Sunday, August 4, 2024

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Samantha Jade is the new ambassador for the ''McGrath Foundation''

Samantha Jade posing with the other two ambassadors for the ''McGrath Foundation'' tv presenter James Tobin and ''McGrath'' co-founder Tracy Bevan.

Interview for ''The Daily Telegraph'' newspaper:

McGrath Foundation ''super squad'' united by a cause close to their hearts

One of singer Samantha Jade’s most enduring memories of her late mum Jacqueline is watching her struggle to write thank you cards to the nurses caring for her during her cancer battle.

Jade — one of the ''McGrath Foundation’s'' new ‘super squad' of ambassadors — lost her mum in 2014 just a few months after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer:

''The cancer had spread to her liver - and while she initially found a tumour in her breast, we don’t know where the cancer originated'', she said, ''What i do know is how incredible it was to watch her in her darkest hour, after she’d been told she didn’t have long to live yet she focused on making everyone around her feel good. She made me get presents for her nurses and even though she was so weak she struggled to write, she’d sit there and try to write them cards to thank them for her care.''

Those nurses kept the entire family going through that saddest of times which is why Jade was only too happy to sign on as one of a trio of ambassadors — alongside breakfast tv presenter James Tobin and McGrath co-founder Tracy Bevan — ahead of ''Breast Cancer Awareness Month''.

Link: [X]

Friday, August 2, 2024

02/08/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed and playing a game on 96.9 Nova Fm's ''Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel'' in Sydney

Interview and game of ''Quick draw'':

02/08/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed and pranked on Mix 94.5's ''Pete & Kymba'' in Perth:

Interview and prank:

Channel Seven's ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' ad

02/08/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed on The Hit Network's ''The Pulse With Seany B & Emma G'' in Sydney


Audio interview:


Game:


Recorded on wednesday july 24th 2024.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

31/07/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed on The Hit Network's ''Jimmy & Nath'' in Sydney

Audio interview:

Video interview snippet:


Behind the scenes:

31/07/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed on The Hit Network's ''Dan & Christie'' in Sydney

Audio interview:

Video interview snippet:

July 2024 - ''Love.Sick Volume 2'' EP promotional photoshoot

Click on the pictures to access the gallery 📷


Behind the scenes:

''Love.Sick Volume 2'' EP cover art and tracklist

Tracklist:

1- ''Peachy''

2- ''Set Fire''

3- ''Minutes To Midnight''

4- ''On And On''

5- ''New Me''

Monday, July 29, 2024

29/07/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed for the ''Yahoo! Lifestyle'' website

Samantha Jade reveals why she turned down ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' multiple times

EXCLUSIVE: The pop star spills on her experience in the competition and reveals the ''most challenging'' part.

She’s arguably one of the best performers on this year’s season of ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'', but it turns out Samantha Jade almost didn’t appear on the reality show. The ''ARIA'' award-winning singer-songwriter admitted to ''Yahoo! Lifestyle'' in 2022 following her stint on ''The Celebrity Apprentice Australia'' that she had been asked to take part in the dancing competition ''multiple times'', but repeatedly turned it down:

''I've been asked to do them all'', she said at the time, listing ''I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Australia'', ''The Masked Singer Australia'' and ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' as shows she kept saying ''no'' to.

Fast forward two years and Samantha is one of the favourites to take home the coveted Mirror Ball trophy alongside her dance partner Gustavo Viglio. Speaking to ''Yahoo! Lifestyle'' about her decision to finally appear on the long-running series, the hitmaker admits that the reason why she never said ''yes'' is because she was ''scared'':

''I think they asked me last november and i was kind of like: ''Oh, i'm not sure'' again and then took ages to say yes, and my manager was like: ''What is it? What are you scared of? What is the thing?'', she reflects, ''I think i was like: ''Oh no, i won't be good at it, it'll be too hard'', and putting it in that basket of the ''too hard'' thing. And then i was like, why am i doing that? Like, how fun to learn a new skill as well?''

