Sebastian

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Lore & Background

Guy Sebastian was born in Klang, Selangor, on 26 October 1981. His father, Ivan Sebastian, was born in Malaysia and is of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, while his mother Nellie is an ethnic Eurasian with English and Indian ancestry and was raised in Kanpur, India. Sebastian is the second of four sons. His family originally migrated to Melbourne when Sebastian was six, then to Adelaide when he was ten. In a 2026 episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, Sebastian took a DNA test and discovered that his three-times-great-grandfather started his life in India as a British soldier, and found stories relating to the East India Company. He also discovered he is a cousin of Evangeline Thillayampalam, a Sri Lankan educator and the first non-European principal of Chundikuli Girls' College in Jaffna. As a child, Sebastian took violin lessons; he would later learn to play guitar, drums and piano, although he has had no formal training in these other musical instruments. After attending St Paul's College, Gilles Plains in 1991, Sebastian attended King's Baptist Grammar School. He then began studies in medical radiation at the University of South Australia, but left to pursue a career in music. He taught vocals at Temple Christian College and other high schools while also working as a recording engineer and studying music technology at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium. Sebastian was a former member of the Planetshakers band from 2002 to 2005, was a worship leader, sang background vocals, recording albums for Planetshakers Church at Paradise Community Church conferences. He attended Paradise Community Church, an Assemblies of God church, and became one of their main worship singers.

In Their Own Story

In May 2003, Sebastian successfully auditioned for Australian Idol, singing Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky". He was declared the winner on 19 November 2003, and gained a recording contract with BMG. Following his Idol win Sebastian was required to record his debut album in six days, but despite this time restriction the album included three songs co-written by him. He then travelled to the UK to compete in World Idol. Although he impressed the judges, with several suggesting he could win the competition, he finished seventh. Sebastian's winner's single "Angels Brought Me Here" debuted at number one and was the highest selling single in Australia in 2003, reaching 5× platinum certification. In 2010 it was named the highest selling song of the decade 2000 to 2009. "Angels Brought Me Here" held the record for being the highest selling single ever released by an Australian act until 2011. Sebastian's debut album Just as I Am was released in December 2003 and also achieved number one. Its first week sales of 163,711 units are the second highest one week sales in Australian chart history, the highest for an Australian act. It eventually reached sales just short of 7× platinum, and is the highest selling album ever released by an Australian Idol contestant. The second single "All I Need Is You" reached number one and platinum in Australia. In early 2004 Sebastian appeared at the Asian MTV Awards, was a guest judge on New Zealand Idol and performed on Indonesian Idol. After a promotional trip to Malaysia in April he travelled to Europe and the US to write for his next album, performing on American Idol while in the US.

Reader's Guide

Sebastian's second album, Beautiful Life, had a more R&B edge and included songs he co-wrote with Robin Thicke and Brian McKnight and "Forever with You", a duet with American R&B singer Mýa. The lead single "Out with My Baby" debuted at number one in October 2004, and gained platinum certification. Sebastian performed at the 2004 ARIA Music Awards where he received the award for the Highest Selling Single for "Angels Brought Me Here", and the Channel V Oz Artist of the Year Award. Beautiful Life peaked at number two and was also certified platinum. Sebastian performed at the 20th Anniversary SAFM Sky Show in Adelaide in front of approximately 150,000 people along with Slinkee Minx, one of the largest open-air concerts held in Australia in 2005. Two further singles were released from the album, "Kryptonite" which peaked at number fifteen, and "Oh Oh" at number eleven. In 2005 Sebastian received awards for Favourite Video, Favourite Music Artist, and Favourite Aussie at the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards, and a MTV Video Music Award for "Out with my Baby". He also received a Highest Selling Album ARIA Award nomination for Beautiful Life, and was named as a state finalist in the Young Australian of the Year Awards.

Did You Know?

• Sebastian's debut single "Angels Brought Me Here" was the highest selling song in Australia in the decade 2000 to 2009.
• His debut album Just as I Am had first week sales of 163,711 units, the second highest one week sales in Australian chart history and the highest for an Australian act.
• Sebastian is the only Australian male artist in Australian chart history to achieve six number one singles.
• He represented Australia in its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 with the song "Tonight Again", finishing in fifth place.
• Sebastian was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours.