Two independent Aussie artists are currently dominating the local ARIA charts following a strong sales week that sees a young band breaking a singles chart record, while a long-awaited debut album retains its #1 hold.
Following on from announcing details of an Australian tour to launch the new album, Chet Faker’s debut LP Built On Glass beat out strong sales contenders to debut at the top spot last week. Now in its second week of sales, Faker’s record has staved off strong juggernaut unit-shifters from INXS and the still-popular Frozen soundtrack to retain its #1 position on the ARIA Albums Chart for the second week running.
It also makes Chet Faker the first Aussie artist to string two consecutive weeks at #1 since The Sapphires soundtrack achieve a similar feat back in August 2012. The Melbourne chilltronica crooner could pull off a third consecutive week at #1 with his Future Classic release as interest holds for his forthcoming national tour, his first set of extensive headline dates in two years.
Along with INXS’s continued success, with The Very Best floating at #3, other top-selling Aussie releases come from Eurovision 2014 ambassador Jessica Mauboy (Beautiful at #4), singer-songwriter Russell Morris
Meanwhile, over on the ARIA Singles Chart, Brisbane indie-pop group Sheppard have maintained their dominance with ‘Geronimo’. The track, the band’s lead single from their forthcoming full-length debut album, also achieves Gold sales status as it spends its fourth week in the charts. Sheppard have become the first indie act to hit the top of the Aussie singles chart in a decade…
It’s also the first single release by an Australian artist to have a multi-week run at the top of the chart since August 2012, making Sheppard the longest running local act at the top of the charts since Guy Sebastian’s 2012 single ‘Battle Scars’ spent six weeks at #1.
Better than that, being an independent and self-funded band, Sheppard have become the first indie act to hit the top of the Aussie singles chart in a decade and ‘Geronimo’ the longest independently released #1 release ever.
“So apparently we’ve broken a record,” wrote Sheppard in celebration on their Facebook. “Longest Australian independent #1 .EVER. Too cool!”
The Brisbane group, who are managed by Chugg Entertainment, also became the first ever Aussie band to sign with legendary British label Decca Records (the original home of Rolling Stones and Tom Jones) last month and have been showcasing ‘Geronimo’ as part of a North American tour and scored a slot opening for Keith Urban on his upcoming Australian Tour this June.
“The last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind for us and now to get this invitation from an artist we respect as much as Keith is so humbling,” said singer George Sheppard in a statement.
Backing up Sheppard’s #1 position at #2 is ‘Chandelier’, the brand new single from Aussie songwriter-for-hire Sia that precedes her brand new comeback solo album, 1000 Forms Of Fear, set for release this June. Other strong performing Australian artists on the singles chart include dance duo Peking Duk (‘High’ at #8), punk pop lads 5 Seconds Of Summer (‘She Look So Perfect’ at #13), LA-based rapper Iggy Azalea (‘Fancy’ at #17), and Jessica Mauboy (‘Never Be The Same’ at #7).