Samantha adds that she was keen to do something outside of her comfort zone and switch up her routine, saying: 

''When you get to a certain age you don't do things that scare you anymore. You’ve got your little setups, you've got your life, you know what you can do. And i was like: ''That's not a good thing.'' I want to do something that scares me and gives me that ''Ooh, i'm nervous to do this'' feeling. And what i wanted from the experience is exactly what i got. The first week i was like: ''What have I done? Oh my gosh, this is so hard!''. But it was such a great experience, I loved it.''

Samantha Jade reveals ''most challenging'' part of the competition

While Samantha admits she had an advantage coming into the competition as a full-time performer, she says her experience on ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' was much harder than she could’ve ever anticipated:

''I don't have stage fright, i perform, i've danced before in my shows, but ballroom and latin dancing are like another level'', she details, ''Even my dancers who dance for me were like: ''Oh, we can't do ballroom and latin, it’d be like starting from scratch'', because all the techniques are so different from anything i do in my shows. So i had to really unlearn a lot of things, which was interesting.''

Link: [X]

Friday, July 26, 2024

26/07/24 - Viral social media influencer Christopher Hall background singing ''Peachy'' by and with Samantha Jade

''Peachy'':

26/07/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed for the ''Yahoo! Lifestyle'' website

Samantha Jade responds to viral TikTok declaring Australia ''failed'' her: ''I'm still here''

EXCLUSIVE: The pop star spills on her new music and why the best is yet to come.

The year is 2012, you’ve just bought some new clothes at Jay Jays, purchased a Flake Shake from Wendy’s, and now you’re on your way to Sanity to buy a signed copy of Samantha Jade’s new album after she won The X Factor Australia. The pop star, who had previously written music for JoJo and Ashley Tisdale and recorded the title song for the 2006 film ''Step Up'', went on to release the platinum-certified singles ''Firestarter'' and ''Soldier'' the following year, cementing her status as a fixture in Australian pop culture.

In the decade since then, Samantha has appeared on ''Home And Away'', opened for One Direction and the Backstreet Boys on tour, and is currently competing on ''Dancing With The Stars Australia''. While she’s continued to release new songs - including her recent bop Peachy which is reminiscent of some of Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter’s biggest hits - her music career became the subject of a viral TikTok this month when one person declared that Australia had ''failed'' her:

''How can i be proud to call myself australian knowing we let down Samantha Jade? We as a nation are responsible for her not making the mainstream and i'll never forgive us for it'', they said.

Social media users echoed this sentiment in the comments, saying ''Firestarter'' is ''the greatest pop song of all time'', ''What You’ve Done To Me'' should’ve won a Grammy'', and they don’t understand how ''Sweet Talk'' ''didn’t go worldwide''. ''HOW IS SHE NOT A GLOBAL SUPERSTAR i will die on this hill forever'', one fan added, while another replied, ''We totally let her down and i don’t understand why! Her music is amazing''. ''Justice for Samantha Jade'', someone else declared.

Samantha tells ''Yahoo! Lifestyle'' that she’s scrolled through all the comments on the video and it feels ''so special'' that people reflect on the early years of her career so fondly and have such strong memories attached to her music, like their first kiss or getting over a break-up.

However, the irony of fans lamenting her career when she’s still releasing songs - which are arguably better than her earlier hits - certainly isn’t lost on her:

''When Australia gets on board, they really get on board. And that's why people from the shows really work in Australia, like so many winners of ''The X Factor'' and ''The Voice'' and all these shows, they're still working and they're still doing it'', she says, ''But i haven't gone anywhere. I'm still here, and i think if people can follow along then it's great. I really do think we should support our own. The fear is that there aren't going to be John Farnhams and Tina Arenas and legends in the country if we don't back australian acts.''

