi, I'm Anastasia.
11:37Anastasia, lovely to meet you.
11:38Lovely to meet you too.
11:40Hello, Jessica.
11:41Hi, hello, I'm Jessica.
11:42I'm Chow.
11:42Lovely to meet you.
11:44How wonderful.
11:45We're all good.
11:46Yeah.
11:48Okay, Evie, do you want to start us off today?
11:51Okay.
11:53This is a safe space.
11:55Everyone can relax and be themselves.
11:59There will be no judgement.
12:01Please do what you need to join in.
12:05For example, fidget, move, take a break.
12:09Ask if you need anything to help you be included.
12:13James.
12:15Hi, Jess.
12:16I'm James.
12:17Hi, James.
12:18Do you have a particular place where you feel at one with the world?
12:25Darwin.
12:26I think Darwin on Larrakia Country is just, there's this energy, the landscape, the kind of smell,
12:36particularly around the dry season, that's kind of where I feel the most at peace or the most happiest.
12:46Well, thank you so much.
12:48Yeah, thank you.
12:49I'm Savannah.
12:53Hi, Jess.
12:54Hi.
12:54My name's Savannah.
12:55Lovely to meet you, Savannah.
12:57Lovely to meet you too.
12:58You're the only celebrity I have ever heard of from Darwin.
13:03What was life like as a kid growing up there?
13:06There was a lot of freedom.
13:08I remember running barefoot on the hot gravel and just, you know, trying to get home after school to, like,
13:15watch my favourite show on ABC.
13:18I would, you know, climb the trees, like the tamarind trees and the mango trees.
13:22Mango?
13:23Yeah.
13:24What?
13:25What?
13:26What show did you watch anyway?
13:27Um, Arthur was my favourite.
13:29Aww.
13:30Arthur.
13:31What I wanna put time today, where we can learn to work and play, and get along with each other.
13:39Yes!
13:40My favourite.
13:41That was my, yeah, I loved that show.
13:44Anything else with your, um, Darwin life?
13:47Yeah, um, there was, um, during the monsoon season we could actually smell the rain.
13:52Coming.
13:54We would run really fast and, you know, find ourselves in the gutters and try and, um, slide down the
14:00gutters and just be in the water.
14:02The climate Darwin has is called the Savannah climate.
14:05FYI.
14:06It's very hot.
14:08It is very hot.
14:09Thank you very much, Jess.
14:11Thank you, Savannah.
14:11Thanks, Savannah.
14:12Okay, Willow, your turn.
14:15Um, I was born the same year as you were on the Australian Idol.
14:18I was just a baby when you were on the Australian Idol.
14:21What was like, what was, what was year like for you?
14:24Oh, I was 16 when I entered the show.
14:29It was an amazing time because I learnt a lot of skills when it came to performing on stage.
14:37I, uh, met a lot of people along the way.
14:40There were cameras, lights, and the experience and the opportunity was amazing.
14:46Um, I love your song, Little Things.
14:48I can relate to this song as I try really hard to make friends but my efforts are ignored.
14:54Is there anything you try but feel like your efforts are ignored?
15:00Oh, um, I love that song by the way.
15:04Um, I wrote that song for my mum.
15:09We saw her struggle a lot.
15:11So I wrote that about, um, I wrote that song about her.
15:14And I found writing it was the best way to, um, I guess approach that and how I felt watching
15:21her struggle.
15:24Um, Molly.
15:27On Australian Idol, you were told that you needed to lose your jelly belly if you wanted to succeed.
15:33You then were on the cover of who magazine sexiest people issue.
15:36They are two very different ends of the body image spectrum.
15:39What has this taught you about yourself and the way the media view people in the music industry?
15:44Yeah, it's, that's such an important question.
15:47Um, because I remember being 16 and hearing that from, um, one of the judges at the time.
15:54You know, thank goodness for my parents and stealing within me that I was already beautiful and very young.
16:02And, and I'm, you know, from one of five sisters.
16:04So I was already getting it for my sisters.
16:07But in, in this case, so publicly, I remember kind of just going,
16:11Oh, well that's, that's who I am and this is what I look like.
16:15And I'm, I'm okay with it.
16:19Um, Dale.
16:22Hello, Jess. I'm Dale.
16:23Hi. Hi, Dale.
16:24You've been signed to two of the biggest labels in the world, Sony and Warner Brother Music.
16:27And now you've chosen to go independent.
16:29Why did you do that? And do you think will work out?
16:32Oh, that's a good one.
