Why Fear Of 15 Seconds Of Fame Almost Made 'The Voice' Winner Walk Away From Audition

Sam Perry made history this year by becoming the first vocal loop artist to win The Voice Australia, but the WA artist has revealed he almost didn't turn up to his audition. 

Joining the latest episode of The Music Podcast, Perry said that he didn't want to jeopardize his career, having established himself in the underground scene, by appearing on the popular reality TV show. 

"I remember going on for the first time in those blind auditions and I remember talking to the guy, Luke, that was helping me through the process, sort of like a vocal coach," Perry recalled.

"I remember turning to him and saying, 'Remember you promised me that if no one turns a chair, you won't air my episode, right? I'm trying to be a musician here, it's gonna make me look really bad!'"

He continued, "I didn't turn up to three of the four auditions. I think 4,000 people got to the shortlist, so it was pretty full on.

"I was putting up signs at the time as well. I just had an epiphany," he said.

"I was drilling a sign into a concrete pillar in a car park near a bin room and I wasn't showing up to the last audition? I was like, 'Hang on a second!'

"[The producers] just kept it open for the last one and I finally went and it was a good audition."

Perry's blind audition was considered this season's most popular, with all four judges turning their chairs within seconds of him beginning the performance.

"I've been an underground artist for a long time," Perry continued.

"I've been doing drum and bass in weird dingy music venues through Australia and Germany.

"So for me, it was quite hard to come to terms with going on TV to get that 15 seconds of fame which wasn't what I was doing. I wanted a fan base. I want to release my music to people that want to hear it."

Listen to the full episode of The Music Podcast with Perry below.

Perry is set to embark on his first-ever headline tour of Australia this October; for a look at all of the dates, click on theGuide.