Kate Ceberano

As part of our commitment to capturing and sharing great Australian music stories, the Australian Music Vault asked some of the country’s most influential trailblazers and unsung heroes to open up about their lives in music.

Kate Ceberano is one of Australia’s most iconic and beloved artists. Bursting onto the scene as a teenager in the 1980s funk/pop fusion band, I’m Talking, Ceberano led the band to prominence with hits like ‘Trust Me’, ‘Holy Word’ and ‘Do You Wanna Be’.

Her debut album, Brave (1990), further heralded her vocal versatility and star power, spawning four Top 40 hits including ‘Young Boys Are My Weakness’ and ‘Bedroom Eyes’ and eventually going on to be certified triple platinum.

With 30 albums to her name, Ceberano has been free to explore a range of musical influences and experiment with various styles including jazz, soul, pop and cabaret. Winner of four ARIA awards and multiple nominations and accolades, she has also appeared on film, television and stage, most notably as Mary Magdalene in the 1992 stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar alongside John Farnham and Jon Stevens.

In 2014, Ceberano became the first woman to be inducted into the Australian Songwriters Association Hall of Fame. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016 for her services to the performing arts, and 2023 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Women in Music Awards. Ceberano’s artistic and cultural contribution has also extended beyond her music through her work as an advocate for important social issues and charitable causes including the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

In 2023, Ceberano celebrated her 40th year as a performer with the release of her 30th album, the ARIA nominated, My Life Is A Symphony with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The album features re-imagined versions of many of her iconic hits including ‘Pash’ and ‘Brave’ and has been supported by a sold-out national tour that has seen her work with the country’s leading orchestras. This milestone year also saw Ceberano release her illustrated memoir, Unsung: A Compendium of Creativity showcasing her lyrics, stories, paintings and embroidery.

In this interview with Jane Gazzo, Kate reminisces about the music scene in the 1980s, performing at the World Music Awards alongside Prince, Sting and Grace Jones, and evaluates her place in the ever-changing musical landscape.

Interviewer: Jane Gazzo

Location: Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 2023

For more information about the My Life Is A Symphony tour and the book tour visit www.kateceberano.com.