Lai finds his voice

FIJI born Lai Utovou, the winner of the Australian reality show “All Together Now”, says his faith in God is what drives him and his singing career. In an interview with this newspaper, Utovou said he began his singing career at a very young age.

“I’d say I was singing as soon as I could talk, because I was essentially immersed in Methodist hymns and family harmonies, as any Fijian kid usually is,” Utovou said.

Utovou is originally from Kavala, Nakasaleka on Kadavu and has been married to Rachel Everett-Jones Utovou for more than five years.

He had also won the talent competition in Fiji called “Join the Band” in 2004 and had tried out for Australian Idol, X Factor Australia and the Voice Australia. He said when he first entered the competition, he and Rachel both had enough confidence that he would go far in the competition.

“But to win was more speculation than expectation. We just thought I should give it a really good do,” he said.

He said after one year in Australia’s music industry, his main aim was to always bring joy into a room. “I am Christian before I am anything else, and as such, I operate daily out of the joy of my salvation,” he said.

“Taking that to gigs with me just means that I can remove pressure of performance from my own shoulders and make every experience a joy for others.”

He said his main aim for every show in the competition was to entertain the judges with joy.

Utovou’s advise to aspiring singers is never be afraid of trying things.

He was crowned the winner of “All Together Now” last month and said he would continue with his singing career and see where it would take him.