Favourite Season: Season one (2003)
Favourite TV show: That’s So Raven!
Favourite Food: Sadza (traditional Zim food)
Favourite Colour: Purple
Favourite Album: Destiny Fulfilled- Destiny’s Child
Favourite Song: Lose my Breath
Star Sign: Aries
First Job: I was a receptionist
When slightly-built one-time receptionist Tarisai entered the Idol audition room, the judges had no idea what was about to hit them. The softly spoken 20-year-old blew them away with her amazing rendition of Whitney Houston’s "I Have Nothing". "There’s a lot of people loving what you just did then," said Kyle Sandilands, without even conferring with the panel. A lover of the movie Dreamigirls and R&B in general – she lists Ms. Houston and Tina Turner as inspirations – Tarisai says that, as well as her amazing set of pipes, she brings both her personality and an ability to mean what she sings to the competition.
I first realised I wanted to become a professional singer when... I was eight years when I became serious about being a singer. Watching Whitney Houston on television letting that voice out made me cry to God about how I wanted to become a precious woman and start singing professionally leading to a long career.
What is your favourite genre of music? Please tell us why you love that particular style. I love R’n B (Soul) music. All feelings coming from that style including the beats make my mind to go wild.’ The feelings, the passions in that style makes a difference in my life everytime I listen or sing R’nB (soul.) They provide certain meanings which usually relate to me.
Which previous finalist do you find most inspiring and why? I find Guy Sebastian as the most inspiring finalist. He is a very humble artist who is sincere and that draws his audience closer when he’s performing. They feel that draws his audience closer when he’s They feel the sincerity when he is singing which makes them connect together.
Have you auditioned for a previous series of Australian Idol? If so, how far did you progress? What motivated you to audition this year? No, I have not auditioned for any previous series of Australian Idol.
Describe your feeling at your first audition? Ummm damn, I was just feeling nervous most of the time, and basically I spent most of my day praying to God to lead me through. I was really nervous.
Obviously, it’s important to have a strong voice, but what other aspects give a performer "star quality’? Please explain your answer? A strong voice is an advantage too but an artist needs EXTRAS to spice it up. 1st: PERSONALITY is essential. It reflects who you are as an artist and it shows how unique you are as an artist. 2nd:the ability to mean what you sing. It reflects how real you are and that helps to deliver the message of the song when one means it. Nothing is boring when meaning is delivered.
Idol shows often follow as special them like Disco, Rock or Big Band. What would your ’dream theme’ and why? My dream theme is so weird but I would love it if they accommodated the theme "musicals". Musicals include a lot of acting which provide meaning to songs and they are pretty entertaining.
What would you call your debut album? Wow. What would I call my debut album? I think I would call "The Hidden Secrets of Tarisai"
Why do you think Australian Idol is an important part of our local music industry? Australian Idol is very important to our local music industry because it provides artists an opportunity to show themselves and their talent out to the world and the contestants every year teach other musicians a lot and the contestants learn to be individuals in the show by performing
to the public.
Which artist (dead or alive) would you most like to perform a duet with and why? I would love to perform with Miss lovely Tina Turner. Tina Turner inspired me because she performs with elegance and has the passion and soul in every song that she performs. SHE ROCKS!
What’s the best thing about being on Australian Idol? The best about being on Australian Idol is that I DON’T GET TO GO TO UNI. Hahaha. I’m just joking. I love being on Australian Idol because I learn a lot from other contestants and I get the
opportunity to share my passion with my audience and fans. So beautiful.
Who is your favourite judge and why? Ummm. I love all of the judges. Honestly, but Mark Holden and Marcia Hines are so cute. They encouraged me to show out my personality which gained me to get through the auditions.Kyle and Dicko taught me to stand my ground and let it out more. There are the kinda judges that toughen you up because of the way they are tough. They rock too.
How do you prepare yourself before a performance? For my performances I rehearse a lot. I plan the songs that show my personality out, something that entertains my audience. I work out a bit just to get fit. I sleep to get rest and I pray to ask God to help me deliver the best to my audience.
What’s the best bit of advice someone has given to you? The best bit of advice I’ve been given: Always believe in yourself and in God. All plans have the last say with God but FAITH is of the root to success.
If you win, who would you thank first? If I win I would thank God first. Without him I wouldn’t exist to be a contestant. Not forgetting the fans supporting me. They are a blessing.