A new chapter

Not only does Samantha look much different than when she made her reality TV debut 12 years ago, but she admits she’s also singing and writing in a whole new way. This is evident in her forthcoming EP ''Love.Sick Volume 2'' where she’s both singing her heart out in Peachy and opening her heart up in ''New Me'', a yet-to-be-released song about her late mother:

''Every time you put out a new project or you work on something new, it does feel like a bit of a rebirth. But i think with this release, i feel like i'm in a different place'', she remarks, ''I think there's a new confidence that i've found, which has been really nice to explore. There's something about this last kind of season of me and even doing [''Dancing With The Stars Australia''] that i've built up a thicker skin, and it's nice because i'm just putting out art now that i really love and not chasing charts and not chasing radio. ''Of course, i would love if it charts and i would love if it gets radio play, but i just really want my fans and the people who have followed me to love what i am giving them, and i want to love what i'm putting out there. And so i'm really come to that place, which is why it does feel like a new season.''

Link: [X]

26/07/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed on KIIS 106.5's ''Kyle & Jackie O'' in Sydney


Interview:


Behind the scenes:

26/07/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed on Channel Seven's ''Sunrise'' in Sydney


Interview:


Behind the scenes:

26/07/24 - ''The Daily Telegraph'' newspaper scan

Sunday, July 14, 2024

14/07/24 - Channel Seven's ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' Season 21 Episode 2

Quickstep and judges comments:

Full episode: [X]

Leaderboard:

Photoshoot:

Click on the pictures to access the gallery 📷

Ratings:

Sneak peek of tonight's look of Channel Seven's ''Dancing With The Stars Australia''

14/07/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed for the ''WHO'' magazine website

Samantha Jade on ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' and her next move

Singer, actress and almost dancer, she is on her way to being a triple threat:

''I’ve actually been asked to do it before, a few times, and i’ve said no out of fear of being not good at it, out of fear of being seen'', Samantha Jade tells ''WHO'' over the phone before her ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' debut, ''And this year, i don’t know, i was kind of like: ''I’m up for the challenge.''

A singer first, Samantha is used to performing in front of an audience, and even busting out a few moves during the chorus. But take her voice away, and stepping into the spotlight is a very new experience:

''I found it really hard once i didn’t have a microphone in my hand, i didn’t know what to do with my arms. It was really challenging and i realised i really rely on the comfort of singing in my microphone. So [being on stage without that] was a really cool thing to be able to explore'', she explains, ''I think that at my age, sometimes you just get so used to comfort and you don’t challenge yourself anymore. And it’s such an amazing opportunity to challenge myself'', the 37-year-old performer adds.

Fresh to the dance scene she may be, but Samantha Jade has been on our screens before. In 2012, she became the first female winner of ''The X Factor Australia''. She tells ''WHO'' that her TV talent show past prepared her for the pace on ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'':

''The X Factor Australia'' was similar in a way that you’re performing live every week and it’s all in – you’ve got to give it your all'', she says, ''But it’s so different because this is completely not my talent. Singing is my thing. This is so out of my comfort zone and what i do, so i’m loving that.''

Indeed, Samantha knows not to get complacent about having TV experience:

''There is nothing that can prepare you for TV'', she admits, ''You can go in knowing what it is, but you still are as nervous. That’s something i have not mastered. I don’t know if i ever will. The nerves are just at an all-time high, all the time.'' Laughing she continues, “You’re just kind of nervous for every day leading up to it. Then, on the day, [and] then afterwards, because obviously you get your results after. So yeah, i understand the format, but i definitely haven’t mastered not being nervous about it.''

Someone who may help ease the nerves is Samantha’s dance partner, Gustavo Viglio. The Italian-born dance professional won the title of World Latin Youth Vice Champion in 2009 and has many other credits under his belt. He certainly wasn’t afraid to put her through her paces:

''The first day i went in, it was like: ''Hi, nice to meet you'', then straight into stretching, straight into teaching, straight into [him] being like: ''No, that’s not how you do it. Do it again.’ You form a relationship much faster than you would with anybody else, because you just go straight in. We don’t have long to learn all this choreography, so it’s very, very hard work. You have to trust them very quickly and i feel like he really had my best interests at heart. We really did feel like a team. And his energy is great, his energy is infectious. I’m probably much more calm and he’s a lot more energetic than me. I think it’s a really good balance because when i’d be tired and like: ''I don’t want to do it again'', he’s like: ''Come on, you’ve got it in you!'', so it worked out really well.''

