Guy Sebastian

We all got to know Guy Sebastian as the original 2003 Australian Idol winner, but few of us would have predicted his longevity in the music business. Sebastian may have been a meteor, but he was no fast burner, and his lasting power has as much to do with the stunning delivery of singles like (his debut) “Angels Brought Me Here” as with his ability to write — check out “All I Need Is You.” You’ve heard the smashes — now get a sense of Sebastian’s impressive range, in Next Steps.

If Sebastian were an archer, he would be able to shoot multiple arrows at the same time, as these Next Steps prove there are many strings to his bow. He’s just as comfortable creating a stripped-down acoustic vibe on a track like “Sweetest Berry” — from his second album, Beautiful Life — as he is turning up the heat with full brass section accompaniment on “I Can’t Stand the Rain” from his superlative soul project, 2007’s The Memphis Album.

Were it not for his victory in the inaugural Australian Idol, Guy Sebastian might have remained a jobbing vocal teacher, audio engineer, and worship singer at the Paradise Community Church in Adelaide. Fortunately for us, his star was destined to illuminate the global stage. Sebastian has never made a secret of his Christian beliefs, and you can really feel the strength of them when he teams up with Paulini Curuenavuli (who placed fourth in the original Idol) for the inspirational and inspired “Receive the Power.” We’ve also included all his hits here, as well as a bunch of classic soul covers, R&B-leaning tracks, and that brilliant arrangement of “What a Wonderful World.”