Fremantle's 'Mini Taylor Swift' Harriet Hawthorne Aims for Australian Idol Success
Harriet Hawthorne, a 19-year-old bartender from Fremantle, is making waves as a top 30 competitor on Australian Idol, drawing comparisons to a young Taylor Swift for her curly blonde hair, guitar skills, and lyric-focused songwriting. Dubbed "mini Taylor" by judge Amy Shark during her audition, Hawthorne embraces the compliment, noting her musical inspiration from the American superstar.
Songwriting Roots and Musical Inspirations
Hawthorne views herself primarily as a songwriter, much like Swift, and cites growing up listening to her music as a key influence. "It's a very high compliment and praise, and it makes sense to me because I grew up listening to her music and I think I take a lot from her as a songwriter," she told The West Australian. "I'm very lyrics based in a similar way that she is."
In addition to Swift, she finds inspiration in young pop diva Olivia Rodrigo and has been likened to legend Joni Mitchell by her mother. Her job behind the bar at the live music venue Freo.Social exposes her to a diverse range of artists nightly, fueling her aspirations.
Balancing Dreams and Reality
Working at Freo.Social places Hawthorne front row to performances, making her dream of stardom feel both distant and within reach. "There's a little part of me that I think a lot of artists can relate to; It's like every time you see someone, you sort of wish it was you up there," she said. However, as a champion of local artists, she adds that it's not a burden, balancing her roles as both a performer and an enjoyer of live music.
A former student at Fremantle's John Curtin College of the Arts, Hawthorne uses her middle name for her stage persona, with her community more familiar with her surname, Kenworthy. Her loved ones have been supportive throughout her journey, including during a watch party for her audition. "I'd honestly never felt more supported in my life," she revealed.
Musical Releases and Future Plans
Hawthorne's first official musical release, the single Flowers laced with vitriol, dropped in November, prior to her Australian Idol top 30 placement alongside three other West Australians. She hopes to release an entire album soon, regardless of her Idol outcome. Determined to pursue her music career, she's even prepared to return to bartending if necessary to fund recordings.
"It's something that I want so badly that I'm going to work for it, no matter where I end up with Idol," Hawthorne said. "Whether that means I'm back in the bar, getting those hours up to earn the money to record. That's something that I'm willing to do."
Watch Harriet Hawthorne in action on Australian Idol this Sunday, March 1 from 7pm on 7 & 7plus.
