Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, born on December 18, 1975, in Adelaide, Australia, is a singer, songwriter, director, and producer. Her father, Phil Colson, was a musician, and her mother, Loene Furler, was an art lecturer. In the mid-1990s, Sia began her music career as a vocalist for the acid jazz band Crisp. After the group disbanded in 1997, she released her debut solo album, OnlySee, in Australia. She then moved to London, where she provided vocals for the British downtempo group Zero 7.
Solo Career and Songwriting
Sia's second album, Healing Is Difficult, was released in 2001, followed by Colour the Small One in 2004. The latter featured the song "Breathe Me," which gained significant exposure after being used in the finale of the HBO series Six Feet Under. She continued to release albums, including Some People Have Real Problems (2008) and We Are Born (2010), which gained more attention. Uncomfortable with her growing fame, Sia took a hiatus from her solo career to focus on writing songs for other artists. She penned successful tracks for major pop stars, including "Diamonds" for Rihanna, "Pretty Hurts" for Beyoncé, and "Titanium" with David Guetta.
Breakthrough and Visual Identity
In 2014, Sia achieved a major international breakthrough with her sixth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and featured the hit single "Chandelier," which earned four Grammy nominations. It was during this period that Sia began to obscure her face with oversized wigs, a decision made to protect her privacy and separate her person from her artistry. This artistic choice became a signature part of her public image, often involving dancer Maddie Ziegler in her music videos and performances.
Later Work and Other Ventures
Sia's follow-up album, This Is Acting (2016), was comprised of songs she had originally written for other artists. It included her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "Cheap Thrills". In 2017, she released a holiday album, Everyday Is Christmas. She also formed the supergroup LSD with Labrinth and Diplo, releasing a self-titled album in 2019. In 2021, Sia directed her first feature film, Music, which was accompanied by a new album of songs from and inspired by the movie. Her tenth studio album, Reasonable Woman, was released in May 2024.
Discography Highlights
Studio Albums:
- OnlySee (1997)
- Healing Is Difficult (2001)
- Colour the Small One (2004)
- Some People Have Real Problems (2008)
- We Are Born (2010)
- 1000 Forms of Fear (2014)
- This Is Acting (2016)
- Everyday Is Christmas (2017)
- Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture (2021)
- Reasonable Woman (2024)