By Sandi Tighello
Welcome to the first of Onya’s conversations – where interviews take place with Australians from all walks of life, career paths, cultures, ages and interests. So, I introduce you to our first – Faustina Agolley. Catching up with an old friend is always fun, particularly when that old friend is the host of a television institution.
What does being Australian mean to you?
Being able to live in a country of great opportunity and freedom of choice, unlike many other countries in the world.
What do you love about Australia?
Our growth to change for the better; politically and socially accepting change.
You were born in London to Chinese and Ghanaian parents and emigrated to Australia at the age of 20 months. What would you say to anyone that might suggest you aren’t ‘technically’ Australian?
I think I fit the definition of Australian like many other Australians (I’ve lived in Australia for 25 years!), but I also see my identity in being Chinese, African and even English because of family and cultural upbringing. What is ‘technically’ Australian?
You currently co-host Video Hits. How did you break into television?
I would consider my first break into television as being a guest presenter on Channel [V], after participating in a competition to be Jabba’s co-host in the ‘Masked Avenger’ (which I didn’t win). From there, and about three more years of doing work experience and hosting ‘Cybershack’, I found my current home on ‘Video Hits’.
What’s your take on the Australian media industry?
It’s exciting to work in a time where more free to air channels are being launched, pay TV is in more Australian homes, and the power of the internet keeps on growing from strength to strength.
You recently appeared in the latest Just Jeans campaign. Positive body image is so important in your work- how do you maintain one, especially in such a competitive industry?
I’m happy with the way I am. I’ve never felt obliged to look any different and I’ve never been told to keep to a certain weight. I don’t feel I need to compete with someone because of body image. Sandi, you and I went to the same high school together and like yourself we never were subjected to any form of peer pressure in any way, not that I ever felt that there was an issue in the first place.
That was why I was so happy to take part in the Just Jeans campaign because just like everyone that participated, they took us for who we were. I got notice about it a couple of weeks out from shooting and never had to go in for a fitting beforehand, I just had to show up on the day. Meeting the lovely people on set and eating their amazing catering was the best part of that ‘job’. I love to eat, indulge sometimes, and cook all kinds of things. I do work out and go for runs and ride my bike, but the main aim is to maintain a healthy life.
You’ve interviewed many celebrities, musicians and artists – any stand out favourites?
Yes! I have too many; M.I.A., Alicia Keys, Neil Finn, Green Day, Basement Jaxx, Pink, Xavier Rudd, Xzibit, Eve, John Butler, Craig David Anti-Flag, Gossip…
The crew and I got time with Neil Finn in his studios in New Zealand. We had an amazing chat for a good half hour, talked about highlights of his career with Split Endz, Crowded House, from song writing to deals in Europe and America to raising his son Liam. I strategically placed one of his amazing acoustic guitars from the studio between our chairs for the interview. I asked for him to play us a song at the end and he was more than happy to, he sung ‘Fall At Your Feet’ to myself, our cameraman, sound man and two producers in the room. A special moment indeed.
Another time would have to have been Green Day. I went to their studios in Oakland, California at the end of April. We were the first TV interview they did for their latest record ’21st Century Breakdown’ so there were some nervous vibes in the air, but we had the best time. It was great to get into the minds of three men that came from such intriguing childhoods, break down some of the songs off the record, including ‘Murder City’, to talking about their first few recordings including their 1,000 hours EP. My favourite answer to a question was when I asked “Is it difficult to make Punk relevant today, like how it was in its hey day?” Billie Joe answered, “To me, Punk is always relevant, many people have Christianity and I have Punk rock.”
With Alicia Keys we were under the pump. I had 10 minutes flat with her backstage in Sydney at her ‘As I Am’ Tour. Her crew and our crew had stop watches, somehow in that 10 minutes we were able to chat about many things from the honesty of her record, her love of the book The Secret Life Of Bees and the character June that she plays in the film’s adaptation, and the similarities of her life and that of June’s. She also told us about one of the highlights of her tour, playing ‘Clocks’ with Coldplay at the Summersonic festival in Japan and tripping out at Chris Martin’s piano (the colour of his keys were in reverse).
With these artists, and the others mentioned, I was personally happy with the conversations as a fan and as an interviewer. Even if it is only 10 – 30 minutes.
Some people I still want to interview include Cat Power, Fleet Foxes, Devendra Barnhart, Missy Elliot, Common, Janelle Monae and Roberta Flack. So, if I can just keep a job of interviewing artists I’m intrigued by, I will be a happy person.
You have the biggest and best hair in show business – how do you look after it?
Thanks Sandi! I use L’Oreal Kerestase Oleo Relax, a leave in conditioner. I also bought the best afro pik in America not so long ago that can make it a lot bigger.
Where are your favourite places to travel to and visit in Australia?
In Australia I love my home: Melbourne! I mainly work in Sydney so when I get home I tend to find something new, a cafe or a restaurant, a cool store and see friends and family that I don’t often get to see. Outside of Melbourne, in Victoria, I love to camp in Apollo Bay and take walks in the local area, or stay overnight and eat fish and chips in Sorrento.
I love Tasmania too. My family and I took a road trip across the state and it’s seriously one of the nicest drives I’ve ever been on, I enjoyed visiting every part of it. From Hobart, to Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain, the Derwent River, Wineglass Bay to taking a tour of Port Arthur. The food there is some of the freshest food I’ve had in all of Australia. The breakfast at Cradle Mountain lodge is probably one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had and I loved the Christmas Hills raspberry farm. I brought home so many jars of raspberry jam!
I also love Byron Bay, even when working there for a music festival, I always feel so relaxed because of the the amazing scenery. I never seem to stay there long enough though, one day.
