Kate Miller-Heidke will represent Australia at Eurovision 2019. She will sing the dance pop-opera song “Zero Gravity”. She wrote the song following her battle and triumph over post-natal depression following the birth of her son.
Australian broadcaster SBS chose Kate through the country’s first ever national selection, Australia Decides. “Zero Gravity” won both the public and jury votes. With Australia coming last in the televote at Eurovision 2018, the nation is hoping that a national selection might reinvigorate its Eurovision efforts — and with “Zero Gravity”, it just might!
As we draw closer to Tel Aviv, we have compiled a list of 10 facts you need to know about Kate Miller-Heidke. So without further ado, let’s take a closer look.
1. She comes from Brisbane
Kate was born in Brisbane, Australia’s third largest city. Australia Decides was held at the Gold Coast, which is in the same state. Her achievement must have been even more meaningful winning so close to home.
2. She is a classically trained singer
Kate is not just any singer, but one that has the smarts! She completed a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Voice from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music at Griffith University on full scholarship. She then completed a Master of Music degree at Queensland University of Technology. With so much knowledge behind her, it’s easy to see where her talent and vocal composure comes from.
3. She is an award winning singer-songwriter
Kate has released four LPs to date, achieving many certifications and three top tens (plus an #11) on the Australian album charts. She has also been nominated for countless awards, including the ARIAs. However, one of the most prestigious achievements was when she became the first Australian to win the the grand prize in the International Songwriting Competition, for the song “Caught in the Crowd”.
4. She crowdfunded one of her albums… but with a twist
Back in 2013, Kate became an independent artist. However, in order to fund the recording and promotion of her album O Vertigo!, Kate undertook a spot of crowdfunding. She came up with many creative ways to secure donations from fans, including singing “Happy Birthday” down the phone. The project was a success. Kate reached her target in three days, breaking crowdfunding records in the process.
5. Her husband is also a musician
Kate is married to Keir Nuttall. He performs and records with Kate’s band as well as with the progressive rock trio Transport. The husband/wife duo have a strong collaboration record, writing many award-winning songs together. The pair co-wrote “Zero Gravity”.
6. She has a son and he’s totes adorbs
Going through Kate’s Instagram, you might notice that she has a three-year-old son called Ernie. Super adorable and cute, he is sometimes featured in her snaps. You can tell that Kate loves her son very much. Judging by this video, it also looks like Ernie could follow in his mother’s footsteps.
7. She’s presented on children’s TV
And Kate’s love for children doesn’t stop there! She was a guest presenter on the children’s television show Play School. It is the longest running kids programme in Australia. With Kate being a part of this iconic show, we are sure she has inspired the next generation of Australians.
8. She has written musicals
Any Australian will know how iconic and popular the film Muriel’s Wedding is. Kate took the movie even further by turning it into a stage-musical. She and Keir wrote the music and lyrics. The musical was originally shown in Sydney between 2017 and 2018 with generally positive reviews. It will tour around Australia this year. In 2018, the musical was nominated for and won several categories at the Helpmann Awards, which celebrate live performance arts in Australia.
9. She’s also an actress
She sings, presents, writes music and musicals — but that’s not all. Kate has done some acting too. Her most notable role was in the Australian miniseries The Divorce. Described as a comedy opera, the plot involves a couple who are getting a divorce which impacts on the other characters. Kate played Caroline, a personal assistant to the focal couple.
10. Her humour is out of this world
Kate is real and down to earth. Even just looking through her Instagram, some of the captions are hilarious. When you meet and chat with her, she doesn’t take herself too seriously and is keen to have a laugh. So much so that this witty humour has made its way into her music. She was nominated for an ARIA award for Best Comedy Release for her ode to pubic hair — “I’m Growing A Beard Downstairs For Christmas”.
What do you think of Australia’s Eurovision 2019 chances? What was the most interesting fact about Kate to you? Let us know in the comments down below!
Is that a picture of her with her husband or with Tim Minchin? or does a large portion of Australian men look like Tim Minchin?
I’ve not heard I’m growing a beard downstairs for Xmas but I love it coming from Australia we get sick and tired of Xmas songs talking about snow – it’s usually flipping hot and humid for Xmas here so it’s nice to hear a song that isn’t about snow but I doubt we will hear it in the shopping malls but it’s going in my x mas song rotation.She has a great sense of humour . When asked after winning the national final if she was happy she got that high note her response was F**k yeah. Australia was so… Read more »
Christmas Landfill is another one of hers that is worth adding to the holiday playlist.
