Sione Finau's Telstra-inspired celebration for Try July
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West Australian
10 hours ago
- West Australian
Guy Sebastian announces 100 Times Around The Sun Australian tour to play RAC Arena Perth in May
Guy Sebastian is set to embark on his biggest Australian tour yet in celebration of his new album 100 Times Around The Sun, set for release on Friday. The ARIA Award-winning singer will return to stages across the country for an epic run of all-ages shows in support of his 10th album, which took him over four years to create. The tour will kick off in Newcastle on April 16, before stopping off in Canberra, Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney, Wollongong, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Melbourne. He will take to the stage at RAC Arena on May 15. Sebastian, 43, was last performed in Perth in 2021 and described his visit as the 'best show' on his last tour. 'I think it's been my biggest single show on one of my own tours I've ever done in my life,' he said from his beloved studio in Sydney. 'I've done big things like singing for Eurovision and the Pope, but I definitely will never forget the RAC show.' Fans can expect a banging set filled with his biggest hits, like Battle Scars, Before I Go and Choir alongside new tracks from 100 Times Around The Sun. The new album is a soul-filled, heartfelt record brimming with optimism, perspective and signature Sebastian power vocals. To create something he was truly proud of, Sebastian realised he had to step away from his coaching duties on The Voice and hone in on his music career. 'I had a fair bit going on just with life, personally and professionally, it took a bit of time to realise I just couldn't do it all and finish the album,' he said. 'So I kind of put the TV stuff away for a while just to give myself the headspace to be able to get creative and stay in that zone. 'I was pretty fussy, I wanted to make sure it was ready to release and be something I was really proud of. 'I feel like I've given everything I could possibly give to this album, as far as my time and my input, and the musicians that I've gathered.' Sebastian's band features a lot on the album, including singers who sing for Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, a guitar player from Whitney Houston's band and has played with Jay Z. 'I was in musician heaven,' he said. With his last album, Truth, released in 2020, an emotionally deep project, his new one is more upbeat. 'I think on this album, I really honestly just wanted it to reflect joy, like I wanted it just to come back to a place of like, feel good, soul and makes me want to love people more, and makes me want to enjoy life more,' he said. 'It's about my inner circle (of family and friends), that community that has become increasingly important in my life and stopping the pursuit of trying to please everybody. Sebastian is one of Australia's most loved live performers and with more than 1.3 billion global streams, seven ARIA Awards, 82 ARIA Platimun accreditations and six number one singles under his belt. Pre-sale tickets for the tour will be available on Monday at 1pm and through Telstra on Tuesday at 1pm. General public tickets will go on sale from 12pm on Friday.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The ‘hated' Telstra ad went viral. Blame Mick Jagger, North Korea and footballers
When Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes sat down with Telstra 's creative team +61 and advertising agency Bear Meets Eagle On Fire, the Oscar-nominated directors were handed a commercial project with a 'very open brief'. Among other controversies – some yet to emerge – Australia's largest telco had just started paying $24 million in penalties and refunds after it was found to have wrongly charged customers for the third time in three years. Smith & Foulkes' job was to deliver, with London-based production house Riff Raff Films, a distinctive advertisement that would alert Australia to Telstra's refreshed brand ethos. 'The whole idea was that wherever our main character went, he went with ease, knowing he was in step with his duet partner (Telstra),' says Bear Meets Eagle On Fire founder Micah Walker. Seven months later, Smith & Foulkes presented their client with what would, less than a year on from its premiere, be publicly voted in July as Australia's most unforgettable advert. And most hated. As put by one punter on YouTube: 'My stepbrother was lying dead next to a footy stadium at half-time. This ad came on, and he woke from the dead just to run for the lives of his ears!' 'People engage in their own way, and we welcome that,' says Telstra's chief marketing officer Brent Smart. 'We've seen fans have different reactions based on whether their team is up or down. At the end of the day if people are having a bit of fun with it, we're OK with that.' Adverts drawing the ire of the masses is not unusual; just look at Sydney Sweeney's recent 'Great Jeans' campaign for American Eagle, which has devolved to accusations of the label 'leaning into eugenics'. Telstra's Duet, however, is a whimsical, visually spectacular journey through mystical forests, caves, the outback and beyond, set to the Bee Gees/Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton's mollifying Islands in the Stream. What could possibly be controversial about that?
