Carl Risely is a sailor who turned Idol who turned crooner, as Leon Gettler reports.

From growing up on the Gold Coast, to the Royal Australian Navy, to the finals of Australian Idol to working as crooner - Carl Riseley is only 25 years old but his career has had more twists and turns than most twice his age. Many would be jangled by all the changes. He remains remarkably laid back about the constant dislocation, as mellow as his sound.

"I've just embraced it," he says. "I don't let it affect me too much because it's where I want to go."

When Riseley finishes his Australian tour at month's end, he will start work on his second album and gigging. His first album, appropriately named The Rise and over which he's been compared to Harry Connick, was released in April. What makes this career trajectory so remarkable is that he only left the Navy in February.

As a kid on the Gold Coast, he learned trumpet from his father, a boat builder who played music as a hobby. "He obviously didn't force it on me but he taught me to play when I was young, maybe three or four," he says.

Determined to become a musician, he joined the Navy when he was 20. Why? Because it's one of the few jobs where you get paid to practise all day and perform. He never rose above the rank of Able Seaman ("second from the very bottom") but he didn't care. All he wanted to do was play.

And to see the world. His 21st birthday was on a plane travelling to Iraq to entertain the troops. And it was only in the navy that he discovered his voice. "I knew I could sing because I liked to do it in the shower and around the house. I would just sing jazz stuff, but it wasn't a serious thing."

Riseley ended up gigging in the navy rock band, belting out covers and rock standards. And when he wasn't singing, he was on trumpet.

So how does someone go from the Navy to Australian Idol?

"I lost a bet," he admits. "I said to a mate if you try out for the Navy soccer side and get in, I'll audition for Idol. We made the bet, thinking he wouldn't get in. He did, so I had to do the audition and got through."

Able Seaman Riseley made it to the top 24. The judges then nominated Riseley for his version of the Everly Brothers hit Bye Bye Love. Then he took another risk: a jazz version of Waltzing Matilda. It could have been canned as corny but Riseley figured the massive amount of free publicity was worth the risk.

Riseley got kicked off Australian Idol in November but, by then, he was on his way. He had reached the top three and had generated enormous publicity. He signed up with manager Ralph Carr who also looks after Vanessa Amorosi and Kate Ceberano, left the Navy and moved to Melbourne. He hasn't looked back.

"This is a lot more challenging and rewarding. In the navy, there is only so far you can go in life, especially in music. They're not really interested in music.

"People don't individualise you as a singer when you're in the Navy band. But now, whatever I do is reflected on my name in whatever I sing."

I really, really like Carl and his voice. Noticed something special about him when he was on Idol and bought his album.

Also saw him on the Olivia and Friends video recently. He has definitely got better and seems to have more control of his voice and more confidence.

Good onya Carl. Your voice is something! Reminds me of a saxaphone - I love that tone.

Would love to hear him sing Home again now.