LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts) The same week that this year's "American Idol" finalists
Scotty McCreery and
Lauren Alaina were battling it out for the title,
Guy Sebastian - one of the world's most successful Idol winners, who took the first "Australian Idol" crown in 2003 - was in Los Angeles collaborating with various songwriters and working on material for an upcoming EP that will mark his official U.S. debut.
Though the multi-talented, R&B/pop singer-songwriter (www.guysebastian.com.au) is essentially starting from square one Stateside, all signs are pointing to a loving embrace by American pop fans. Two of his platinum selling Australian releases, "The Memphis Album" (2007) and "Like It Like That" (2009), are already up on iTunes and "Who's ThatGirl," his infectious song featuring lady hip-hop star Eve, is currently being promoted in various radio formats: Top 40, Hot AC and Rhythmic AC.
The track is already a huge sensation in Sebastian's homeland, where it was the second highest selling Australian artist single of 2010, selling four times platinum; it also reached No 1 on the New Zealand singles chart.
While many "American Idol" winners struggle to build and maintain large fan bases, Sebastian's popularity back home has grown over the past eight years due to great songs, bold stylistic choices and wildly successful tours featuring legendary American musicians like the M.G.'s (Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Steve Potts, who played on "The Memphis Album") and Lionel Richie.
His journey began with "Angels Brought Me Here," his "winners' song" on Idol which ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) named as the highest selling song of the 2000s; it also reached No 1 in four Asian countries and New Zealand. Bookending that success is "Who's That Girl," Sebastian's fifth single to reach No 1 helping him become the first Australian male artist in history to achieve five No 1 singles.
While U.S. audiences gear up for the American debut of Simon Cowell's highly-anticipated "X-Factor" talent competition this fall, Sebastian will be appearing for the second season as a judge on the Australian version. The show is unique from Idol in that the judges help mentor competitors in multiple categories.