The work didn’t stop in the studio with her dance partner, however, with Samantha enlisting her life partner to get involved, too, ''I’d come home [to my husband] and be like, ''My body is so exhausted and so sore, but i need to practise'', so i’d be like: ''Can you help me practise this lift?'', and he’d be like: ''Oh my God, this is so hard! How’re you doing this?'', i think he had a real respect for me with how hard i was working.''

Samantha married Pat Handlin in a romantic celebration in Venice, Italy in 2022:

''I said to him: ''I feel like this is something we need to introduce into our lives'', she adds, ''He is definitely not a dancer – he used to play football. So it’s a bit different, but i’m sure he’d be open to it. I can bump him around.''

Even though, for the next few weeks, dancing will be the only talent on Samantha’s mind, that doesn’t mean she has forgotten her first love, with plans underway for her to release new music soon:

''When i took on this show, i kind of knew i wouldn’t have time to put everything into my music. So i prepared my music before. I’m so excited, i haven’t had new music out in ages.''

She excitedly spills the beans about a new song on the horizon, saying: ''It’s one of my favourites that i’ve ever released. I just wanted to write something happy and feel-good and this is exactly that – getting ready to go out with the girls or in your car…That’s exactly what this song does.''

And there are plans afoot for Samantha to hit the road to coincide with the release:

''We are definitely going to plan a little tour around Australia and hopefully go to some other places, too'', she reveals, even hinting that she’ll be using her new dance skills on stage, ''I am stronger as a dancer'', she says, ''I think I’ll take on more of the choreography now for sure. I used to only jump in and do a few moves, and always go back into my comfort, my singing. But i think now i’m going to challenge myself and dance more than i used to.'' With future career plans already in motion, nothing is slowing down for Samantha Jade.

When asked what she’d like viewers to take away from her time on ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'', she responds,''I just hope they see that i’ve worked really hard and tried really hard and had a really good time.''

Link: [X]

July 2014 - Photoshoot for ''WHO'' magazine

Click on the pictures to access the gallery 📷


Behind the scenes:

Thursday, July 11, 2024

New date

Samantha Jade is the first announced performer for this year's ''Telethon'' in Perth, on saturday 19th and sunday 20th 2024.

11/07/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed for ''The West Australian'' website

WA’s Samantha Jade starts 100-day countdown to ''Telethon'' as stars begin to align for 57th annual fundraiser

Returning for the 57th time, the event that puts the ''fun'' in ''fundraiser'' is set to welcome pop star Samantha Jade back to Perth as it counts down 100 days to showtime.

The first of many famous faces to be announced, the homegrown talent has moved her life to the East Coast since her last performance at ''Telethon'' in 2017:

“There’s truly no place like home”, she said, “I’m so excited to return to my hometown of Perth and to be involved this year in ''Telethon''. It’s one of my favourite times of the year.”

Embracing her travelling schedule yet always keeping Perth close, the 37-year-old admits there are treasures from her early career she can’t replicate from afar:

“I always miss my family of course and the beautiful beaches”, Jade revealed.

Performing via a Sydney studio in 2020 due to COVID-19, the ''New Boy'' hitmaker is excited to bring her new single ''Peachy'' out friday july 26th 2024 to the stage:

''Peachy'' is one of my absolute favourite songs that I have been a part of creating. It’s fun, feel-good and positive! Hopefully everyone will love having a good dance to it”, she said.

Link: [X]

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Sunday, June 30, 2024

First preview of Samantha Jade on Channel Seven's ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' on ''The West Australian'' website

30/06/24 - ''The West Australian'' newspaper scan

30/06/24 - Samantha Jade being interviewed for ''The West Australian'' website

Singer Samantha Jade is out of her comfort zone on ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'', but knows Perth has her back

Samantha Jade is no stranger to reality television.

Her singing career was kick-started on ''The X Factor Australia'' in 2012, when Guy Sebastian saw promise in the pint-sized performer and mentored her to become the first woman to win the australian series.

