Natalie Gauci

The winner of the 2007 edition of television reality talent show Australian Idol, Natalie Gauci (born November 1981) had had a below-the-radar career in the music business for a few years before her success on television. Gauci first made inroads into pop stardom as a session musician, releasing her own work — the EP Take It or Leave It, released in 2006 — and starting her own band, the Natalie Gauci Band, also in 2006. Although she and her band performed around Melbourne, it was to be her roller coaster experience on Australian Idol that was to be her ticket to stardom. The first "wild card" contestant to win the top prize, Gauci's winning single was released in November 2007. Signed immediately to Sony BMG, she recorded her debut album, The Winner's Journey, which was released to the public in December 2007. The album peaked at number 11, and in January of the following year she embarked on her first national tour, the Winner's Journey Tour with Australian Idol runner-up Matt Corby.