From Australian Idol to Bluesfest – multi-instrumental artist Roshani finally discovers who she truly is

SHE became a household name after appearing on Australian Idol in 2008, but it wasn’t until recent years that Roshani truly discovered her calling as a multi-instrumentalist artist.

The Sri Lankan-born musician began singing at the age of three and has moved through several distinct phases during her career.

Her latest incarnation sees her building rich, layered soundscapes using foot pedals, loop stations, guitars, foot percussion, synths and harmonica.

“I started out as a kid doing all the dance groups, musical theatre and piano, then I went through the Australian Idol phase,” she said. “Then I went through a phase where I really didn’t do music properly with any intention for six or seven years after my mum passed away.”

The turning point came after she met her husband, Tim Everett – who plays slide guitar, stomp box and fuel can in Australian duo Mojo Bluesmen – at the Airlie Beach Music Festival in 2019.

“It took me a long time to come around to playing instruments,” she said. “I didn’t do it in public until I was 33 years old. He was the one who said, ‘You can do this’.”

After the pair travelled along the East Coast in a van busking together, Roshani began busking full-time at Circular Quay in Sydney.

“That’s how I built my show, not really knowing where it would lead to,” she said.

Where it led was Bluesfest Byron Bay, after festival director Peter Noble discovered her and invited her to perform at the iconic event. She was named Bluesfest Breakthrough Artist in 2022.

“It was my first time playing Bluesfest and my biggest festival as a solo artist, so it was pretty wild,” she said.

Noble said Roshani is one of the few artists in the world capable of moving him to tears.

“Her songs are so poignant,” he said. “Artists like her come along every now and then. She has very different areas of expertise, from hip hop right through to blues. It amazes me that you can be that good in this country and still not be that well-known.”

Growing up in Tamworth with her adopted family and watching pop and rock on Video Hits, Roshani developed a deep love for many genres, making every performance unpredictable.

“I have such eclectic taste in music and I find it really hard when the industry is like ‘pick a lane and stay in it’,” she said. “I’m like, ‘why can’t I just be everything?’.”

She has also long admired powerhouse vocalists such as Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman and Whitney Houston, as well as artists who combine instrumental skill with strong vocals.

“There’s a magic to that where you’re getting the whole essence of an artist,” she said. “It’s the most holistic way to express yourself.”

So it is no surprise she is embracing this latest chapter of her career.

“The breakthrough artist recognition means the most in my career to date because it feels like this cycle is who I truly am,” she said. “I’m actually now being the artist that I always dreamt of being, writing songs, playing instruments and I’m literally on stage with all this technology on my own. When I first used a loop pedal I had no idea how to turn it on. I had no idea about the technical side of instruments – synths, loopers, mixers. It was a steep learning curve, but it proved to me I was really closing myself off to a lot of potential.

It felt like the beginning of a new cycle.”

The next phase will see Roshani head to the United States, after Noble introduced her to a US agent. She will spend a couple of months there before returning home for Bluesfest on the Easter long weekend, then heading back to the US indefinitely.

“It’s just the next cycle beginning,” she said. “I feel like it’s a lot of artists’ dream. It’s definitely my dream to try it out. The kind of music that I play is based on roots, that was created in America. There’s a longstanding tradition that you’re tapping into.”

No matter how far her career takes her, Roshani said she will always return for Bluesfest.

“If they’ll have me back again I’ll always come back,” she said. “The calibre of artists that come out for that festival is amazing. There’s no other festival that can do that.”

For more information and tickets, visit bluesfest.com.au