Jessica Mauboy reveals 'strategy' for The Voice 2023: 'Out of the box'

Jessica Mauboy has had a busy start to 2023, with the star performing her new single Right Here, Right Now on Australian Idol, as well as taking to the stage for Sydney WorldPride’s opening concert and finishing up her fifth studio album.

It’s not going to slow down for the bubbly pop star, with the 33-year-old returning to The Voice as a coach when filming begins on April 3. Team Jess will be battling it out against returning coaches Guy Sebastian and Rita Ora, as well as Keith Urban's replacement Jason Derulo.

The Secret Daughter star tells Yahoo Lifestyle that she is “super stoked” to be coming back as a coach on the Seven show, teasing that she’s armed with a solid plan.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun this year,” she begins. “I think my strategy is purely to be there for the artist, to listen to them [and] help them create a performance they want to create.

“But also, [I’m going to] push them a little bit further and out of the box a little bit.”

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Jess shot to fame in 2006 when she came second on Australian Idol and secured her first recording contract. Since then, she has released four albums, as well as establishing a career as an actress and media personality.

She’s hoping her 17 years of experience in the industry will help her connect with the contestants, who will hopefully choose her for her “spontaneous” nature and boundless energy.

“I want everyone to have a really great time really, I want this to be an awesome space that [contestants] can just soar and be themselves,” she tells us.

Fans have been divided over Keith Urban’s replacement, US singer Jason Derulo, known for his R&B hits Whatcha Say and In My Head. However, Jess says fans will love having the coach “spice” things up, but admits she may end up singing his name a few too many times.

“I know that we’re going to have a good time with him. Jason is going to bring spice, I think he’s going to bring hype,” she gushes. “He’s going to bring such power and his experience, and his advice…it’s going to be a really cool dynamic between the four of us.”

She teases that the coaches are planning to make “a great season” of the show, with “banging songs” and an all-around exciting experience.

‘So much pressure’: Jess’ inspiring new single

The Eurovision competitor changed record labels in 2020, signing a new deal with Warner Music Australia, and has been busy working on new music ever since.

She tells us that she’s “taken time” to get the music right, and admits that the ‘cathartic and releasing’ songwriting process has made her feel the ‘most joyous she’s ever felt’.

So far, Jess has released Glow, Automatic, and her new track, Right Here, Right Now. Throughout her career, she has suffered through difficult moments but has turned all her past pain into a powerful pop anthem.

The message is simple but important, with the singer wanting to hit home the idea that fans should allow themselves to feel “good enough”.

“Your subconscious tells you you’re not great enough, or you’re not worth it…it puts so much pressure on ourselves,” she explains. “The great deeper message of this song is [to] free yourself from that, free yourself from all the s**t that’s on your back. That is actually not yours to carry.

“Go to those places that make you feel safe. Right Here, Right Now is an anthem for that.”

The star adds that she wanted to create a song that could take people on a journey, from crying during the verse to celebrating ‘with confetti cannons’ during the chorus.

“I wanted to put people in a place where you could get out of something that felt so painful, into something…in such celebration.”

You can stream Jess' latest single Right Here, Right Now here.

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