Australian Idol contestant’s journey since 2003

Photoshoot of the Australian Idol Contestant - photography supplied by Anton Aktila

Anton Aktila sang the theme song for the Australian Tv show - Home & Away from 2003 to 2012. He is a member of the famed vocal group - The Robertson Brothers, which he won over 20 ACE & MO Awards combined and has been nominated twice for an Aria award. He was a finalist on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003 and he did the backing vocals for Australian Idol from 2004-to 2007. Aktila was born in Sydney Australia on the 5th of July 1979. He is also the lead singer of the band Empire. He has worked with some of Australia's most famous singers including Jessica Mauboy, Cosima De Vito, Guy Sebastian, Paulini, Ricki Lee, Anthony Callea and many others. He has released his RnB version of an old George Michael classic - Careless Whisper. Aktila has given it a modern twist, while still respecting the original melody and concept.

He has been performing professionally since he was 13 years old. He has toured all over the world singing, some of his biggest audiences have been over 200,000 people.  The biggest audience he had ever performed for was in China while he was on tour. “It was such an amazing experience,” Aktila said. He then goes on to say another amazing experience was being a contestant on Australian Idol in 2003, sharing the stage with so many talented singers, including Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Cosima De Vito and Paulini.

Aktila comes from a long line of musicians going back as far as his great grandfather and father, which had been his biggest influence as a singer, musician, and artist. Aktila’s parents had been very supportive of his music and his father taught him from a very young age to sing and play musical instruments. “I was learning to be the artist that I’m today without even realising it,” he says. Aktila’s parents saw that he had a love for music as a little child and encouraged him to embrace it. He had recorded over 200 songs and written over 500 songs. Regarding musical styles, his favourite genres are RnB and Soul Music. Although, when performing live, he sang a variety of different genres from Pop, Jazz, Dance and Rock Music. “I feel like if you want to be a constant working musician you need to be flexible and versatile as an artist,” he said.

He believes that a lot of his music and songs are like a personal journey and a journal of his life. Then he goes on to say that many of the songs he has written were about personal experiences and the things he’s been through in life. Aktila believes that musically everyone is doing their own thing and facing their challenges, as Covid has been very difficult on the music industry. Although, he wants to do music for the rest of his life. “It is my life, I truly live and breathe it and love it with all my heart,” Aktila said.

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Songs: Careless Whisper & The Journey

by Anton Aktila