16:33I've, I've slept on that thought for many nights, ever since I, um, officially launched my, um, independent label, Jay
16:43Malley.
16:43For 21 years, I'd spent obviously Sony Music and, and Warner's, um, I tried them both.
16:51And I, I think I got enough knowledge and tips and tools and advice that I felt I could create
16:59my own indie label, where, that I would have a lot more kind of control over my music.
17:08And I finally just released my first single on it. So I, I'm really proud.
17:14Awesome. Thank you for that.
17:16Anastasia.
17:17Yep.
17:18Hello, Jessica.
17:18Hello.
17:19I'm Anastasia. Lovely to meet you.
17:20Lovely to meet you.
17:21Um, just a heads up. Um, I'm also Greek like your partner. So, yes.
17:25You probably get a lot of call outs. Like for example, somebody would probably scream out, marry me.
17:32When you, when you perform in a concert and when you're on the voice, what is the funniest call out
17:38you have received?
17:39Oh, sign my shoe. Wow. Literally. Um, and actually it was the first time I'd ever experienced it and I
17:55was quite shocked and, um, please sign my shoe.
17:58At least he said, please. And so I went down and I grabbed their shoe and I was like, okay,
18:04where am I going to sign?
18:07I found the smallest part of the shoe and I just put JM.
18:14That's a good, I like that. That's a really good signature.
18:16Okay. Um, when you record your stinging in the studio, do you do any silly noises into the mic?
18:23Oh, yes, I do. I do. Um, one thing that helps clear the kind of mucus in my throat, um,
18:32is I go, aw, ma.
18:37Aw, ma.
18:38The more kind of like whiny, the more my vocal cords are loose and they're warm and they, they're very
18:48kind of stretchy.
18:50So it's like, it's, it's, um, aw, ma.
18:54Or there's, there's another one. There's like, um, peanut, popcorn.
19:01I know it sounds silly, but it works because it just helps the inflections and get the kind of, you
19:10know, yeah, get the gunk out of the throat.
19:12That was really good. Thank you so much.
19:15Thank you so much.
19:16Evie, would you like to have a go?
19:18Okay. Um, my name's Evie.
19:21Hi, Evie. I'm Jessica. Lovely to meet you.
19:24Your music was really important to me growing up. In particular, Burn and Inescapable in my childhood.
19:33And Fallin' When I Met You, Risk It and Um, This Ain't Love in my teen years.
19:41Do you have a song that, that is especially meaningful to you, whether it be one of your own songs
19:47or another person's song?
19:49Oh, that's a great question. Um, I've written a lot of songs.
19:55And the ones that you just mentioned, I just felt like I wanted to break out in songs.
20:00Um, uh, Inescapable is a really fun one.
20:03And I'll be inescapable. Like a song in your head, unshakable. Try to fight, but you'll be incapable. You won't
20:15get rid of me, rid of me, yeah.
20:18You think you can keep me out. I'll be all you think about. My spell will be unbreakable. You got
20:29it.
20:29Yeah, I'll be inescapable.
20:32Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
20:40Hey, Jess. Hi. Hi.
20:43Is your creative process chaotic or structured?
20:46Oh, that's a good question. Um, it sometimes is both. If I'm not familiar with the person I'm working with,
20:57it can be quite scattered and, um, the day can feel a little bit everywhere and stop and start.
21:04You know, if I'm comfortable with the person, you know, I could write a song in half an hour if
21:10I know the person and I just feel comfortable and safe. Yeah.
21:13Yeah, it's fair. Like if you've got that rapport already. Yeah.
21:16Yeah.
21:17Sort of know each other's style.
21:19That's right.
21:20In sync, sort of, I guess. So, um, do you prefer life now or before fame?
21:26What do you reckon?
21:27Oh, that's a really good one.
21:32Do I prefer life now?
21:35Um, yeah, definitely.
21:39You like it now?
21:39Like the life now.
21:40Same.
21:41I think I've been able to, like, curate and, um, and just have a little bit more control, I guess,
21:47in my adulthood years.
21:49Um, I started very young in the music industry and, you know, at the age of 11 and so I
21:54feel like I very much, yeah, live for now.
21:59Yeah, fair enough.
22:00I agree.
22:01Doing this, yeah, fair enough.
22:03Thanks, Jess.
22:04Yeah.
22:05Thomas?
22:07Hello, Jess, I'm Thomas.
22:10So, out of all of the, um, international artists you've worked with, which one was your most favourite and why?
