Shannon Noll
Over a decade ago, Shannon Noll was the runner up of Australia’s first Idol series. He was sold as the gravelly-voiced, Jimmy Barnes-type rocker and it fit him like a glove. In the years that followed Noll released five top 10 albums and had roaring success with singles such as, What About Me, Learn to Fly and Shine.
When we meet for lunch, the sun is shining brightly, bringing with it the promise of impending summer. There’s a tinge of excitement in the air at the thought of the warm weather returning and it’s a fitting atmosphere to talk about new developments and the album Noll has in the works.
Although there are some projects he won’t reveal the details of just yet, the down-to-earth singer is more than happy to discuss anything and everything else.
Noll moved his family back to Sydney recently after a stint ‘away’, but even though the WOLO tour (named for his latest single, We Only Live Once) is being plugged as a major ‘comeback’, Noll says he hasn’t stopped working.
“The first year I moved down to Melbourne, I did 80 shows off the back of the last album and we went everywhere. Then I had a 12-month contract with NSW racing; that took me on the touring thing – I was gone every weekend. Then I wrote an album. So I haven’t had a holiday in three years,” he continues, “This is supposed to be a comeback. Don’t know where I was really. Somewhere that doesn’t resemble a holiday!”
It’s obvious that the Aussie icon is feeling reinvigorated. The last few years have seen him plagued with a back injury that required emergency surgery and forced him to pull out of television competition Dancing With The Stars in 2012, but although Noll still harbours a twinge of pain, his energy and motivation is palpaple. The muso says it’s time to get “stuck in” again.
WOLO was released in June and is a change in musical direction, full of catchy pop sensibilities that fans are loving. Noll is proud of the toe-tapping track saying, “It’s got a real swag to it and it’s a happy song.” (LL)
Sep 27, The Basement, 7 Macquarie Pl, Circular Quay, $35+bf, thebasement.com.au
