Many crossover fans know that Australian superstar Mirusia was the youngest ever winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Opera Award and that her aunt’s message to the “Waltz King” Andre Rieu changed her entire life. However, what fans may not know is that when Mirusia first began performing it was assumed she would become a country singer. “When I was growing up, it was kind of almost expected that I would become a country music singer because we had our country music club here in the Redlands area where I grew up… I entered all the local talent quests around town and I was singing with a band called The Wild Turkey band”.

Mirusia realized that while she enjoyed the music itself “it just didn’t really suit my voice.” She found herself exploring Broadway and Opera music in an effort to “really find where did my true voice shine.” Mirusia became inspired by artists like Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman and then the defining moment of her career came. “Miraculously, I was graduating from the Conservatorium of Music and Andre Rieu called me and said, ‘Would you like to tour the world with me? And I guess I just fit exactly into that style. Andre does the classical crossover stuff but he also does the traditional Viennese waltzes and operetta pieces in his shows. So I guess that that really suited my voice and who I am as an artist. And we were also able to experiment with crossover in his shows. And I guess that’s made me the artist I am today.”

When the 2020 pandemic hit, she temporarily enjoyed the break but tells us, “I’m not a stagnant person, I can’t just sort of sit around. And so I decided, well, let’s work on the next project.”

Mirusia’s album “Songbird” is a bit of a retrospective of her career, each song with specific memories attached. “There are so many special things in this album and the stories. I mean, if you read the booklet – I know a lot of us don’t get physical albums anymore but it’s so great to read a booklet and to read what the songs are all about.”

One of the suggestions for the album was the Dolly Parton penned track, “Jolene,” which will be released as the final single from the album on April 22nd. At first, Mirusia admits she was a little skeptical. “I really wasn’t sure about it. I said to my record label and to my producer Michael, “Are we sure about this song? I mean, it’s a big risk, are people gonna like this?” With her team’s reassurance, Mirusia recorded the track and is happy to see the reception from fans so far. “People love it!”

The song takes Mirusia right back to her roots in country music which she tells us is “such a personal part of who I am.” She calls the track a “perfect example” of crossover and a full-circle moment while staying true to her unique vocal qualities and style. “We want to take a song, keep it true to its original form, but we want to make it different. So that’s what we did with Jolene.”

Learn more about “Songbird” in our special New Releases chat with Mirusia premiering on the Classical Crossover Magazine youtube channel May 1st on 4 PM EST.

Stream “Songbird” on Spotify now!

www.mirusia.net

Natasha Barbieri, Editor

Editor

Creator of Classical Crossover Magazine. For Natasha music has always been closely tied to her faith. At age 18, Natasha made her opera debut playing the part of the mother in Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ with the Eastern Festival Opera. At 20, she was a winner of the 2011 Young Artist Competition at Andrews University. Natasha graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Music. Natasha has released a series of Holiday singles “A Place Called Home” (2020), “One Little Boy,” and “The Perfect Year” (2021). In 2021, she was nominated for the ‘Future Classic Women Awards’ show on Men’s & Women’s Radio Station. Natasha is the creator and editor of ‘Classical Crossover Magazine’ a venture that has allowed her to interview many of the top stars in the genre including Sarah Brightman, Celtic Woman, Mirusia, Paul Potts, and more. During the covid-19 pandemic, she created an online concert series for the magazine that has seen her perform in the same line-up as Alex Sharpe, Lucy Kay, Barbara Padilla, Classical Reflection, and more on the virtual stage. In 2022, Natasha was included on the charity album “Stars of Classical Crossover: Christmas” in benefit of the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Charity.