Cheers mate, just watched it live from the Woodford festival 2014/15 – added to the Xmas list
Don’t get me wrong, Australia is my number 1 this year, but I don’t want Australia to win, because if they win, ESC will not be hosted by the winning country next year. I want that tradition to go on, so I prefer other countries than Australia to win. Certainly, if Kate’s victory could mean Sydney 2020, I would love to see her win the whole thing.
Australia will never host the ESC even if it wins. There will be a deal with another ESC country to hold it in Europe. I wish everyone in Europe knew this!!!
Yes, I know that, that’s why I said ESC would not be hosted in Australia in the case of Kate’s victory. And unfortunately I am not from Europe, which I am unhappy about because I will have to stay up late (or wake up early) for watching Eurovision.
My mum’s favourite and mine! Love her and so want her to get the result she deserves (winning).
you guys should check her song with Passenger “Share Your Air” It is a totally beautiful song
They also created “the one you love” years prior to this too! I’d love for both Kate and Mike to do a whole album, they’re both my favorite artists.
Somehow she needs to start selling it to them… It seems other countries or artists are already doing it.. It’s and she is great..
But it seems the others are getting promoted more and they are not half as good as she is
She will attend her first pre-party in Netherlands this Saturday, she’s starting to sell it to them. I wish she can attend more pre-parties, though, buuut we shouldn’t forgot about Ernie!
talent. acclaim. beauty. success. my number one favorite by far
Off topic but Croatia is sending full song version on Croatian language!
If they don’t reach top ten in the final im gonna stop watching esc :’D
My mom loves ”Zero gravity”, it’s her favourite 🙂
I am one of those few who think zero gravity is going straight to top 10.
Apparently, I’ve actually been listening to her before I knew who she was this year. A couple of songs of hers have charted in radio countdowns here in the Philippines, among them was “Ride This Feeling”.
All I could say is that she’s quite versatile.
OMG at #10 😀
I can’t find any of my Eurovision friends who like the song (and they aren’t Electric Fields fans either) It’s headed for non qualification even in that weak 1st semi.
I’m afraid it will still because of juries, but this has immediate impact. Has a chance to stand out.
It’s borderline and on the run.
Sheppard and Courtney Act’s fans are also in the hate group, sister.
lmao as IF….. zero gravity issa televote magnet considering how dramatic and divisive it is, & juries will love it bc…it’s….aussie
“Oh lovely pussy, oh pussy my love, what a beautiful pussy you are”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAJAUAUAJAJAJAJAJAHAJAKAAHAHAHAHAHA
This really made me like her and even the song – which i couldn’t listen to up until now.
Talented, funny and with a really interesting song. Zero Gravity is certainly something else, dancing a fine line between high art and pop fun for masses. I like it!
Kate is extremely talented! She is my winner <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
I had fear before reading the comments, but yeey! So adorable positive! GO Kate! Ze-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ro Gra-a-a-a-a-a-a-vity <3 <3
I just hope that people can appreciate the song and Kate for what it’s trying to be. I get why the song can be called as a “polarizing” one but I genuinely think this is one of the best songs this year with one of the best voices. I have faith that they’ll get the staging right 😀
“I’m Growing A Beard Downstairs For Christmas” is my new favorite holiday tune!
Honestly my least favorite song this year. She is talented, though.
That song is hilarious.
Off-topic, but: Can someone from the wiwi team tell me when you’re gonna start with the annual Wiwi Jury reviews of all 41 songs?
Hi. Chris Halpin said on YouTube that the Wiwi Jury videos were filmed over the weekend. So that part of it is already done. 🙂 I would predict that the results will be revealed either this weekend onwards or the weekend afterwards – however long it takes to type up all the background material, basically. (Usually it is in mid-April onwards.)
I just saw a fever dream photo of Kate holding a teady bear with text below saying “what a beautiful pussy you are”, and I’m not sure if I regret it or not.
Found something to add to the Christmas playlist. Just in terms of general quality of her musical output, she’s my favorite artist this year.
She looks like a goddess and has one of the best voices of the competition this year, if not the best. Her song is so unique and she deserves to do well. I’d be sad if this didn’t succeed
So 100% awesome.
such a talent
Most charismatic person this year 🙂