Casey's birthday wish for a fresh start


great Picture of casey and her friend Jade.

Two years ago, Casey Donovan was a 16-year-old high school student - launched into the public eye by winning Australian Idol.

Turning 18 on Sunday, Donovan says she's learnt a lot since then but admits she's still trying to find her place in the music industry.

"I have learnt a hell of a lot about the industry and the ins and outs of it," she said.

"Musically, I just love writing ... if I'm not writing for myself, hopefully in the long-run I will end up writing for someone else."


Like most young women celebrating their 18th, Donovan will hit the town on Sunday following a family lunch.

"... it is pretty low-key," said the western Sydney teenager who plans to party at a pub.

Donovan was yet to receive any gifts but said she planned to splurge on a gift for herself - a home studio where she can record her own music.

She's also getting a tattoo on her back with her lucky number, 13.

"I have told my mum and step-dad and they really wish I wouldn't get a tattoo," she said.

"It's going to be a semi-quaver music symbol with 13 in the circle."

Donovan has certainly changed a lot since Idol. She's far more vocal and a lot less shy.

She won the competition in 2004, beating Anthony Callea to the crown, and following in the footsteps of Guy Sebastian.

But she failed to outsell Callea despite selling more than 150,000 copies of her debut album, For You.

Constant comparisons with Callea have made it difficult for the singer, who is determined to continue with her music.

"I decided after Idol, Anthony's success was amazing and congratulations to him," she said.

"Everyone knows I am not the Idol mould. Basically I thank Idol for getting me where I am today but I have just taken the choice to start from scratch and go from there."

Donovan is still signed to record label Sony BMG Australia and is working on a second album.

She has a number of songs ready and says the offering will be a mixture of rock tunes and ballads.

One song she's written is about her much-publicised troubles with her biological father, Mervin Donovan.

Mervin was ordered by a Sydney court last month to stay away from his daughter for 12 months after dragging her down a flight of stairs following one of her gigs.

"I wrote a song a while back called Eye to Eye ... just about the family situation and what was happening with my dad," she said.

"I just try and not think about it but it doesn't bother me too much."

Another song, Skin Deep, was written about her experiences in public life.

"It is basically about media when I was doing Idol, about being put down and all that stuff," she said.