Biography
Royston Noell, Australian Idol’s inaugural winner following the TV talent show’s 14-year hiatus in this country, releases Dreaming, a deeply personal song he co-wrote with Chris Chidiac.
Dreaming – the follow-up to Royston’s Australian Idol winner’s single, Invincible (2023) – opens with keys that evoke a gently fluttering heartbeat, which roll out the carpet for this proud Thanakwith and Wagadagam man’s sublime, soul-stirring vocals.
“I’m moving with the wind/ It’s time to go/ I gotta make up my mind/ Should I stay or should I go/ It’s gonna be real hard/ Leaving everything you know/ I gotta do this for me/ It’s time to start a new show…”
Instrumentation slowly builds, like confidence gained through realising you’re on the right path, until an insistent beat ushers in Dreaming’s exultant, danceable chorus.
“Don’t wanna wake up dreaming what could be/ I gotta keep on moving with the beat/ Home will always be where it’s meant to be…”
“It’s such a personal song,” Royston acknowledges, “but it’s also fun; you can still have a dance to it. To really get the gist of what it means you have to listen carefully to the lyrics, which I think is pretty cool as well.”
Dreaming’s concept and lyrics hark back to a major crossroad Royston faced after finishing Year 12: should he take the leap, relocate to the ‘big smoke’ and pursue his lifelong dream – a career in music – or stay home to care for his mum, who had been diagnosed with brain cancer?
“I asked Mum if she wanted me to stay back a year and help out, ‘cause she was starting to get really sick and my brother was her carer at the time, but she insisted, ‘No, I want you to go out and follow your dreams’,” he recalls.
“I’m struggling at night/ Thinking of you/ It’s hard to be away/ But you told me to break through…”
Royston admits that moving away from Mapoon, a remote Indigenous community in Far North Queensland with a population of around 400, was “challenging” to say the least. “Leaving your cultural identity and way of living, and life, to go and live in an urban environment is like navigating two different worlds,” he explains. “But that was a pivotal point in my journey. If I didn’t do that, I think I would still be back home.”
Two years after he relocated to the city his mother sadly passed away. But Royston says he draws strength from knowing that she fully supported his decision and always encouraged him to share his gift with as many people as possible. “I think she’d be really proud, actually,” he reflects. “I know she’s always with me. When I was on Australian Idol I always asked her to protect me and make sure everything went well.”
Royston quickly established himself as a clear contender, thanks to his consistently outstanding Australian Idol performances, and went on to win the eighth season of this popular TV talent show, which returned to our screens in 2023 following a 14-year hiatus. Recognised for his interpretative nous, Royston channels his own hardships in order to portray complex emotions through song.
He’s also passionate about giving back to his community, leading by example and empowering future generations. Royston returned to his Mapoon community to film some shots for Dreaming’s music video and shares, “It’s really heartwarming seeing all the kids being so excited and I’m so glad I get to be this beacon of hope.”
Produced by Chris Chidiac, Dreaming celebrates how far this Thanakwith and Wagadagam man from Mapoon, on the tip of Cape York, has come. Towards the end of Dreaming, rolling snares underscore the breakdown, which gives listeners a moment to brace themselves for Royston’s awe-inspiring, climactic powernote: “Don’t wanna wake up dreamiiiiing!”
Royston’s powerful new single is inspiring and uplifting, both lyrically and sonically; much like the artist himself.
Later this year, Royston will travel to the U.S. to collaborate and work on some more new music. “I feel really excited and I’m keen to continue on this inspirational journey,” he concludes. “There’s so much I wanna give and no dream is too big.”