22:17I would have to say Midnight Oil.
22:23I think they're so full of knowledge and it was just so nice to be in their presence and, um,
22:29to understand how they work as a band and as an artist.
22:33And then, obviously, growing up listening to Midnight Oil's music.
22:36I just love their work and what they do in the community.
22:40Did you do any of those Peter Garrett moves, you know?
22:42Oh.
22:44Yeah, right.
22:45I, that's what I was waiting for and I got to see a lot of that whilst making the music
22:50video and so, yeah, there was me going.
22:54I love those moves.
22:56Yeah, so iconic.
22:58Yeah.
22:59Thank you, Thomas.
23:00So, Fletcher, you'll go.
23:02Good evening, my name's Fletcher.
23:04Hi, Fletcher.
23:04Hello.
23:05Now that you have a baby, there must be some days when you just can't be bothered to go to
23:09an event.
23:10What is the worst excuse that you have ever made up just to stay home in your pyjamas?
23:17Oh my gosh.
23:19Watch, I really put you on the spot there.
23:22Oh, that's a really good one.
23:25Um.
23:28I'm scared.
23:29I haven't, I don't, I have not used that excuse yet.
23:33Um, but if baby Mia Rae had a blowout.
23:38What?
23:41Maybe.
23:45Lots of autistic people have special interests.
23:48Mine is the Wiggles, I know everything about them.
23:51If you were lucky enough to be autistic like us, what would your special interest be?
23:56Oh, just collecting things, I think.
24:00Ooh.
24:00I mean, I already do that.
24:02I collect, um, records, vinyls.
24:05Ooh.
24:05So that's something I like and I'd love to like just frame them and make like a shrine of vinyls
24:12on a wall in photo frames.
24:15That's cool.
24:16Yeah.
24:16And thank you, Jess.
24:18Thanks, Fletcher.
24:19I'm Bethany.
24:21Hello, Jess.
24:22I'm Bethany.
24:22Hi, Bethany.
24:23Lovely to meet you.
24:24Lovely to meet you too.
24:25Um, I often think about what people are thinking in their heads as they're walking to work.
24:30Sometimes they look so anxious.
24:32What makes you anxious?
24:34Oh, um, if I don't know what I'm doing or if I, if I've felt like I don't know my
24:42lyrics enough.
24:43But yeah, not knowing my lyrics like makes me very anxious.
24:46That's totally fair.
24:48That's what you do.
24:49Yeah.
24:50Thank you so much.
24:52I'm Mitch.
24:55Hello.
24:56I'm Mitch.
24:57Nice to meet you, Jessica.
24:58Lovely to meet you.
25:00Um, so my first question is, you've taken children's books and rapped the words to them.
25:08Um, and I'm a big fan of rap.
25:11Oh.
25:12And, um, I think you can probably see where I'm heading with this.
25:15Oh.
25:15Could you rap for us now?
25:17Oh, wait.
25:18What?
25:18It can be anything.
25:19Yes, yes, yes.
25:22Okay.
25:23I don't know if you know the beginning of a song I wrote called Saturday Night.
25:28But there's a rap artist who performs at the beginning of the song and he says,
25:34I got my cup filled up all the way to the rim, rim, rim, rim.
25:39Black on black Cadillac with a custom trim, trim, trim, trim.
25:42Smoke filling up my lungs and I'm blowing bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble.
25:46It's Saturday night.
25:47Let's get in trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble.
25:50Nice.
25:55I think you can do a better job than I just did though.
25:59Nice job.
26:00I don't know if you could call that rapping.
26:01I'm no Eminem, that's for sure.
26:05Did you ever get left out by your siblings is my next question.
26:09Yeah, there was a lot of kind of my older sisters leaving myself and my younger sister out.
26:15I wasn't allowed to play any of my elder siblings' music.
26:19Couldn't touch their stereo.
26:21Couldn't touch their CDs.
26:23But I did.
26:26I snuck in somehow.
26:30Thank you, Jessica.
26:31Thank you so much.
26:32Thanks very much, Mitch.
26:32Hey, Jessica.
26:34Ciao here.
26:35How you going?
26:35Ciao lovely to meet you.
26:36Nice to meet you.
26:37We live in a balanced world, especially for those in the First Nations community.
26:44We tried things like closing the gap, but we know that progress takes a very long time.
26:50Yes.
26:51What's something you want to see change in the near future that will make, that you will
26:56see actual change in your eyes?
