Early Life and Career:
Sia Furler was born December 18, 1975 in Adelaide, Australia. She grew up the daughter of musician parents. They both were part of the band The Soda Jerx. Her parents also had a close professional relationship with Men At Work's Colin Hay. Sia says she came into her own as a singer while studying in Italy when she was 17. She stood up in a karaoke bar and got the audience to join her in singing Bill Withers' "Lean On Me." In her late teens Sia performed jazz and then trip hop. She traveled with her boyfriend who was tragically killed in a London traffic accident.
UK Success for Sia:
Following the death of her boyfriend Sia settled in London. She sang backup for Jamiroquai and recorded and released a solo album Healing Is Difficult in 2002. "Taken For Granted," a single from the album, reached the pop top 10 in the UK. Sia recalls the years in mourning over the death of her boyfriend as very difficult. In 2004 she released another studio album Colour the Small One.
'Six Feet Under' and "Breathe Me":
It seemed that Sia's solo career was making little progress until her song "Breathe Me" from Colour the Small One was chosen to play a key role in the series finale of HBO's acclaimed Six Feet Under in the summer of 2005. The song received airplay on alternative radio stations in the US and Colour the Small One broke into the Billboard Heatseeker chart.
'Some People Have Real Problems':
While pursuing her solo career, Sia also gained acclaim by appearing as a vocalist on albums by the English duo Zero 7. Strong anticipation for her 2008 pop solo album Some People Have Real Problems helped the collection reach #26 on the US album chart. It reached the top 5 on the alternative album chart. The single "The Girl You Lost To Cocaine" became a top 10 dance hit.
Sia Music Videos:
'We Are Born':
Sia's 2010 album We Are Born was her most upbeat pop record yet and she gave some credit to childhood idols Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. The album was produced by Grammy nominated Greg Kurstin. It became her first top 10 hit album at home in Australia. In the US it broke into the top 40 on the album chart, her second consecutive album to do so.
Sia's Pop Hits as Featured Vocalist:
Throughout her career Sia has collaborated with a wide range of other artists, so it seems no significant surprise that her worldwide pop singles breakthrough should come through appearances on songs by other artists. In December 2011 David Guetta released the single "Titanium" with featured vocals from Sia, and it became a worldwide top 10 pop hit. The same month Flo Rida released his single "Wild Ones." It became Sia's first appearance in the pop top 10 in the US. "Titanium" was not officially released as a single in the US until the spring of 2012, and it quickly began climbing the pop singles chart. Sia has said that she will release her next solo album in 2012.
