Reality Bites

Simon Meli was already an established musician before The Voice, having played in a plethora of bands prior to settling down with The Widowbirds.

“Going on the show was a major risk for someone like me, because I'm an independent musician who represents a lot of people – not only in my band but also the people I associate with through my work in the music industry. Your reputation can be tarnished by going into the TV machine, but I found that the best way to go about it was to try and maintain integrity and not to be swayed by any suggestive scripting or any suggestive competition. I was there really to make as much ground as I could for the style of music [The Widowbirds and I] play.”

Having just started his Moment In The Sun tour with The Widowbirds – the band's first outing since The Voice – Meli reflects on the difference in his audience since the show.

“[The first gig] was probably the best beginning to any tour that we could have asked for. It was sold out and it was just great vibes. We've always managed to attract mixed age brackets – from kids who are just cutting their teeth on guitar, to their parents as well, but I did notice new faces. People I've never met before, yet seem to know me. People make a personal connection to somebody on television and assume that because they've seen me on TV that, 'He'll be cool, he understands where I'm coming from', so there was a lot of love in the room.”

Meli explains the band are using the shows to premier some of the new material they have been working on this year. “We're playing new songs to audiences for the first time to see what their reaction is, and so far it's been great!” he enthuses. “I think we'll have an official single release by the beginning of the October.”

Before appearing on The Voice Meli and The Widowbirds were touring through Europe, building a loyal fanbase along the way. He says the group plan to return to Europe early next year, and he couldn't be more excited.

“That tour is going to be so bloody good,” he gushes. “Half the time we were [in Europe] last time it was snowing, and we were pushing our bloody amps and shit through knee-high snow, and that was not fun! I mean it was a fun tour, but when you're slipping and sliding and falling over it's kind of funny – you end up skating down the road to try and catch your drum case! This time we're going for the summer when it's a bit drier and warmer.”

With many contestants from The Voice endeavouring for solo careers after the show, Meli assures fans this is not an avenue he's interested in.

“It was The Widowbirds, now it's Simon Meli and The Widowbirds, and that's only because of marketing; it's a way for people to identify with the band. That's what I really wanted to expose out of this whole TV machine, so I won't be separating myself from the band whatsoever. They are me and I am them. The only things I'm doing for myself are these charity gigs where I get out and sing, like next month I'm doing this thing with Angry Anderson and Shannon Noll at the Enmore Theatre. So there's nights like that where I'm out on my own, but I'm not going to release a record by myself that's for sure.”