NAIDOC Week welcomes most streamed First Nations pop artist

Published: 05 Jul 2021

He attended high school on the banks of the Murray River and went without food to fund the six hours of travel to get to his singing lessons each Saturday.

It was a sacrifice made by a young man with a dream and the drive to achieve it.

Isaiah Firebrace has now gone from a small-town singer to the most streamed First Nations pop artist in the world.

His songs have been streamed more than 320 million times on Spotify.

Isaiah is an Aboriginal Australian – his father is of the Yorta Yorta people and his mother is of the Gunditjmara people.

In a coup for Mackay, he’ll be in town performing his show “Spirit” as part of the Mackay Festival of Arts during NAIDOC Week (7.30pm, Saturday, July 10).

Mayor Greg Williamson said that during the last five years Isaiah won The X Factor, represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest (he finished in the top 10) and was signed to Sony Music.

“He also performed on The Masked Singer TV show and was the featured artist at The Sydney Opera House on Australia Day 2020,” Mayor Williamson said.

“One of the most impressive things about Isaiah though, is how he strives to be a role model to young First Nations people,” he said.

“During his Spirit and Beyond tour through central and regional Australia, Isaiah did workshops with and spoke with as many Aboriginal school children as possible and passed on his message about working hard to achieve goals and the importance of finding a passion.”

Isaiah said the last five years were still a bit surreal.

“I’m just this guy from a little country town, but if I can keep doing what I love to do and bring music to the world then I know I’m on the right path,” Isaiah said.

He said audiences in Mackay could look forward to a really fun show.

“I’ll be bringing my band and we will be performing some of my songs, my favourite covers and also my latest single, Blame On Me,” he said.

Tickets are available now at the MECC box office, online or by calling 4961 9777.