Zoë Badwi

Joining the likes of Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, and Holly Valance on the list of Australian actresses turned pop stars, Zoë Badwi began her music career as one third of girl band Sirens before embarking on a solo career that spawned several club chart-topping anthems. Born in Melbourne, Badwi started out modeling, appearing in famous commercials for Telstra and Mars before landing a part in Raw FM, an ABC drama based on an independent radio station. In 2001, she joined girl group trio Sirens, who scored two hits, "Like Fire, Like Rain" and a cover version of the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited" before disbanding in 2001. Badwi continued to write and perform, recording jingles for various radio stations, and was later spotted fronting her own band, Black Dog, at a Melbourne club by electronic duo TV Rock's Grant Smillie, who was so impressed by her vocals that he invited her to work with him. After signing to Neon Records, her debut solo single, "Release Me," was nominated for Best Dance Release at the 2009 ARIA Awards and was followed by Top Ten single "Freefallin'." In 2010, she secured a U.S. deal with Atlantic Records and began work on her debut album with Static Revenger, Rogue Traders, and English singer/songwriter Amy Pearson. ~ Jon O'Brien