EXCLUSIVE:'There's a reason why these shows are cancelling': Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci slams reality shows as she prepares to release new album

By Candice Jackson For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:13 EST, 26 January 2017 | Updated: 00:19 EST, 26 January 2017

She was crowned the winner of TV singing contest Australian Idol in 2011.

And now Natalie Gauci has spoken out about how she had 'the biggest shock to the system' after being catapulted to fame seemingly overnight.

The former music teacher, 35, spoke to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday about the experience, claiming: 'It changed me forever.'

'There's a reason why these shows are cancelling': Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci slams reality show formats for under-preparing its contestants and reflects on her win ten years ago as she prepares to release new album 

While she doesn't hold any regrets towards applying or winning the Channel Ten reality show, she did feel the show left her under-prepared for what was to follow.

'When everything is done for you, created around you, and you have to go back to your normal life, that's the biggest shock to the system. 

'You don't have the makeup artist, the clothes that you wear anymore, the support network or the chef cooking you food,' the London-based singer said.

The singer had previously stated she felt detached after her win, as she struggled to piece together who she was amid the post-show chaos. 

'The biggest shock to the system': The singer recalls the moment her crafted reality slipped away and she was left feeling detached as she struggled to piece together who she was

'I think there is a reason now why these shows are cancelling. I think people are starting to say "Well, what happened to these winners?"' Natalie said, while mentioning she's been in contact with other reality stars who share her position.

She explained she was excited to release her own music with her Sony recording contract, but it didn't come to fruition as she felt she 'didn't have a complete voice'.

'I was very protective of my music, my vision and my dream. Anything around that that didn't fit, I couldn't do that,' she commented.

'I was very naive in terms of what the music industry': Natalie spoke of her excitement to release her own music as part of her Sony recording contract, but it didn't come to fruition as she felt she 'didn't have a complete voice'

'I was very naive in terms of what the music industry was going to be about. I believed I could win Australian Idol, have a platform to release MY album that I wrote to MY fans who voted for ME.'

'I was very serious about wanting to give my fans the real me, all of me,' she said.

After her Sony recording contract was terminated, Natalie took to crowd-funding site Phundee and raised more than $15,000 to finance her new album.

On her terms: After her Sony recording contract was terminated, Natalie took to crowd-funding site Phundee and raised more than $15,000 to finance her new album Pictures Of Mars, to be released in March

While experimenting with finding her musical identity, the star previously made headlines for battling depression and addiction.

She revealed the reality show didn't prepare her for what was to come: 'We're not taught in the music industry how to come down from a natural high.'

Natalie says she has now come to terms with ways of coming down naturally, such as enlisting the benefits of yoga.

'I think people are starting to say "Well, what happened to these winners?"' Natalie claimed her experience is shared by other former reality stars and TV music contest entrants and believes audiences realising that the stars disappear may be the reason why the shows are being axed from screens

The Pictures Of Mars album has been produced by Natalie herself and represents a reflection of the past 10 years of her life. 

The singer has collaborated with some world class musicians for the tracks, including Nitin Sawhney.

The album is due for a March release, with a sneak peek of one of her tracks available on her Ngauciofficial Soundcloud account.

The star will return to Australia in June and July for a national tour, where she will share personal stories and experiences to her audiences.

Return tour: The star will return to Australia in June and July for a national tour, where she will share personal stories and experiences to her audiences

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