If, like me, you were into chillout vibes in the early 2000s, you probably chilled enthusiastically to Zero 7. They were the soundtrack for that après-club, floating feeling, and for me there was one vocalist on the band’s albums who stood out: Sia.
“Who?” you might be thinking. Soon you’re going to be thinking, “Oh, her.” Sia’s voice is a standalone treat: raw, strong and distinct. It’s also just nasal enough (as on mega-hits Somersault and Destiny) to suggest a pleasing effort to her endeavours. It’s a voice that grows on you, and more than anything it conveys passion, something that is missing from a lot of pop.
The songs themselves are anthems of strength and love, and they’re particularly stirring when you consider Sia’s background: the 39-year old Australian has struggled with fame (“I don’t want to go out and sell my soul, my body, my peace of mind”) and, after her boyfriend died in a traffic accident, she spent time “doing drugs and suffering”.
Since then, she’s written songs for Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kylie, Katy Perry – not to mention her biggest hit, Titanium, with David Guetta. According to Billboard, she has been responsible for more than 12m track sales. And she’s on a hot streak right now, playing from her latest album in a series of fun and inventive performances, choosing to no longer show her face on stage. At the Grammys last week, Sia sang her masterpiece, Chandelier, with her back to the audience, while actor Kristen Wiig danced. With her blond bob framing and covering her face, Sia always seems in full control of herself and her image. We need more like her.
