By Jerram Watts
From forklifts to fame; X Factor winner Altiyan Childs says he never sought what has come to him.
The 35-year-old from Sydney emerged victorious from Australia’s X Factor finale three weeks ago and says he feels it was his genuine heart that helped him win the public over.
“I strongly believe the masses, the general common man – they know what’s real, they feel what’s real; it’s a heart to heart thing,” he says.
“The one thing that we can all relate to is the emotional aspect of the heart and I think that’s why I have 8-year-old girls and boys loving the songs and coming up to me, and 88-year-old women and men reacting the same way.
See the full interview with Altiyan Childs here
Childs says he never sought fame or the rock ‘n roll lifestyle and believes that resonated with X Factor viewers.
“I think fame should be something that comes as a by-product of your passion… maybe people were kind of tired of fame-chasing people.”
But Childs has found fame and the rock ‘n roll lifestyle beckons; however, he had a few hiccups along the way and was in very real danger of being eliminated in the early stages of the show.
During his performance of Kings of Leon’s ‘Sex on Fire’, Childs forgot the lyrics.
While the judges put it down to laziness; Childs says it was purely rustiness as he had just come out of a “metaphorical wilderness”.
“It was three years of retirement… I didn’t sing one song; I never sang in the shower, I simply abandoned my voice.
“I buried my guitar, I burned my songs, I needed to tear away from the dream; the dream was drowning me, it was costing me so much.
“With a very heavy heart, with the most will I’ve ever had to muster, I said goodbye to music.”
But then he said ‘hello’ to it again after his father told him to enter.
Reluctantly, Childs auditioned and was accepted into Ronan Keating’s ‘over 25’ group were he went from strength to strength.
Childs belted out difficult and energised songs; Bon Jovi’s ‘Living on a Prayer’, Bryan Adam’s ‘Summer of 69’ and U2’s ‘Beautiful Day’; the fans lapped it up.
It was Ronan Keating’s guidance that Childs says was invaluable.
“Ronan was my saving grace,” he says. “My mother put it really well, she said – in her tears – ‘your father pushed you, Ronan carried you and the public embraced you’.
“If it wasn’t for Ronan I seriously doubt I’d be here.”
Unlike many stars these days, Childs has a deep humility and peace about him – bordering on melancholy – he says he sees the world through spiritual eyes.
“My meditation is when I sing, I feel that is my spiritual healing,” he says. “I just think in a way that is really uncommon to think; I’ve been ridiculed for it, but I’ll never change.
“I love my enemies, because only your enemies can teach you certain things about love that your friends dare not teach you.”
Childs says his father was worried about him from a very young age; he would constantly give his toys away and could tell Altiyan was very caring and sensitive.
“He noticed, and I noticed, that I had an intense fear and love you people around me. And it’s my greatest asset but it’s my greatest weakness as well.
“My love for the human race could very well be the end of me one day, but that’s something I’m willing to die for.”
While he may embrace the notion of martyrdom, his many fans will hope his musical career doesn’t perish.
Many talent show winners before Childs have enjoyed the sweet taste of success all too briefly before fading away to anonymity.
Childs says he has a secret weapon to ensure he joins the few stars and doesn’t become one of the many failures.
“Songs; I have songs that were born to touch people, to exist out there somewhere,” he says.
“I’ve accumulated such a story over 24 years that I really don’t have any intimidation for the future. I believe that if people reacted to my story live, then I would say they would react to the album.
“I feel pretty comfortable with the future.”
His debut single Somewhere in the World entered the New Zealand charts at number five; his performance at Auckland’s Christmas in the Park on Saturday night will go a long way to helping his album fly off the shelves and into stockings this Christmas.
“I’m having the time of my life, I really am,” he says.
“Dare I say it; I’m happy.”
3 News
Altiyan Childs will make an appearance at The Warhouse in Sylvia Park at 2pm today, and his performance from Christmas in the Park will air on TV3 tonight at 7pm
source: newshub archive
