# Royston Sagigi-Baira

Royston Sagigi-Baira, also known as Royston Noell, is an Australian singer best known for winning the eighth season of Australian Idol in 2023. He officially won the title in March 2023, $100,000 prize money and a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.

## Early life

Royston Sagigi-Baira is a Thanakwith (Aboriginal) and Wagadagam (Torres Strait Islander) man from Mapoon, Queensland.
Sagigi-Baira reflected saying "Most kids wanted to play rugby or go fishing, but I just wanted to sing It's all I ever wanted to do.". In year 2, his teacher gave him High School Musical DVD as a prize, saying "I took it home and watched it over and over again and completely fell in love with music, especially singing."
Sagigi-Baira sang in church and in school. Sagigi-Baira attended the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) in Brisbane and as of 2023, is in his second year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) degree at the Queensland University of Technology.

## Career
### 2018-2022: All Together Now

In 2018, Sagigi-Baira competed on the Australian version of All Together Now, becoming the first contestant to snag a perfect score of 100 performiong Sam Smith's "Lay Me Down" eventually been the last contestant eliminated behind Lai Utovou and Tarryn Stokes.
During NAIDOC Week in July 2022, Aboriginal Christian leader, poet and writer Brooke Prentis spoke with Sagigi-Baira on national radio about the theme "Get Up! Stand up! Show up!"
In November 2022, Sagigi-Baira released his debut single "When I Fall Apart" under the name Royston Noell.

### 2023: Australian Idol

In 2023, Sagigi-Baira audition for the Seven Network reboot of Australian Idol with the song "I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith, receiving a golden ticket to the top 50. He went on to advance through from the top 50 to the top 24, and then made it to the top 12 live shows.
Sagigi-Baira continued to impress Australia weekly, advancing through to the top ten, then top eight and then top 6 before finding himself in the grand finale, and final three.
Upon being announced as a grand finalist Noell said "I can't believe this. This is crazy. This is a testament [to the fact] that no matter where you come from, as long as you work hard, you can follow your dreams, and they can come true."
Australian Idol performances and results (2023) :
| Episode | Song | Original Artist | Result |
| Auditions | "I'm Not the Only One" | Sam Smith | Through to Top 50 |
| Top 50 Part 1-Round 1 | "Wrecking Ball" | Miley Cyrus | Through to Round 2 |
| Top 50 Part 1-Round 2 | "I'll Be There" | Jess Glynne | Through to Part 2 |
| Top 50 Part 2 | "Everything I Wanted" | Billie Eilish | Through to Top 24 |
| Top 24 | "Versace on the Floor" | Bruno Mars | Through to Top 12 |
| Top 12 | "Man In The Mirror" | Michael Jackson | Through to Top 10 |
| Top 10 | "I Won't Let You Go" | James Morrison | Through to Top 8 |
| Top 8 | "The Climb" | Miley Cyrus | Through to Top 6 |
| Top 6 | "True Colors" | Cyndi Lauper | Perform Head to Head |
| Top 6-Head to Head | "I Want to Know What Love Is" | Foreigner | Through to Grand Finale |
| Grand Finale-Top 3 | "I Can't Make You Love Me" | Bonnie Raitt | Through to Top 2 |
| Grand Finale-Top 2 | "When You Believe" | Whitney Houston | Winner |
| Grand Finale-Top 2 | "Invincible" | winners single | Winner |
After a performance on Whitney Houston's "When You Believe", Sagigi-Baira was announced as the winner.
Immediately after the announcement, his winners single "Invincible", written by Tones and I, was released. The song was compared to Rihanna's "Diamonds" on Radio 6PR.
In November 2023, he released "Dreaming".
In November 2024, Noell released "Feeling Good" and announced the release of his debut EP Sunrise.

## Personal life

Sagigi-Baira is currently residing in Cape York, in far north Queensland.

## Discography
### Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details :
| Title | Details |
| Sunrise | Released: February 2025 Label: Sony Music Australia |

### Singles

List of singles :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | AUS | Album |
| "When I Fall Apart" | 2022 | — | TBA |
| "Invincible" | 2023 | — | TBA |
| "Dreaming" | 2023 | — | Sunrise |
| "Say It Loud" | 2024 | — | Sunrise |
| "Feeling Good" | 2024 | — | Sunrise |
| "Way Up" | 2025 | — | Sunrise |

## Awards and nominations
### National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2023 | Himself | New Talent of the Year | Nominated | |