James McNally
Name: James McNally
Age: 32
Category: Over 25s
Office job by day, singer by night. That’s been financial analyst James McNally’s life for the past 10 years. Now he’s ready to throw the office job away. Gigging on weekends, then back to the office on a Monday morning was difficult. “I found it really hard, switching it on and off, going from different worlds,” he says. James grew up performing - at Newton’s High School for the Performing Arts.
He was writing and recording songs at 15 on a four-track recorder. Music was all encompassing - he spent time as part of the “schools spectacular” program, singing in front of huge crowds at NRL Grand Finals and the 2000 Sydney Olympics and performing with such artists as Human Nature and Vanessa Amorosi. In 2008, he tried out for Australian Idol, but was coping with his mother’s illness and didn’t progress in the competition.
Now, he’s ready to give it another go. “It really wasn’t the right time for me,” James says. “I’m such a different person now, so the struggles and issues came at the right time. “Coming into a competition a bit older and wiser is really lovely and I’m enjoying it. “And I want to be here a little bit longer than 15 minutes.” James’ favourite artists range from Tina Turner to India Arie, Oleta Adams, Beyonce and Lady Gaga. He hopes the audience will appreciate his unique voice. “My biggest strength is my ‘Unexpected Factor’. I won’t do any vocal the same way twice. Everyday I get older, I realise how special that is.”
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