PureVolume

Members: Amanda Grafanakis (Australian Idol), Jayszun Vanderwerff (Anastacia), Aaron Barnett (The Getaway Plan), Dave Anderson (The Getaway Plan).

You may not recognise that name, SASKIA, but you will certainly remember that voice.

It belongs to Amanda Grafanakis, who - fortunately for those of us who live north of Station Pier - moved to Melbourne from Hobart two years ago. The 25-year-old has one of the most powerful voices in Australia; a voice that has allowed her to share stages with Renee Geyer and Mahalia Barnes, and taken her from Hobart to Melbourne to The Middle East and beyond. More on that in a moment.

But who is SASKIA? Well, perhaps "what" is the correct question: SASKIA is an exciting new musical project fronted by Amanda, with able assistance from Jayszun Vanderwerff (Anastacia) on guitar. They are currently working on SASKIA's debut album of killer originals - think a commanding collision between post-hardcore and R&B; trust us, it works - due for release in the summer after a sojourn overseas to write and record. Not that you'll have to wait that long to hear it, so calm down.

The important part of the musical equation is that voice. Amanda has been singing for as long as she can remember; when she was just 16, Ross Fraser (executive producer of Australian Idol and long time John Farnham collaborator) remarked upon seeing Amanda perform, "Amanda has x-factor, there's no way this will be the last we'll be seeing of her."

It certainly wasn't: ten years of hard work and determined gigging started to pay off last year, when Amanda was plucked from the roughly 38,000 auditionees to become a part of Australian Idol's Top 24. Judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson saw what so many others have seen and will see in Amanda: "star quality and a fabulous level of performance, great pop/rock marketability, attitude, energy, and individual style." Kyle Sandilands said "You look great, have a strong voice, and you're one of the only ones that give 110%"

Putting in a slew of amazing vocal performances during her time on the show, she made it to 13th place (bettering 37,987 people, if you need the perspective) - but her exit from the show was far from the blow it might be to many singers' confidence and careers. Amanda's time in the Idol spotlight let the Australian public get to know her a little better; it sowed the seeds of recognition in their minds for the time when that voice would eventually return to shine.

If you're ready, she is, so remember that name: SASKIA. That voice will make sure you do.

-Clem Bastow.

Video of Amanda on Australian Idol.

Video of Jayszun with Anastacia.

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