Mark Vincent: new directions

Reality television is a double-edged sword, capable of thrusting the good, bad and ugly into the limelight.

Sometimes, though, it uncovers the sublime and the beautiful, in the most seemingly unlikely of places.

Case in point: Mark Vincent.

Billed as having the voice of an angel, Vincent was thrust into the spotlight when he won Australia’s Got Talent in 2009, his debut album peaking at number two on the ARIA charts.

Now he’s back with his second album, Compass, where his voice (similar to Placido Domingo’s) covers a wider range of vocal styles.

He spoke to the Star about his new direction and meeting super-diva Whitney Houston.

How was the Australia’s Got Talent experience?
It was an incredible experience. Winning Australia’s Got Talent has really changed my life. When I first went there I was always in a shell. I didn’t know what I was expecting and really I’ve grown since then, that’s for sure.

Highlights?
Well, of course, my favourite songs on this album would have to be I Believe and Crying. I really love the arrangement of Crying.

What’s the sound of this new album?
It’s very similar but its all different genres together. The song Sailing is from Rod Stewart and he was a rock singer with a real husky voice and then you have Crying which is a Roy Orbison song. Then you have classical songs, so there’s a whole range of genres on there.

And you apparently met Whitney Houston?
Yes, I had the opportunity to meet Whitney Houston. She’s such a lovely lady and when I met her backstage she put her hand on my throat and she was like ‘What’s this voice?! It’s beautiful!’. And she bowed to me, I couldn’t believe it. It was incredible. It really got me … thinking.

By SCOTT-PATRICK MITCHELL
info: Compass is out now through Sony Music.