Theguardian iconTheguardianJul 19, 2026 ~1 min source read

Amy Shark, stripped back: ‘Everyone thinks being famous is amazing, and it’s not. It’s quite ugly’

Ten years after Adore sparked a major-label bidding war, the Gold Coast singer's fourth album ditches the pop production and the drums – and delivers the best work of her career In her other job as a judge on Australian Idol, the singer-songwriter Amy Shark spends a lot of time with budding musicians looking for their big break. It generates an uncomfortable sense of deja vu.

Amy Shark, stripped back: ‘Everyone thinks being famous is amazing, and it’s not. It’s quite ugly’

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Ten years after Adore sparked a major-label bidding war, the Gold Coast singer's fourth album ditches the pop production and the drums – and delivers the best work of her career In her other job as a judge...

"I hear a lot in the hallways about how hard it is, like, 'I've been at this for a whole year!' And I'm like, 'Oh, a whole year?'" she laughs, putting on the sort of jovial, mock show of sympathy you might...

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Ten years after Adore sparked a major-label bidding war, the Gold Coast singer's fourth album ditches the pop production and the drums – and delivers the best work of her career In her other job as a judge on Australian Idol, the singer-songwriter Amy Shark spends a lot of time with budding musicians looking for their big break. It generates an uncomfortable sense of deja vu. "I hear a lot in the hallways about how hard it is, like, 'I've been at this for a whole year!' And I'm like, 'Oh, a whole year?'" she laughs, putting on the sort of jovial, mock show of sympathy you might offer a grown man who cries after stubbing his toe.

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  • Ten years after Adore sparked a major-label bidding war, the Gold Coast singer's fourth album ditches the pop production and the drums – and delivers the best work of her career In her other job as a judge...
  • "I hear a lot in the hallways about how hard it is, like, 'I've been at this for a whole year!' And I'm like, 'Oh, a whole year?'" she laughs, putting on the sort of jovial, mock show of sympathy you might...

Details worth keeping

It generates an uncomfortable sense of deja vu. "Babe, it's not meant to be easy!" Continue reading...

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