Having A Laugh

He’s the Kiwi international who took out top honours on ‘Australian Idol’ in 2009.

Two years on, Stan Walker has carved his own groove on the Australasian music scene. The self-confessed clown is touring the country with that other ‘Idol’ darling, Jessica Mauboy, and says, even though he now lives in Australia, the land of the long white cloud will always be his first home.

“I'm from New Zealand and I'll always be from New Zealand, but Australia is my home now. So I'm kind of like, both are my home. I'm always in New Zealand; I'll be living over there for three months from February onwards. It's always hard when people say 'Where do you come from?' I kind of like both, it's the best of both worlds.”
Kicking off the national ‘Galaxy’ tour in Revesby, Sydney, a fortnight ago, the boy-next-door with the soaring vocals, says fans will be surprised at the antics involved in the duet’s live show.

“It's going to be funny.  People will get a shock because it's more than just singing. You'll definitely have a good laugh with us. I think I just get into the zone and I just be a clown I guess.”

The tour won't make it to Brisbane, but Stan says he hopes to rectify that during his next stint on the road.
“I wanted to go everywhere. The team that decides the tour had already chosen the venues.  We're going to Caloundra, just outside of Brissie, but all of those decisions were made beyond Jess and me. We're going to make it work and it's going to be a lot of fun. People are still coming out. Jess and I both wanted to go to many more places than we are, but this is what we'll have to do. It's still good, we love it.”

But no matter where he is, the devout Christian, who wowed us all with his big band performance of 'Single Ladies' (and is still single, ladies) can't wait to hit the stage. “I'm just looking forward to performing. It doesn't matter where. I just want everybody to experience the show.”

Stan Walker, with Jessica Mauboy, plays the Twin Towns Friday January 27.