He's been training for this since he was a young boy.

"I've been calling Eurovision the marathon of all marathons," he said.

"It's all I ever wanted. I knew how much it would take to get there, and I know what the competition is, I know what it stands for, and what's expected of me. I'm ready."

Sheldon, who had previously competed on The X Factor Australia, The Voice Australia and even America's Got Talent, won the popular vote on Eurovision - Australia Decides in February with his song Not The Same.

It marked the end of a quiet time, work-wise, for the Sydneysider.

"Who would have thought I would spend a whole year as a performer with not one job, not one gig, and now this? My performance style is large, immersive art performances, so I couldn't really go out and busk with a guitar," he said.

"During COVID I had nothing but now it's full-steam ahead. I just flew back from London and Israel, it's been non-stop ... it's not just a singing show, it's a juggernaut for any artist."

The song Riley will be singing in Turin, Italy, in front of a worldwide television audience of more than 180 million, is called Not The Same.

He once said of the song: "It is the story I never thought I'd ever feel I'd be able to tell. Written from the memories of a child who at age six was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Growing up in public housing, moving from home to home, unaware of my sexuality, among a deeply religious family. A path already laid that I would never be able to properly understand or interact with other people."

Although the song still resonates, the meaning and intention of the lyrics has changed for him.

"I've sung it so many times that I don't get as emotional when I sing it now," Riley said.

"Yes, it's emotionally driven but I am very strong when I sing it now because I realise the song is not for me any more, it's now for other people. Everyone can take from it what they will.

"A lot of people think that this song is about me coming out as gay but it has nothing to do sexuality.

"The line in the song that hits most people is "the light shines bright through those who've broke inside" and I think everyone has felt a little broken at one point.

"I think the reason I and other people are starting to look more into that lyric is that there is so much brokenness in the world right now. So much that isn't OK and is happening right now and shouldn't be.

"I hope people hear this more as an empowering song and not just as an emotional song that makes you want to cry."

For Riley, fashion and music go hand in hand. His emotional "dark pop" sound is paired with an Avant-garde high-fashion style.

"I started making things and doing things a bit differently from the rest from a young age. At 15 I was sticking flowers to my face and taking photos and putting them all over social media, absolutely loving myself sick," he said, laughing.

"Now I look back at it and think 'Oh, that was icky' - but it taught me a good lesson.

"I'm really happy I had this creative expression and growth at such a young age. Looking back, I was so nervous about wearing the things I wanted to wear because when I wore them I wouldn't always feel safe.

"These days I don't just wear costumes, it's high fashion. I'm really grateful for how my career has panned out. Being creative and doing what I do excites me every day."

Riley worked with Australian designer Alin Le'Kal on his Eurovision outfit and says it has to be seen to be believed.

"It weighs 40-plus kilograms. It's covered in 180,000 Swarovski crystals. It's huge. Alin is incredible and his work is exceptional. I wanted to work with the very best and, look, it's Eurovision and we needed something mega. Something crazy."

Given that his childhood dream to perform at Eurovision is about to come true, I ask Riley about his post-Eurovision ambitions. Refreshingly, he sees it as a new beginning rather than an end.

"Conchita [Wurst], the bearded lady, was the Eurovision artist who changed my life. It was the performance I felt naughty watching. I have a pretty religious and reserved family and that performance opened my eyes," he said.

"I've always seen Eurovision as the greatest launching pad for someone in Australia who doesn't have much room to expand in terms of mainstream Australian audiences.

"I want to sing globally, I want to travel. I don't see Eurovision as the end of the road for me by any means. I know it feels a bit like it because it's been such an important piece of what I want to become, but it's certainly not the end.

"I'm looking at it as the mountain to climb for people to see just how high I can get - and there are so many more mountains for me to climb in the future.

"I take the mask off at the end of my performance, and I think it's a very nice ending to this dream; to this chapter. I'm definitely going out with a bang."

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