By Alesha Capone
At 16 years old, Josh Melaku has impressed luminaries from Australia’s music industry to win a section of the Homegrown Superstars Australia singing competition.
Billed as Australia’s first online singing competition, the contest allows people to enter a 60-second clip of themselves singing, via Instagram.
Every week, judges such as Casey Donovan, Rob Mills and Angela Bishop select six of the top entrants. The public then votes for the winner.
Josh won a week eight of the competition, in which participants were asked to submit a video of themselves performing a song from a television show or film.
Josh, who is in Year 10 at Werribee Secondary College, sang City of Stars from La La Land for the competition. He also took part in an Instagram live open mic performance, as part of the contest.
Josh said he decided to enter Homegrown Superstars Australia after being encouraged to do so by his friend Patrick, a guitarist and singer whom he sometimes collaborates with.
Josh said he began singing lessons in Year 7 and sings with his church’s band. He has also performed in a number of school musicals and concerts, including at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“For me, I just like the type of feeling you get while singing, such as from duets and harmonies,” he said.
“Or even if it’s just me and the piano, I just love it.”
After winning week eight the competition, Josh received $250 in prize money.
The competition’s organisers also donated $250 to a charity of Josh’s choice, an international Black Lives Matter fund.
Details: homegrownsuperstars.com.au/
