Jessica Mauboy

Musician

31 Quotes

I never went to music school.

The first thing I do when I get home is take my shoes off and go barefoot.

When I was growing up, every Sunday was a rest day, so after church, we'd get all my cousins and sisters together, and my parents would take us all shop hopping. We'd go to all the different shops, and Target was always the last on the list; we'd walk in, and Mum would say, 'Go on, go crazy!'

There's been moments where I've felt, as an indigenous woman growing up in Australia, there's been that kind of rivalry of being indigenous... I've had that experience of someone saying, 'I don't know if she's going to go that far.'

I have a black pair of suede Jimmy Choos. I've only worn them once to a Sony event. The heels have these arrow plates in a pattern. There's gold, black and white and they're amazing!

I've always been a big fan of Mariah Carey. I think it's her personality. As much as she has an amazing voice, she has a crazy personality and I love the fact that she's not afraid to hide that.

My father is Indonesian Timorese, my mother Aboriginal Australian.

When I go back home, I am just Jess, no-one special.

Country music is who I really, really am deeply.

Listening to country music as a kid allowed my imagination to run wild.

There hasn't been that many indigenous Australians who have made it in the pop industry.

I am a deeply competitive person when it comes to music.

When I get into the studio, it's not about trying to get a good song, it's about whatever comes naturally.

I like to branch across a lot of different styles and brands in the way I dress; it's just the way my style works. So I love that I can walk into a Target store and think, 'Oh my God, I love these jeans,' and then I'll pair them with something designer.

Before every performance, you need at least half an hour to focus on what you are about to do: the walk-on and walk-off, the lyrics, how you are going to sing it - like, the original or bring your own personal flavour to it - how are you going to make it the best.

I would definitely be open to more films if the role was right. I haven't thought about a move to Hollywood, but if there was a good opportunity, and it happened that way, then I would definitely consider it!

There were country songs I connected to when there was pain, when I saw things my family were going through. It was my way of acknowledging I wasn't OK: music tapped on the door; I could work out these emotions by singing.

I thank my mum, dad, and home for keeping me in touch with my own country and my own land. I can be in the studio with Snoop Dogg or singing for Oprah, but I'm still me.

I just want to play music with a band, live.

The storytelling in country music is so powerful.

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