Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (Sia Kate Isobelle Furler) was born on December 18, 1975 in Adelaide, South Australia — an Australian singer, songwriter, producer and director. One of the most successful and influential artists of the 21st century, she is known for her unique vocal style, emotionally powerful delivery, and iconic visual image with her face obscured.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Sia grew up in a creative family:
- father — musician Phil Colson,
- mother — artist Loene Furler.
Her musical career began in the mid-1990s when Sia became the vocalist of the jazz–soul group Crisp. After the band disbanded in 1997, she started her solo journey.
First albums:
- 1997 — OnlySee (jazz/soul, independent release)
- 2001 — Healing Is Difficult (soul/trip-hop, UK)
- 2004 — Colour the Small One
The third album featured the early version of “Breathe Me”, which became a global hit after being used in the final scene of the series “Six Feet Under”.
Following the success of “Breathe Me”, Sia moved to the United States, where she began collaborating with major producers and artists.
International Breakthrough and Hitmaking
By the late 2000s, Sia became an in-demand songwriter. She wrote (or co-wrote) hits for:
- Rihanna — “Diamonds”
- David Guetta — “Titanium”
- Beyoncé — “Pretty Hurts”
- Kylie Minogue — “Sexercize”
- Britney Spears — “Perfume”
- Ne-Yo — “Let Me Love You” (demo)
- a large catalog for Adele, Shakira, Katy Perry, Jessie J and others.
The breakthrough success of “Titanium” was especially notable: Sia’s original demo vocal was kept by David Guetta for the final version — the track became a global hit and brought Sia into the mainstream.
The Face-Covering Era and Global Stardom (2014–2017)
Sia chose to hide her face to avoid the pressures of show business and to preserve her privacy. This led to her signature look — a wig with long bangs covering her eyes, which became a cultural symbol of an artist choosing anonymity over fame. Her collaboration with young dancer Maddie Ziegler became the core visual motif of her music videos.
Key albums:
-
2014 — 1000 Forms of Fear
- Global hit: “Chandelier”
- Other successful tracks: “Elastic Heart”, “Big Girls Cry”
- Album reached #1 in the United States
-
2016 — This Is Acting
- Most of the songs were rejected hits originally written for other artists
- Mega-hit: “Cheap Thrills” (#1 Billboard Hot 100)
- Also popular: “The Greatest”, “Bird Set Free”
Global Influence
These releases made Sia one of the defining pop artists of the decade. Her videos gained billions of views, and “Chandelier” became one of the most iconic vocal performances of the 21st century.
Film Projects and Directing
Sia is active in cinema:
- recorded soundtracks for “The Hunger Games”, “The Equalizer”, “Fifty Shades of Grey”, “Lion”, “Wonder Woman”
- in 2021 she directed the musical film “Music”, serving as director, screenwriter and producer
She has also voiced characters in animated films and participated in TV shows (The Voice, American Idol).
Later Period (2018–2024)
Sia continued collaborating with EDM and pop artists:
- LSD — a supergroup with Diplo and Labrinth (album LSD, 2019)
- numerous singles and soundtracks
- campaigns against alcoholism and addiction (Sia has openly spoken about her personal struggle)
New releases appeared in 2023–2024:
- “Gimme Love” (2023)
- album “Reasonable Woman” (2024) featuring Kylie Minogue, Labrinth, Chaka Khan and others
Musical Style
Sia combines:
- a powerful, raspy and wide-ranged vocal
- emotional performance style
- influences of soul, pop, electronic music and alternative genres
Her style is recognizable by sharp transitions, high notes and expressive dramatic delivery.
Discography (Selected Albums)
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) — #1 Billboard
- This Is Acting (2016)
- Everyday Is Christmas (2017)
- Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture (2021)
- Reasonable Woman (2024)
Collaborations
- LSD (with Labrinth and Diplo) — 2019
Key Hits
- “Chandelier”
- “Elastic Heart”
- “Cheap Thrills”
- “The Greatest”
- “Unstoppable”
- “Titanium” (feat. David Guetta)
- “Breathe Me”
Sia is one of the most influential songwriters and vocalists of the 21st century — an artist with a unique image whose contribution spans pop, electronic and alternative music. Her career covers more than 25 years, includes record-breaking global hits, collaborations with the biggest names in the industry, major film work, and a lasting impact on contemporary music culture.