26:58Yeah, I think, you know, I think it comes down to culture and language.
27:05You know, I work with Indigenous literacy and, you know, the kids, their language is first
27:16language and English is second language.
27:18But I think it does make a difference when that is placed in the curriculum.
27:23And I hope and dream to see the Indigenous language being, yeah, being shared in schools.
27:31Yeah, it's something that I have seen in the Northern Territory and I hope that can exist
27:36all across Australia.
27:37Thanks for answering my questions, Jessica.
27:40Andrew.
27:42Hello, Jessica.
27:43I'm Andrew.
27:44Hi, Andrew.
27:44Lovely to meet you.
27:45You had the huge honour of being awarded the Making a Difference Medal for speaking out
27:50against racism and bullying.
27:51I have been bullied throughout my life and I was wondering what did it mean to you personally
27:55and could you talk a bit about your experience growing up?
27:59Wow.
28:00Thank you so much for that question.
28:02Yeah, I remember being bullied in high school.
28:06Yes.
28:07You know, for wearing glasses or the colour of my skin.
28:12I remember running home one day when, you know, a young student referenced the colour of my skin
28:21and I just felt sad.
28:26Yes, that's not good.
28:27And I ran home and I shared that news with my parents and my mum looks at me and says,
28:36there's going to be people that, you know, will like you and will not like you.
28:40Wow.
28:41But you have to love yourself.
28:42Be kind to yourself.
28:44You know, she says you are beautiful just the way you are.
28:47Keep your head tall.
28:49That's right.
28:49And, yeah, just know how strong.
28:53Yes, we are beautiful, Jessica.
28:53Yes.
28:54We are beautiful.
28:55That's right.
28:55Yes.
28:56And I've got another question for you too.
28:58What is something about growing up in Darwin that shaped you that people from Sydney and
29:03Melbourne just wouldn't understand?
29:05Oh, going crabbing.
29:08That's right.
29:11Going mud crabbing.
29:12Yes.
29:12In my dad's little tin boat.
29:15Oh, lovely.
29:16We would go out and drink, you know, and weave through the mangroves.
29:19Oh, amazing.
29:20And in the murky, you know, brown water and you might just get one crab.
29:25But we would always come home with something and food on the table and mum would prepare
29:31the food.
29:31Oh, that's cool.
29:32Yeah.
29:33So that's something I feel like has really shaped me.
29:37Well, thank you so much, Jessica.
29:39Thank you so much.
29:40Hello, Jess.
29:41I'm Oliver.
29:42Hi, Oliver.
29:43Lovely to meet you.
29:46You've been on The Voice, which Australia loved.
29:49You also supported The Voice, the Parliament, which Australia rejected.
29:53How do you make sense of a nation that celebrates your voice when you sing, but resists your
29:58voice when you use it to make change?
30:01Yeah, it's a really tough one because everyone has an idea of, you know, creating the right
30:11thing for so many of us.
30:15And, you know, I always take it back to empathy.
30:18You know, if empathy is really shared, that things can work.
30:23So, yeah, I think it's still a conversation to have.
30:26And it's important to obviously find a solution.
30:30Thank you very much.
30:31Pat.
30:32Hello, Jessica.
30:33I'm Pat.
30:34Hi, Pat.
30:34Nice to meet you.
30:35Lovely to meet you.
30:36I hear that you really like young kids.
30:39I'm the opposite.
30:40I can't stand them.
30:41I can only be around them.
30:43I can only be around little kids for about 30 minutes before I get drained.
30:48So, how long can you hang around kids until you get drained?
30:53It depends, right?
30:55Like, I mean, I love sleep too.
31:00So, I reckon I could handle, like, maybe, well, yeah, for the rest of my life, I've got
31:07my daughter.
31:08So.
31:09Well, it must be good because you wanted to be a school teacher, right?
31:13So, you know, you'd need at least eight hours of battery life.
31:16Yes, I do.
31:17Well, I got it now.
31:19Yeah.
31:20Oh, well, no.
31:21Well, that's good.
31:22Your purpose built for kids.
31:23Yes.
31:25Well, thank you.
31:26Thank you so much.
31:27Silas.
31:29Hi, I'm Silas.
31:31Hi, Silas.
31:31Lovely to meet you.
31:33Yes.
31:33What intentional decision have you made in your life knowing that you'll die?
31:38Knowing that I'll die?
31:41Um, that's a really good question.
31:43I've never, I've, um, well, that's a really good question.
31:51Oh, you got me.
