In the Chair – She sings like a Songbird, she’s Mirusia

In the Chair is a regular feature on Eventalaide, highlighting artists from across Australia and occasionally overseas. Everyone gets basically the same questions. It is just meant to be a bit of fun so please treat it as such.

Questions by Geoff Jenke

For fans of the global phenomenon violinist Andre Rieu, Mirusia, or the “Angel of Australia” as Andre calls her, needs no introduction. Mirusia has toured internationally with Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra for over 10 years and is one of the most sought-after sopranos in the world.
The stadium-size concerts have afforded Mirusia the most wonderful opportunities of singing before country leaders, royalty and millions of fans, all who have marveled at the clarity, dexterity and the exquisite sound of her voice.

Mirusia brings her own show to Adelaide on 20^th & 21^st May at the Regal Theatre.

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Name: MIRUSIA LOUWERSE

Alias: MIRUSIA

In less than 50 words describe your music and yourself.
Mirusia in an internationally renowned Australian soprano with Dutch heritage. She has featured on over 20 million records sold worldwide. Most people recognise her from her collaborations with André Rieu. She specialises in the Classical-Crossover genre and has won many awards and charted multiple times at #1 on the ARIA Charts, Classical Crossover Charts, Blues and Jazz Charts, Australian Artist Charts and Audio-Visual Charts.

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What was the first record you bought with your own money and where from?
The first album I bought with my own money was Olivia Newton-John’s album Gaia. I saw her performing on Hey, Hey it’s Saturday and I just loved it and wanted the CD! We went to the local CD shop and I was so proud of my purchase.

60’s or 70’s Music:
60’s – as a new member of The Seekers family this has to be the era for me!

What music are currently listening to?
I have a 4-year-old daughter who loves all the Disney songs, so recently we have listened to the soundtracks of Encanto and Turning Red! 

The Best live artist/band you’ve seen:
I went to see Celine Dion in Las Vegas and I was amazed by how amazing she was live. The performance, the singing, the costumes and sets. The whole thing was incredible! That being said, I love watching any live performance and seeing the passion artists have for their music, regardless of the level they are on.

Your “In the mood for love” song: 
Oooh…a bit saucy….Probably some Soft Jazz instrumentals….?!

Your favourite Saturday night party record?
My husband is the tunes master when it comes to party nights – his go to is Strange Fruits and Purple Disco Machine.

Your favourite Sunday morning chill out record?
Buddha Bar is so chill so either that or some acoustic guitar style playlist.

Which song do you wish you had written?
Either My Heart Will Go On or Time to Say Goodbye. Such classic songs with incredible melodies that I just love singing.

Roger Daltry once said “Rock N Roll has no future”. Do you agree with him?
No way! In my spare time I am an announcer at my local community radio station Bay Fm 100.3 in Brisbane and we play all the Rock and Roll hits from the 60’s right through to now.

Vinyl, CD or Streaming?
Streaming gives absolutely no income to the artists. I would rather support any artist by buying and downloading their albums or buying them physically. 

If you could record or play live with any artist (dead or alive), who would it be?
How I would have loved to sing a duet with Deanna Durbin. 

What is the most useless talent you have?
I am double jointed in my elbows. 

Your finest recorded moment?
On my last album, Songbird, I recorded “The Long and Winding Road” and I just love how this turned out. In studio with producer Michael Cristiano, we really experimented with my voice and it’s one of my favourite recordings I have done.

If you could open a show for any artist/band, who would it be?
Andrea Bocelli – one of the trailblazers of Classical Crossover music.

Stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take three albums. What would they be?
If I also had a CD Player to be able to play them, I would take:
Third Eye Blind (Self-Titled)
Sumi Jo – Prayers
Juanes – Mi Sangre

Favourite all time movie:
Evita – The sets and costumes and music inspired me to be the artist I am today.

Who would you rather be for a day, Mariah Carey or Taylor Swift?
Taylor Swift – what a talent and such an inspirational artist for so many young girls too.

Best show you have ever played in your career:
Sometimes the smaller concerts, the more intimate concerts can be the best. You can directly connect with the audience and speak to them more personally. It’s hard to choose one but in recent times one of the first shows back after Covid that I did in a small venue in Caboolture was a really special night. I was on fire and the audience were with me all the way. 

Ed Sheeran or Robbie Williams?
That is way too hard!!! Both!

Who is the nicest person in Rock n Roll at the moment?
Being in Classical Crossover this is a hard question, but I have met heaps of Rock n Rollers over the years. Russell Morris is lovely and on the same label as me on Ambition Records. I have worked with Ciaran Gribbon (INXS) and we sang a duet together for a fundraising event – gosh he was so lovely and put up with my song choice. LOL 

 What do you hope the next 12 months holds for you?
Currently my touring schedule is insane with the number of postponed dates moved to this year, it’s almost three years in one and I am loving it! I just hope for no more cancellations and postponements – this is killing the music industry. People do not realise every time a concert is postponed it costs thousands of dollars in postponement fees from the venues, advertising costs double or triple, some accommodation and flights are not transferrable. It is a nightmare financially but also mentally. As an artist we look forward to concerts and performing and when this is taken away from us, gosh, it simply leaves a hole in our heart. I just want to get back to doing what I love without limitations!

Mirusia released her latest album, Songbird earlier this year and it debuted at #1 on the Classical Crossover charts and #9 on the Australian Artist Charts.

She is bringing her own show to Adelaide on Friday 20^th and Saturday 21^st May at the Regal Theatre, Kensington Park where she will be promoting her new album as well as singing much loved classics, including Memory, A World of Our Own and You Raise Me Up.

Tickets through trybooking.com