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Roosters leapfrog Sea Eagles on NRL ladder after gritty win
Loading Latest posts Report: Roosters' season has a pulse with vital win over Manly The Sydney Roosters' NRL season has a pulse after Sam Walker inspired a 20-4 defeat of Manly that puts a big dent in the Sea Eagles' finals hopes. The Roosters could've all but kissed their top-eight dream goodbye with a loss at wet and wild Brookvale Oval on Saturday night, having dropped three of their previous four matches. But in a duel against Manly veteran Daly Cherry-Evans, his probable halves partner next year, No.7 Walker breathed life into his side's season by playing a hand in all three Roosters tries. Captain courageous James Tedesco set the tone for the Roosters' best defensive performance of the year with two try-saving tackles on the right edge while the game was in the balance. The Roosters have now leapfrogged Manly into ninth on the ladder, a win out of the top eight and seemingly locked in a three-way battle with the Sea Eagles and Dolphins for eighth place. The loss may come back to haunt Manly given it keeps their rivals in the hunt and leaves them likely needing to win at least two of their tough clashes against the Dolphins, Warriors and Canberra. Manly enjoyed the bulk of early chances but had only one try to show for it as Tom Trbojevic, playing fullback during Lehi Hopoate's head injury assessment, swung left to put Tolu Koula over. Hopoate returned but was shifted to the wing late in the game with Trbojevic slotting into fullback after weeks of debate as to how Manly should best use the former Dally M Medallist. Terrible conditions played their part as Trbojevic spilt the ball into the hands of Queensland star Robert Toia, whose charge upfield swung momentum dramatically into the Roosters' favour. On the back of that Toia line break late in the first half, Walker found Billy Smith with a grubber kick for the Roosters' first try and the visitors were over again in the next set. Tedesco belted through the middle past Jake Trbojevic and Tof Sipley and found Walker, who slipped over but regained his footing and kicked left to a diving Daniel Tupou. Loading The veteran winger managed an offload for Angus Crichton to score one of the season's great team tries. It was a three-score game when a Walker kick was allowed to bounce into the arms of Egan Butcher at close range early in the second half. Manly's Ben Trbojevic suffered a game-ending concussion when clashing heads with teammate Luke Brooks, playing his 250th game. He will miss next week's clash with ladder-leading Canberra and could be joined on the sidelines by Jake Simpkin after the back-up hooker left for a late head injury assessment following a tackle on Siua Wong. AAP yesterday 9.29pm Roosters keep their season alive This is a huge result for the Roosters. By beating Manly, they also leapfrog them into ninth spot on the ladder. Their play-off hopes remain alive. There were two critical factors behind the outcome; Sam Walker's kicking game and the Roosters defence. It's all about playing to the conditions and Trent Robinson's men did just that. They actually had to do more defence in their red zone, but only let in the one try. And while they had less opportunities, the visitors took the ones presented to them. Walker had a hand - or foot - in all three tries. After outpointing Daly Cherry-Evans, the expectation is that they will pair up in the halves next year. Full-time: Roosters 20 defeat Sea Eagles 4 And that's the full-time siren. Great performance from the Roosters, they were the much better team after withstanding an early onslaught. The race for those last couple of spots in the eight remains wide open. yesterday 9.21pm What does a DCE-Walker combo look like next year? With the game seemingly out of Manly's reach, we turn our attention to some of the key takeaways from the action we have seen so far. Sam Walker has been the best player on the field, a masterclass in just his fourth game back from injury. While there is no official announcement, we are all expecting that Daly Cherry-Evans will join him at the Roosters scrumbase. Who will be the dominant half? Will the pair gel as well as Hugo Savala is with Walker at the moment? yesterday 9.08pm Roosters defence has been superb As expected given the conditions, there has been a slew of errors as fatigue sets in. The big difference between the teams has been the defence. I've already mentioned the try-savers from James Tedesco, but the line speed of the Roosters has been outstanding. A lot of the Manly errors are the result of having the defence sprint off the line and apply pressure. The game is getting sloppy as we head into the last 15 minutes. yesterday 8.54pm Roosters score again to break game open In just his fourth game but from injury, Sam Walker has produced another try assist. The Sea Eagles couldn't defuse his bomb - Mark Nawaqanitawase came up with the tap-back - and Egan Butcher has come up with the spoils. Walker converts and this has now become a massive assignment for Manly. Roosters lead 20-4 after 13 minutes. yesterday 8.51pm Roosters go further in front The Roosters have been gifted another penalty, this time from right in front of the posts. Sam Walker elected to kick for goal and made no mistake. I reckon that's the right call in these conditions, which have deteriorated since the second half began. There are now big puddles in parts of the field. I reckon we are going to see a lot of dropped ball. We've just had an official crowd number, 12,478. Every one of them deserves a medal for coming out in this weather. Here's the most important number. yesterday 8.44pm Second half is under way The rain has just started to come down again just as play resumed. In fact, it has just become hail. Poor start from Manly, who have conceded an early penalty. I feel so sorry for the punters on the hill, they are totally exposed. There's even talk of lightning nearby. yesterday 8.34pm Incredible late turnaround from the Roosters You look at the numbers, and the Roosters have no right to be leading at half-time. The Sea Eagles were leading just about every stat at the 30-minute mark, but had only one try to show for all of their advantages. And then it was all the Roosters in the last 10 minutes, who just about evened up possession (49 per cent) by the time they went into the sheds. James Tedesco produced a couple of try-savers on his line that could prove crucial. And then there was that Angus Crichton try, as good as anything you could hope to witness in wet conditions. Manly will now have to run into a very stiff breeze if they are to win this. Both teams have their season on the line, a big 40 minutes coming up. yesterday 8.28pm Half-time: Roosters lead Manly 12-4 The half-time buzzer has sounded, just as the rain begins coming down sideways. It was also a downpour of points late in the half late from the Roosters, who scored two late tries.
