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RICKI-LEE COULTER could be Australia's next big singing export, after the former Idol contestant signed a major record deal in the United Kingdom. Coulter has also signed a deal to release her album, Brand New Day, in Japan.

Dance label Ministry of Sound will release the album in the UK and Europe - a major coup for an independent Australian artist. "I am still in shock that this has actually happened and that I am signed to Ministry of Sound,'' she said. "It is a huge honour and it feels like a bit of a pat on the back as well.''
Coulter became a household name after competing on the second series of Australian Idol - won by Casey Donovan. Her exit from the show six weeks into the competition shocked viewers, with Coulter widely tipped as a contender to win the reality series. Coulter went on to release a self-titled debut album a year later and had radio hits with Hell No, Sunshine and Breathe.

She then joined girl group Young Divas but left the group at the end of last year to record her second solo album, which reached number 37 on the ARIA charts.

Her song, Can't Touch It, reached number two on the singles charts while the second single, Love Is All Around, debuted at number five.
Coulter only found out last week that her management had negotiated the international deals. "It was kept a big secret from me,'' she said.

"It is such a big deal. This is massive. They didn't want to get my hopes up and see me crash and burn if it didn't happen.'' The 22-year-old is looking forward to hearing Ministry of Sound remix one of her songs and can't wait to have it played in nightclubs around Europe.

"I wouldn't have thought my music would even be eligible to be considered by a label like Ministry of Sound,'' said Coulter, who married her long-time boyfriend Jamie Babbington earlier this year. "They are so cutting-edge and are really renowned for making stuff happen. The big dream is ending up in Ibiza - that would be very cool, to end up playing in one of the biggest clubs in the world.''

In Japan, the album will be released by a large independent label, Pony Canyon. Having her music played internationally has been a dream for Coulter since she was a child. "Japan is like the second-highest territory in the world, so that is a pretty big deal in itself,'' she said. "To finally be sitting at the doorstep of two massive international releases, it's still not real in my head.''

Coulter's album, Brand New Day, is out now. She supports Hilary Duff on her upcoming Australian tour, playing Sydney's Acer Arena on February 2.

Brand New Day will be released in Japan on January 9, 2007 through independent label Pony Canyon