Kartik Kunasegaran (Australian Idol)
Kartik Kunasegaran (born 1996) is a Singapore-born Australian singer who made it to the Top 30 contestants in the eighth season of the Australian Idol.[1] He is currently based in Sydney, where he pursues his singing career under the abbreviated name, Kartik Kuna.[2]
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As of March 2023, Kartik has gained a following of 1,100 on Facebook and 3,450 followers on Instagram.[3][4]
Background
Personal life & family
Kartik Kunasegaran was born in Singapore, but raised in Tasmania, Australia. In an interview with The Straits Times, he mentioned that he had briefly resided in Singapore while completing his Service, before he returned to Australia.[5]
“Growing up in Singapore, it’s a cool place to grow up. It’s just very academic over there. I didn’t really realise my musical passions until we came to Australia.”[6]
Education
Kartik Kunasegaran graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a major in Classical Piano Performance.[5]
Career
Singapore Armed Forces Music & Drama Company
While completing his National Service in Singapore, Kartik Kunasegaran joined the Singapore Armed Forces’ Music & Drama Company (MDC), where he was able to foster his musical skills and passion for performing.[5]
His membership in MDC also granted him the opportunity to perform at the 2014 National Day Parade, in front of a 27,000-large audience.[5]
“MDC was great because I had two years to hone my craft. I had time to learn how to sing better, I got trained in dance and I got trained to host as well.”[5]
Singer (2016 to Present)
Kartik Kunasegaran is a singer-songwriter who is currently based in Sydney, Australia.[3] He often engages in collaborative projects with other Asian or South-Asian artists.[2] In fact, he started a nine-month long project in 2022, where he released a collaborative single every month.[2][3]
Discography (2016 to Present)
| Year | Album/Single | Tracks | Ref. |
| 2022 | Out on Me | Out on Me | [2] |
| 2022 | We’ll Be Alright | We’ll Be Alright | [2] |
| 2022 | Today I Miss You | Today I Miss You | [2] |
| 2022 | The Rain | The Rain | [2] |
| 2022 | Chance on We | Chance on We | [2] |
| 2022 | I Told You So | I Told You So | [2] |
| 2022 | Divide | Divide | [2] |
| 2022 | Good Times | Good Times | [2] |
| 2021 | The Wanderlust - EP |
|
[2] |
| 2021 | Wanderlust | Wanderlust | [2] |
| 2021 | Lucy | Lucy | [2] |
| 2021 | Songs About You |
|
[2] |
| 2021 | Do You Deserve It | Do You Deserve It | [2] |
| 2020 | Fallin’ for You | Fallin’ for You | [2] |
| 2020 | Used to Crazy | Used to Crazy | [2] |
| 2016 | Home Away from Home | Home Away from Home | [2] |
Performing for The Sydney Live Sessions (2021)
As part of Madame Tussauds Sydney’s move to promote the city’s live music scene, they organised a series of afternoon gigs in March 2021. Named “The Sydney Live Sessions”, Kartik was among a revolving cast of singer-songwriters to perform for this event.[7]
Selling out his first live show (2022)
On 30 June 2022, Kartik sold out his first live show with an 8-piece band. The show featured fellow artists like Taylor B-W and Xaysha, and was held at Lazy Bones Lounge in Marrickville, Australia.[8]
Subsequently, he held his debut performance in Singapore with Singapore Global Network, before ending the year with another headline show in Sydney.[9][10]
Making it to Top 30 at The Australian Idol (2023)
In February 2023, Kartik successfully passed the initial audition for the eighth season of Australian Idol, with an acoustic performance of “Treasure” by Bruno Mars.[5] Among thousands of other contestants, he was eliminated at Top 30 after a group performance of “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake.[3]
“I was definitely upset that I JUST missed out on making the Top 24, but Top 30 is still pretty good considering there were over 5,000 people who auditioned across the country!...The whole reason I wanted to go on the show was to represent all my beautiful South Asians as there needs to be more diversity on our TV screens to truly represent what Australia actually looks like. Growing up here as an immigrant kid since I was 9, I’ve come to realise that my dharma (purpose in life) is to inspire the next brown generation to pursue a career in the arts if that’s what they love, and I hope I’ve done that for y’all and your kids through my music.”[1]
Media coverage
Interviewed and featured by The Straits Times, Seithi Mediacorp, and 8days (2023)
In February 2023, local news and media outlets like The Straits Times, Seithi Mediacorp, and 8days published articles featuring Kartik Kunasegaran and his appearance on Australian Idol.[5][11] As he and his family hailed from Singapore, these publications largely covered the singer’s story and life abroad.
References/Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kartik Kuna. “Kartik Kuna”. Facebook. February 16, 2023. Accessed 10 March 2023.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 Kartik Kuna. “Discography”. Spotify. n.d. Accessed 10 March 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kartik Kuna. “Kartik Kuna”. Facebook. n.d. Accessed 10 March 2023.
- ↑ kartikkuna. “kartikkuna”. Instagram. n.d. Accessed 10 March 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Hadi, Eddino Abdul. “Singapore-born singer Kartik Kunasegaran competing in the top 50 of Australian Idol”. The Straits Times. February 16, 2023. Accessed 10 March 2023.
- ↑ Lim, Ainslyn. “Singaporean Singer, Whose Dad Really Wanted Him To Be A Doctor, Makes It To Top 50 In Australian Idol”. 8days. February 7, 2023. Accessed 10 March 2023.
- ↑ Staff Writers.”Madame Tussauds Sydney Presents The Sydney Live Sessions”. scenestr. March 12 2021. Accessed 15 March 2023.
- ↑ Kartik Kuna. “Kartik Kuna”. Facebook. May 16, 2022. Accessed 3 March 2023.
- ↑ Kartik Kuna. “Kartik Kuna”. Facebook. August 3, 2022. Accessed 3 March 2023.
- ↑ Kartik Kuna. “Kartik Kuna”. Facebook. August 11, 2022. Accessed 3 March 2023.
- ↑ Seithi Mediacorp. “ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் தடம் பதிக்கும் சிங்கப்பூரர்....Australian Idol போட்டியில் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட 50 பாடகர்களில் ஒருவர்....”. Seithi Mediacorp. February 10, 2023. Accessed 10 March 2023.