31:53You really got me.
31:56Um, having my baby, I think has really kind of put that into, you know, now she's in the
32:04world, I'm like, I just want to be there every second, every moment.
32:09Um, and I know, you know, I will one day, but, you know, I hope I get to teach her
32:16all
32:17the things that, you know, and, and witness her grow and become the person that she, she
32:23wants to be in this life.
32:24So, yeah, that's, that's something that I, um, I have intention to live to watch that.
32:31Yeah.
32:32What, what do you most want to teach her?
32:34Oh, that's a really good, this is very good.
32:38You got me.
32:39Um, uh, I, I just, I want to be able to teach her kindness, um, and love firsthand, you know.
32:49Yeah.
32:50Um, Abby.
32:51How does your connection to your family and now a new mum to Mia shine through in your music?
32:57Oh, so deeply.
32:59Ah, you know, I feel like I have a, a new perspective on how I look at life, particularly through,
33:06through Mia Rae.
33:07I'm just living in the moment with her.
33:10I'm, I feel like I'm always constantly creating melody in front of her and she's just gazing
33:17at me with wide eyes and thinking that's really familiar.
33:21And I sung a lot when I was carrying her, I was still, I was touring and I was making
33:27music.
33:27So I think maybe she is really familiar with those sounds.
33:32And when I hum or when there's vibration that happens, she's, she just, she really turns her neck
33:39and she's like breaking her neck to look at me and, you know, just an awe of when I'm singing.
33:46And it's just really beautiful right now.
33:49Yeah.
33:49Well, um, you never know.
33:51Well, maybe your next album might be nursery rhymes or lullabies.
33:56There you go.
33:57That's the next album.
33:59Okay, great.
34:01Well, thank you, Jess.
34:02Daniel.
34:03Alrighty.
34:04Hello.
34:05Hello.
34:07All right.
34:08So I know, I gotta compose myself.
34:13Me too.
34:14I know you're a singer, but you're also an actor.
34:17How did you end up as an actor as well as a singer?
34:21And do you enjoy acting?
34:25Oh, I sometimes think about that.
34:27How did I land any of those roles?
34:31I do love acting.
34:33When I first had my audition for the role of Rosie in Brand New Day.
34:40I'd never done like an audition like that.
34:42I'd done music auditions.
34:44But this was like reading a script and then having to memorize it.
34:48It was a little bit of awkwardness.
34:50I didn't know how to be, but I remember the lady behind the camera.
34:54She's like, just, just relax.
34:56And I was like, I don't know how to relax.
34:59This is awkward.
35:00There's so many people behind the camera.
35:03And I just remember, okay, just, you know, think of it as like if you were singing.
35:08There's a rhythm in projecting a line to someone.
35:14But I, yeah, that first kind of taste, I was like, I'm in.
35:20I want to be in more films.
35:22If a script landed in my lap, you know, today, I would read it and then I would go and
35:26audition.
35:26Yeah.
35:27Yeah.
35:28All right.
35:29My second question is, well, from what I've heard, the music industry can be very brutal.
35:34We have lost some famous singers due to mental illness, depression, alcohol and drug addiction.
35:40How have you managed the low points in your career?
35:44Oh, wow.
35:46There is a side to the music industry that can be sad and brutal.
35:52I think upholding a strong connection with my family and an open conversation, you know, they've given me a lot
35:59of advice along the way.
36:01And I feel like that's given me a lot of clarity to remain strong and go about how I, you
36:07know, represent myself and how I connect with other people in the music industry.
36:11That's really, really lovely.
36:13Yeah.
36:14Um, some are visual artists.
36:16Um, I've done something for you.
36:19No, you.
36:19What do we even say?
36:20Yeah.
36:21I have done, I have done a portrait of you.
36:24Wait, what?
36:24And I want to give it to you.
36:26Oh.
36:27Here we go.
36:29Oh.
36:31Oh.
36:32Oh.
36:32Oh.
36:33Oh.
36:33Oh.
36:34Wow.
36:34You did this.
36:36Yes.
36:37This is absolutely beautiful.
36:40Oh my gosh.
36:41My eyes.
36:43My eyebrows.
36:45Yeah.
36:46And my hair.
36:48Yeah.
36:49Oh no, it's so beautiful.
36:51Thank you so much.
36:52I'm going to get emotional and I don't want to get emotional, but thank you so much.
36:56Would you like a hug?
36:57I would love a hug.
37:01It's one thing to look at yourself in the mirror, but then having something from your
37:06perspective.
