{"id":3503,"date":"2025-04-13T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/?p=3503"},"modified":"2025-04-15T06:46:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T06:46:09","slug":"i-grew-up-off-grid-without-electricity-now-im-competing-at-eurovision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/13\/i-grew-up-off-grid-without-electricity-now-im-competing-at-eurovision\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I grew up off-grid without electricity \u2013 now I\u2019m competing at Eurovision\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Mandatory\t<\/div>
Australia’s Eurovision entrant Go-Jo grew up watching VHS’ of the contest (Picture: Hollandse Hoogte\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Growing up on a property in rural Western Australia<\/a>, the idea of ever being able to perform<\/a> at Eurovision<\/a> was a pipe dream for Marty Zambotto.<\/p>\n

But last month the 29-year-old from the small town of Manjimup was announced as his country\u2019s act <\/a>for the 2025 contest \u2013 an honour the musician, who goes by the stage name Go-Jo, never thought would be possible.<\/p>\n

Despite living on the other side of the world <\/a>from where Eurovision plays out, Marty was introduced to it on old VHS tapes by his dad, who is French, as a child.<\/p>\n

\u2018I was introduced to it at a very young age, around 4, when he played an old VHS of Abba<\/a> performing Waterloo. And then over the years he’d always talk about it to me,\u2019 he told Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This introduction to Eurovision<\/a> was even more surprising given the fact Marty grew up completely off-grid \u2013 with no running water or electricity.<\/p>\n

However, it was an idyllic childhood that Marty said allowed him and his siblings to focus on creative pursuits.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Australia\t<\/div>
Go-Jo -(the stage name of Marty Zambotto) was raised on an off-grid property in rural Western Australia (Picture: ABACA\/ PA Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018My mother and father are my absolute icons. I look up to them so much and the way that they brought us up was so beautiful and so rare as well. And it allowed me and my siblings to think very individually. And I think it’s also where I learned hard work, because being off grid, you know, we had to work harder, I suppose to make sure that we had the beautiful water from the rain and then we had to harvest the energy of the sun for power,\u2019 he shared.<\/p>\n

\u2018My dad is a genius, and he would just invent all these things and witnessing that was something that I think really comes out in my in my later life as well. I tell my mum as much as I can, how grateful I am for the way that they raised us.\u2019<\/p>\n

A decade ago, Australia was invited to compete in Eurovision, but Marty was still floored when he was approached and asked to represent his county.<\/p>\n

\u2018I never thought about being a contestant. Even up until I was selected, my mind never flipped into being like, \u201cWhoa, I could actually potentially be a contestant of this\u201d. I always saw myself as a spectator, which was interesting now that I’m on it. It\u2019s insane,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

Despite already achieving massive success in the music industry, Marty previously faced the decision whether to pursue that, or a career as an Australian Rules footballer. He previously played in a league in which professional players for the AFL are selected from.<\/p>\n

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