From AC/DC covers at the Roey to singing with Perth Symphony Orchestra: the rise of Broome’s Amy Reeves

A young Broome singer has taken her talent from barefoot performances at the Roey to singing in front of thousands at stadium shows. Amy Reeves, 22, was born and raised in Broome, with strong connections to the Filipino community and a unique talent for singing. The young performer said her parents told her she could sing before she could talk. “The first time I performed, my mum put me on stage in this horrible red tutu, I got up and started singing Jingle Bells and I refused to get off the stage,” she said. “Everyone was clapping and I think that feeling of the applause afterwards was when I realised ‘yeah, this is for me’. “I think I stayed up there for another fifteen minutes repeating it over and over.” Reeves auditioned for the popular reality television program The Voice in 2018, aged 19. Despite a strong performance, she wasn’t able to convince the judges to swivel their chairs and take her to the next round of the show, but said she had no regrets. Determined to use her gift, the young singer went on to prove she had what it took, and there’s been no stopping her. In 2019, Reeves moved to Perth to undertake a Bachelor of Contemporary Music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and she is now in her third year of study. “I was quite lonely at first and didn’t know if I’d made the right choice, until I found my community at WAAPA,” she said. “Then I was like ‘wow, I’ve found my people’.” In February, Reeves was contacted by the director of the Perth Symphony Orchestra, who took an interest in the singer after seeing her perform at a WAAPA event. Soon, Reeves was invited to sing with the orchestra for its Nothing Compares: The Music of Prince show at HBF Stadium in May. “Singing Prince in a stadium with a 60-piece orchestra was just incredible and such a huge honour,” she said. “It was something that I’d wanted for so long and I thought it was an unreachable dream. My high school self would’ve been like ‘what?’” The talented vocalist draws inspiration from Aretha Franklin and has a passion for old soul music. “I love that old soul sound, and of course Beyonce,” Reeves said. “In the right moment, you get into this flow state and its like you’ve been taken away by the music and you’re somewhere else. “Once you just close your eyes and kick into gear it’s so much fun and you can’t beat the adrenaline rush.” Reflecting on her accomplishments, the young performer said she had grown significantly in such a short time. “My first proper gig in Broome was singing AC/DC at the Roey barefoot with my best mate,” she said. “It is just bizarre to go from that to playing a stadium — I still can’t believe it. It sounds gross but I think I really am proud of myself.” After losing her father at age 15, Reeves said her dad was her biggest motivator and would be very proud. Ms Reeves is expected to graduate this year and said she would love to continue working with the PSO in future.