An inquisitive soul and self professed 'music-whore' Chanel Cole first came to the attention of the Australian public in 2004 by auditioning for reality t.v. talent quest Australian Idol. Her comedic rendition of the jazz gem "When I Get Low I Get High" caught the imagination of the three judges and the viewers at home, propelling her to the number five spot despite her stubborn refusal to be moulded or play for votes.
Back in her native home of New Zealand (and in between extended periods as waitress and retail assistant), Chanel had run the gamut of lead singer in pub covers bands, sometime radio announcer and corporate voice identity, suffering jazz student and a seven-year stint with nationwide high-school level talent search "the cokesmokefreerockquest" as mc and occasional judge.
Childhood was a patchy affair as Chanel's parents parted company some three years after she was born. Living first with her mother, then her father she attended a total of 12 different schools in as many different towns. She was a rebellious nerd who never settled happily into the school system, while at the same time completing year twelve a year in advance. In addition to schoolwork Chanel's father and stepmother ensured she had an extra-curricular education in music putting her through various stages of piano, singing, ballet, flute, guitar and speech and drama.
Chanel left home at the ripe old age of 17 and plunged headfirst into a trainwreck existence of heartbreak, music, theatre, alcohol, bad poetry, angst-ridden songwriting (which will never see the light of day), poverty and semi-starvation, emerging just before her 21st birthday to try her hand at 'normal life'.
Shortly after her 23rd birthday Chanel was winging her way to Sydney, Australia where the demise of a long-term relationship sent her fleeing to Bega, cheese capital of Australia, home to her mother and some of the finest folk and miscellaneous musicians in the country... and a new beginning.
To be continued...
