Isaiah Firebrace felt ‘disconnected’ with identity growing up in a born-again Christian home

Australian Singer Isaiah Firebrace admits he felt ‘disconnected’ with his Indigenous identity growing up in a born-again Christian home

Isaiah Firebrace won the eighth season of The X Factor Australia in 2016.

And now he has spoken about the struggles with his Indigenous identity after growing up in a born-again Christian home. 

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph this week, Isaiah, 20, said he felt ‘disconnected’ to the young Indigenous man he once was.  

Finding purpose: Australian singer Isaiah Firebrace, 20, (pictured) has discussed struggling with his Indigenous identity growing up in a born-again Christian home

‘I want to keep striving to be a voice when I need to be that and I feel proud of that because I have felt disconnected to who I was as a young Indigenous man,’ he said.

The Australian singer continued: ‘Maybe because of my upbringing… I never really got to fully understand my identity until recent times.’

Isaiah went on to tell the publication that he was ‘shocked’ and ‘heartbroken’ to witness racist treatment of his cousins who were darker-skinned then himself.

‘Striving for equality is something I want to make a part of who I am and not just for (people of) colour but everything,’ he said. 

Candid: Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph this week, Isaiah, 20, said he felt 'disconnected' to the young Indigenous man he once was

Candid: Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph this week, Isaiah, 20, said he felt ‘disconnected’ to the young Indigenous man he once was

Isaiah explained his desire to speak up about inequality was also motivated by his experiences in the music industry.

Last year he performed a 50-date national tour of towns around Australia where he was able to reconnect with his Indigenous heritage and culture.

He also conducted a series of workshops with students before playing his concerts at night.

' I never really got to fully understand my identity until recent times,' he explained

‘ I never really got to fully understand my identity until recent times,’ he explained

A year after winning The X Factor Australia in 2016, he finished ninth place in the 2017 Eurovision song contest with his rendition of Ringo Starr’s It Don’t Come Easy.

Isaiah joins the likes of Dami Im, Jessica Mauboy and Guy Sebastian, who have represented Australia in previous Eurovision competitions.

His new track ‘Know Me Better’ is out now. 

Making history: Isaiah joins the likes of Dami Im and Guy Sebastian, who represented Australia in previous Eurovision competitions

 Making history: Isaiah joins the likes of Dami Im and Guy Sebastian, who represented Australia in previous Eurovision competitions