Many people know the distinctive sound of Australian pop singer/songwriter Sia Furler. Be it the EDM smash collaboration with David Guetta or the absolutely powerful solo smash hits off 1000 Forms of Fear, or This Is Acting, Sia’s sound has become part of the modern pop zeitgeist. The sound didn’t start here, though. She has contributed to numerous projects over the years spanning various genres. Here are some highlights of the beautiful works Sia has produced since her career began.
Sia was born in Adelaide, South Australia. It was here that she began her journey as a performer. In the mid-1990s, she joined the short-lived jazz group Crisp as the band’s vocalist. Her trademark lilted, carefree intonation shines through each song (you can find some of Crisp’s work re-uploaded on YouTube if you want to hear her earliest work). She left the group in 1997 to release her debut album OnlySee on Flavoured Records. It combines soul, jazz, trip-hop, and hip-hop with a delightful home-produced sound. While only selling 1,200 copies in Australia, it displayed Sia’s star quality. Unhappy with the performance of this record, she moved to London soon after and began working as a backup singer for the funk/jazz group Jamiroquai.
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Furler’s big break was with the trip-hop group Zero 7. She sang on 3 of the band’s songs off their 2001 debut album Simple Things. One of those songs, “Destiny,” reached number 30 on the UK charts. The song is a satiny wash of colorful trip-hop, with Sia’s vocals softly twisting through the curtains of sound that carry the track forward. The mixture of her and Sophie Barker‘s vocals takes the song over the top. She is also featured on the jazzier “Distractions.” She released her second album, Healing is Difficult, in 2001 during this time. The album highlights Furler’s soulful vocal style. The lead single, “Taken For Granted,” would prove to be a success for her, making it to the top 10 on the UK charts. One of the songs off her failed debut OnlySee, titled “Soon,” was reworked for this release and retitled “Sober and Unkissed.” While the other two singles, “Little Man” and “Drink to Get Drunk,” cracked the top 50, the record proved Sia’s sound wasn’t going away anytime soon.
Her success continued with her third album Colour the Small One. Sia would lean into the trip-hop sound she experimented with in Zero 7’s work. The decidedly more ambient record would spawn the breakout hit “Breathe Me” which was used in the HBO series Six Feet Under finale. A gloriously tender piano ballad, Sia’s fragility only adds to her despondent feelings. This would be her first solo hit to chart in the United States. There is something very soothing and melancholy about the song “Don’t Bring Me Down” on this album, which is highly recommended. Furler contributed vocals to Zero 7’s sophomore and third albums (notably on “Somersault“). The beginnings of her transition into a more pop-oriented sound were hinted at with the studio single “Pictures” off her 2006 live album Lady Croissant. The song shows Sia’s playful nature mixing into the indie-pop sound that would make up her follow-up album, Some People Have Real Problems.
Her indie pop sound began to be cultivated by her 2008 release, Some People Have Real Problems. This album’s cover shows Sia singing into open markers with stripes on her face, highlighting her playful and quirky nature. Singles like “Day Too Soon” and “Soon We’ll Be Found” marry some moodier aspects of her prior works to indie pop sounds. The music video of “Soon We’ll Be Found” even blends in ASL (American Sign Language) with the visuals to a stunning effect. This album’s real standouts come from the playful pop tracks “The Girl You Lost to Cocaine” and “Buttons.” The distinctive nature of these songs shines in their music videos. The biggest hit, “The Girl You Lost to Cocaine,” which cracked the top 10 on the US Dance charts, shows Sia as a variety of characters in the song’s music video. The equally eccentric visuals for the bonus track “Buttons” also add a sense of playfulness to the track.
The final project Sia released before retreating from the public eye is the much more indie-pop-forward album We Are Born. The singles “You’ve Changed” and “Clap Your Hands” are stellar examples of her pop earworms. She would continue her string of eccentric yet light-hearted music videos for both releases. The album’s ballad, “I’m In Here,” would receive a more understated treatment for its radio release. Stripped to just her voice and piano, it highlights her hopelessness. The track would also be highlighted on VH1’s You Oughta Know artist segment in 2010, bringing more ears to her latest release. The album saw relative success worldwide, but Sia was ready for a break. The spotlight on her from the mainstream and a growing addiction to alcohol and drugs would push her to the brink of suicide later that year. She wrote suicide notes to friends and hotel workers before her attempt. Thankfully, a friend talked her down, and Sia joined a 12-step program to begin recovery.
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The early 2010s would see her begin her craft as a songwriter. The monumental hit “Titanium” by David Guetta was originally meant for Mary J. Blige, but Guetta thought Sia’s demo vocals were perfect for the release. The song became an instant hit, reaching number 1 on the US charts. This would happen again with Flo Rider‘s hit “Wild Ones.” Sia’s demo was meant initially for Katy Perry. However, her vocals remain on the release. She had begun working with Christina Aguilera for her 2010 release Bionic. Her most notable contribution to her album is the haunting ballad “You Lost Me.” Her prowess would only grow as she penned songs for the likes of Celine Dion (“Love Me Back to Life“), Beyonce (“Pretty Hurts“), Katy Perry (“Double Rainbow“), Ne-Yo (“Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)“), Jessie J (“Flashlight“), and Carly Rae Jepsen (“Boy Problems“) to name a few. Her most notable songwriting credit goes to Rihanna’s 2012 smash “Diamonds.” If you listen to all of these closely, you can hear her trademark accentuation through each artist’s interpretation.
Sia returned, though faceless, with her smash pop album 1000 Forms of Fear. The record would see her now iconic bob displayed on various performers (most notable on Dance Moms star Maddie Zeigler). The lead single, “Chandelier,” became the most recognizable hit in her catalog. Its soaring vocals and lyrics surrounding her addiction struggle struck a chord with many listeners. The following single, “Elastic Heart,” continued her chart-topping success. She successfully moved into the background while allowing dancers like Maddie to be the focal point of her live performances. Her follow-up to this album would be 2016’s This Is Acting, featuring songs rejected by other artists she had written for. The lead track, “Alive,” was co-written with Adele for her 2015 album 25 but rejected for that project. The breakout single, “Cheap Thrills” (feat. Sean Paul), was initially slated for Rihanna. She thought its reggae flair would suit her, but was ultimately rejected. It became Sia’s second-biggest hit to date.
Sia’s musical Music, released in 2020, received mixed reviews. Many found Maddie Zeigler, a neurotypical person, playing a nonverbal autistic character off-putting. Several controversial scenes, such as the restraint scene, also left a bad taste in many viewers’ mouths. Sia apologized for these scenes and her misguided information about the topic. She continues to release music, most recently a Christmas project titled Everyday is Christmas, and collaborates as a songwriter for many artists. As of 2023, she has come out diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.
