Fiji born, Brisbane draftsman Lai Utovou has been crowned the winner of Australian Singing Show, All Together Now, taking home a whopping $AUD100,000 in prize money.
The 33‑year‑old draftsman came out on top after making it through to the sing‑off portion of the grand finale against fellow Brisbane performer Royston Sagigi‑Baira and Melbourne’s Tarryn Stokes.
Utovou’s rendition of Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk had 87 of the 100 judges on their feet.
He says winning Channel 7’s reality singing competition had come as a mixture of “absolute shock” and relief.
Inspired by his late uncle and successful Fiji musician Sakiusa Bulicokocoko, Utovou hopes his children will discover the same confidence and love of music that it gave him.
Utovou, who grew up singing in church, began performing at weddings and corporate gigs as well as going to jam nights in Brisbane after completing his architecture degree, with music soon becoming his full‑time focus.
Utovou, who moved from Fiji to Australia to study architecture in 2006, said he and his wife Rachel were still deciding what to do with the cash prize.
[Source: NewsCourier]