37:07This is really special.
37:08I can't wait to frame it and put it amongst my, my vinyls.
37:13I made you cry, I think.
37:15You did.
37:16I'm a somber.
37:18Thank you so much.
37:20Oh my gosh.
37:22Oh.
37:26I've been listening to your music all week.
37:30Oh.
37:30Can you please sing us one of your songs for us?
37:34Like, like, uh, perform?
37:37Yeah, there's a piano right there.
37:39Yeah, look behind you.
37:39What's behind you?
37:41Surprise!
37:42James!
37:43Alright, should I stand up?
37:45Yes.
37:46It's just here?
37:47Oh wow, we have a mic stand.
37:55You've got this Jess.
37:57I'm sorry.
37:58I'm a mess already.
38:01Is that crazy?
38:03No, not at all.
38:04I feel the same way.
38:05What's happening?
38:08It's alright.
38:17It's alright.
38:18I just want to say thank you so much for allowing me to, or sharing your space, to have me
38:24here
38:24today.
38:25And, um, it's been so wonderful.
38:28And, uh, my heart is so full right now.
38:35And I thank you all for just giving me that, uh, even if you didn't know you did, but you
38:43did.
38:45Um, and for sharing music too, because that's my love.
38:49That's my first love.
39:00You don't say I'm pretty.
39:05Not like you used to.
39:09And I never admit it.
39:14I'm trying so hard for you.
39:17Mmm.
39:20Cause all of the moments are treasured.
39:24In the morning you won't remember.
39:28Don't know why you can keep it together long enough to try.
39:36I make big things out of little things.
39:41And I watch you keep missing them.
39:46You don't get why it's kidding me.
39:50Every time you mess this up.
39:53Send myself on fire to keep us warm.
39:59It's where I lose my mind.
40:01Watching you ignore all the little things.
40:07The little things mean so much more.
40:16So no, I'm not finished.
40:18The performance was jaw-dropping.
40:21She's so talented and in person.
40:23It's, it's like palpable.
40:26Goosebumps.
40:27It's amazing.
40:28Don't mean just cause you're angry.
40:34I could feel like the energy.
40:37Like this open vulnerability around everyone.
40:41It was amazing to see.
40:42I make big things out of little things.
40:47And I watch you keep missing them.
40:52You don't get why it's kidding me.
40:56Every time you mess it up.
41:00Send myself on fire to keep us warm.
41:05I swear I lose my mind.
41:07Watching you ignore all the little things.
41:14The little things mean so much more.
41:22Yeah, they mean so much more.
41:26Bravo!
41:28Bravo!
41:30Bravo!
41:32Bravo!
41:32This is our beating, ladies and gentlemen.
41:35Thank you!
41:41So superb, thank you.
41:43Jess, can we trouble you to get a photo with all of us before you go?
41:46Yes, please!
41:48Oh my gosh, can I just get a hug?
41:50Oh my gosh!
41:52It was so lovely.
41:53You want me to get a hug?
41:56Oh, Abby, this dress is giving me so much.
42:00Thank you, Jess.
42:03Thank you so much.
42:05It was awesome.
42:06I can't believe you're just in front of my eyes.
42:08Yeah, I know.
42:10And same to you, like from me.
42:13It's been an honour to meet you.
42:14And you've been such a kind host.
42:17And likewise.
42:17Thank you so much.
42:19That's awesome.
42:19I really loved the performance.
42:21It made me cry.
42:23If I had more serotonin to meet, I would be crying too, I think.
42:27Thank you so much.
42:27I think we were all emotional.
42:29Oh, I'm so glad.
42:31It was a beautiful performance.
42:33I think everyone all was crying.
42:38Our next guest is one of the most famous Olympians in Australian history.
42:43He has five Olympic gold medals.
42:46It is, of course, Ian Thorpe.
42:48Wow!
42:50Who's the person here that I should be scared of?
42:52No one.
42:53No one.
42:53Really?
42:54You've spoken openly about battles with depression.
42:57Do you think it was the result of media scrutiny?
42:59Oh.
43:00Ooh.
43:00How hard was it to get people to accept you as gay?
43:05How did it feel seeing commercially available underwear with your name on it?
43:10Are you dating anyone right now?
43:13Sorry.
43:14Asked that.
43:16And you could get me busted.
43:17Ha, ha, ha.
43:19Ha, ha, ha.
43:20Ha, ha, ha.
43:22Bye.
43:42Transcription by CastingWords
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