The 22-year-old had his life turned upside down after making the top four on the hit Channel 7 series, transforming him from a humble mining tradie to a well-rounded performer.
The Southern Gazette sat down with Big T – real name Tangaroa Te Tai – ahead of his performance at Perth Racing, where he said he planned to use his new industry connections to kick-start his career.
During the show, Big T and his mentor artist Chris Isaack were a close duo and while the season ended, their working relationship did not.
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READ NOWThe New Zealand-born artist revealed the pair had plans for the new year.
“Chris Isaack gave me his number and bought me a brand new guitar, we’re really close off the cameras,” he said.
“We’re trying to sort out when he comes back to Australia for his tour for me to be an opening act, so that’d be really cool.”
Arriving back home in WA last week for the first time in months, the Ridgewood-based artist said he was still enjoying his time in the spotlight.
“Even just going to IGA and Woolworths people notice me, it’s pretty cool,” he said.
“They come up and ask for pictures.
“I knew it was part of the journey and it’s just so awesome being recognised for something I love.”
The singer made his first official performance last Saturday at Perth Racing’s TABTouch Kingston Town Classic at Ascot Racecourse, the first, he hoped, of many to come.