Matt Corby
Lisa Mitchell was the first to prove you could go indie after Australian Idol if you had the talent and creative vision. Matt Corby, who came second in 2007 to Natalie Gauci (remember her?) at just 16, is the latest star to escape the shadows of Idol and establish himself as one to watch on his own terms.
A year after his brush with reality TV, Corby did what many Aussie artists do and relocated to London to find his own feet. The move paid off and after unveiling his first EP Song For, he was snapped up by UK boutique label Communion, run by Ben Lovett of Mumford and Sons. Continuing to refine his emotionally wrought alt-folk and stage presence, he released his second EP Transition To Colour in late 2010 before returning home to Australia to craft his third.
As he tells it, he almost gave up music altogether at that point before persevering with his Into The Flame EP, which boasted a rawer, more evocative vocal style. It also featured a heartbreakingly-good sleeper hit called ‘Brother’, which ended up ranking a humongous #3 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 poll for 2011. With that, Corby’s evolution is now complete and the former reality star has now become a shining star in his own right.