She showed another side of her personality in ''Celebrity Apprentice Australia'', in a feisty cohort of high-profile figures, including ''Underbelly'' actor Vince Colosimo, ''Real Housewives Of Melbourne'' star Gamble Breaux, musician Amy Shark and ''Married At First Sight'' personality Beck Zemek.

But when it came to getting the call up for ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'', her answer had long been a polite “no”:

“I think it was out of fear of jumping into something that i haven’t done before and something that’s different and challenging,” Jade tells ''STM''.

But last year, the singer threw caution to the wind and finally said yes:

“I got asked again and i (thought): ''What is holding me back?'', spoke to people that have done the show and everyone had the best things to say about it: ''You have to do it. It’s one of the best experiences. You’ll learn so much. You’ll love it'', she recalls, ''I thought, i’m going to throw myself in the deep end and just do it.”

The passing crisis of confidence that saw her hold off on the series is out of character for the Perth-born-and-raised star, a self-confessed “dreamer” who has believed in herself and her talent from day one.

Jade has spent a lifetime performing, whether it was in the family home with her supportive parents, or on stage in front of thousands:

''(My parents) always told me i could be anything i want to be. They really stood by that and allowed space for me to dream'', she says, ''I would watch ''Video Hits'' and be like: ''I want to make a music video one day. I want to be on TV. I want to sing and i want to write songs''. They never were like: ''Oh, what about school? (They said) you still have to do school, to focus and study and do all those things. But you can be whoever you want to be. I remember singing at a young age and feeling like that was my relief. I always felt better afterwards. I remember saying that to my Mum. And she (would say): ''That’s because it’s your purpose.''

Naturally when the time came for Jade to embark on her ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' journey, she assumed her extensive stage experience would translate into an understanding of the complex routines. However, the technical side of dancing threw her for a loop (or more accurately, a triple pirouette):

“The technique, it’s so hard and different than any of the dancing that i do in my shows (where) I can always jump out when I want to,” she says, “(In the routines) I don’t have the comfort of my microphone or falling back on singing. I have to dance as hard as the dancers. And it’s also Latin and ballroom, (which) is a whole other world.”

But the concept of everything being laid bare on the dancefloor was a challenge Jade was willing to take on.

During rehearsals with professional dance partner Gustavo Viglio, the ''Sweet Talk'' singer found she preferred dancing ballroom to latin and found mastering the cha-cha to be “one of the hardest things” she’s ever done.

If there’s one thing Jade is counting on, it’s that her hometown will get behind her when the television program airs — and vote in droves, just as they did during her ''The X Factor Australia'' stint:

“We all really band together and appreciate our people. I really love that about (Perth) and not every city is like that,” she says.

This sentiment is exemplified at Channel Seven’s annual ''Telethon'' event, which has raised more than $600 million for sick children. It’s a cause close to Jade’s heart and a stage she has performed on numerous times:

''Telethon'' is my favourite gig,” she says, “I used to watch ''Telethon'' as a kid every year; that was the one night that my mum would allow me to stay up as late as i can. I have so many fond memories of (both) watching it and being a part of it,” she says.

The singer refers to Perth as her “happy place”, returning as often as her schedule allows from her base on the east coast to see family and connect with her roots:

“(Perth) is always my comfort. If i’m going through a bit of a rough patch or I’m feeling low, I literally just book a ticket and i go home,” Jade says, “As soon as i see that ''Welcome to Perth'' sign, it’s something that happens within my body, like this little (burst of) happiness. I love it. I had a great childhood in Perth; we lived in the burbs near Morley and we would go to the ''Morley Galleria'' on thursday night. Cottesloe beach was my Mum’s favourite beach (and) whenever i want to feel closer to her, I always go there and do a little beach walk. It’s one of my favourite places in the entire world, standing there and watching the sunset.”

Jade revealed that her chosen charity for ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' is the ''Cancer Council'', to honour her mother, who died of the disease ten years ago:

“She was a dancer; it was one of her dreams for me to do this show”, Jade says, “I wear her ring every night when i perform so i can feel her with me.”

