Home’s sweet for singing

LIFE is sweet for Gabriella Cilmi and even after a whirlwind of success, the 17-year-old singing sensation still calls Dandenong home.
Cilmi cemented her place in the Australian pop pantheon by dominating at this year’s ARIA Awards in Sydney.
The teenager won every award she was nominated for and took home six ARIAs on the back of her smash debut album, Lessons to be Learned.
Star reporter Kelly Yates spoke to Cilmi last week, who described her ARIA debut as being “unbelievable”.
“I didn’t expect to walk away with all six awards. It came as a real surprise on the night,” she said.
Cilmi said she was enjoying spending time with family and friends while being back in her home town of Dandenong.
“There’s nothing like sleeping in your own bed and enjoying some home cooked meals,” she said.
“My grandma cooked me my favourite ravioli and I’ve even been eating it for breakfast,” she said.
Life for Cilmi growing up in Dandenong was “pretty cool”.
“I’ve lived in Dandenong for my whole life. I love the multiculturalism here,” she said.
“It’s a weird feeling being stopped in the streets and being recognised. But that just comes with the job.”
The singing star says she has been singing for as long as she can remember. “I started when I was nine years old and I always imagined being a singer,” she said.
“As a child I would write diary entries and poems and my songs have stemmed from them. I could probably write a book based on all of my experiences,” Cilmi said.
Cilmi also made an appearance at her high school last week, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, saying sitting with friends during the assembly felt like the old days.
“It was just like I was at school again. I do keep in contact with my friends via Facebook and email.”
Cilmi flew back to London last Wednesday night after spending the day in Dandenong.
Having won over Australian audiences and cracked Britain and most of Europe, her next challenge will be to succeed and break through in the US, where her album is to be released next year.
Musically, the star said she looks up to artists such as Norah Jones, Cat Stevens and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.