Among her many career highlights, Jade admits winning ''The X Factor Australia'' and representing Perth on a national stage reigns supreme.

A week before the music prodigy won the competition, producers filmed a series of home visits for the contestant, including a fan meet-and-greet. Jade fretted no one would come:

“I remember i was going there and i felt sick in my stomach. I thought: ''No one’s gonna show up”, she recalls, ''That’s a huge fear for any (artist). I walked out (on stage) and i’ve never seen so many people. I just got so emotional and felt so supported by my city. That’s my people — they really supported me and i’m one of them. When i won, I didn’t just do it for me, but i did it for my hometown and I always felt like that was a really big moment.”

Another notable highlight was touring with ultra-popular boy band One Direction in 2015, as their support act at their ''On The Road Again'' australian tour.

Albeit nerve-racking, Jade describes the opportunity as “one of the most crazy experiences of my life”:

“It was at the height of their fame, just before Zayn left the group. It was wild, I’ve never seen so many girls in hotel lobbies and at shows just everywhere. The hold they had was just unbelievable,” she says, “It was really interesting to see how things are handled for artists that big. I’ll always remember they were so, so lovely. They all said thank you and made time to meet me, my dancers and my crew.”

The ''Soldier'' singer has retained a loyal fan base, with 230 000 monthly listeners on music streaming app Spotify alone.

She reveals new music is imminent, but the specifics are still under wraps:

“I truly feel that this (new) single is one of my favourites that i’ve written”, she says, “I’m really excited, it’s a feel-good song and it’s a happy (tune).”

In the meantime, Jade will get to see how audiences respond to her efforts on the dance floor, alongside other contestants including Perth football identity Ben Cousins, ''Better Homes And Gardens'' presenter Adam Dovile, ''SAS Australia’s'' Ant Middleton, designer Nadia Bartel and many more.

''Dancing With The Stars'' starts on sunday july 07th 2024 on Channel Seven and 7plus.

New date

Samantha Jade will perform at the ''Ladies Like To Lunch 2024 Pink Ribbon Luncheon'' at ''Novella On The Park'' in Abbotsbury, on sunday october 27th 2024.

Tickets: [X]

Monday, June 24, 2024

New date


Samantha Jade will be performing at the ''Queens Ball Awards'' at the ''Brisbane Pride Festival'', on saturday june 29th 2024.

Tickets: [X]

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

New snippet of Samantha Jade's cover of ''Can't Take My Eyes Off You'' by Gloria Gaynor

New snippet of Samantha Jade's cover of ''Can't Take My Eyes Off You'' by Gloria Gaynor on a Channel Seven's ''Dancing With The Stars Australia'' ad.

Saturday, June 8, 2024

New date


Samantha Jade will perform at ''The Poppin Out'' street party for the Adelaide's Pride festival, on saturday november 02nd 2024.

08/06/24 - Samantha Jade performing at ''PrideFest'' at ''Pine Rivers Park'' in Strathpine

Click on the pictures to access the gallery 📷


''What You've Done To Me'':


''Soldier'':


''Soldier'' - ''Always'':


''Shake That'':


''I Will Survive'' (Gloria Gaynor cover):


''The Best'' (Tina Turner cover):

Sunday, May 26, 2024

26/05/24 - Samantha Jade performing at the ''PFS Accountants'' gala dinner at ''The Star'' hotel in Sydney

Click on the pictures to access the gallery 📷


''What You've Done To Me'':

''Firestarter'':

''The Best'' (Tina Turner cover):

''Never Tear Us Apart'' (INXS cover):


''I'm Coming Out'' (Diana Ross cover):

Highlights:

Friday, May 17, 2024

17/05/24 - Samantha Jade performing at the ''Red Shield Appeal'' launch in Sydney

Click on the pictures to access the gallery 📷


Rehearsals:

 ''The Best'' (Tina Turner cover):


''Always Remember Us This Way'' (Lady Gaga cover):


Main show:

 ''The Best'' (Tina Turner cover):

Tuesday, April 23, 2024