Hear Music and ie:music, the artist management company representing the recording artist Sia (nee Sia Furler), have announced that Sia's new full-length CD, 'some people have REAL problems' will be co-released in the U.S. and Canada on Monkey Puzzle Records/Hear Music. The album will be available at Starbucks Company-operated locations and traditional music retailers in the U.S. and Canada starting on January 8, 2008.

With two major label solo albums already under her belt, Sia has enjoyed worldwide success and recognition both as a solo artist and as the vocalist for Zero 7 ("Simple Things", "When It Falls" and "The Garden"), Sia made her first U.S. splash as a solo artist when her song "Breathe Me" was featured in the final episode of the HBO cable television series Six Feet Under in late 2005, and which shot to #1 on iTunes the following day. Since then Sia has continued to gain critical acclaim and a growing fan base, touring this past month to sold-out shows across the U.S. in anticipation of her new release.

The new music on 'some people have REAL problems' is at once upbeat, quirky, and achingly gorgeous, featuring incredible song writing and lush arrangements. Sia also enlisted the help of a few talented friends when recording the album, including Beck, who sings on a track called "Academia."

The video for standout track "Buttons" which is featured as a hidden track on 'some people have REAL problems', has already garnered Sia a bit of attention after being posted by blogger Perez Hilton. The video has taken off virally, charting as the #1 most linked and #2 most viewed clip on YouTube the week it was leaked onto the Internet.

The co-release with Hear Music insures wide distribution for Sia's CD in North America beginning January 8, 2008, including simultaneous release through Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada and all other physical and digital music retailers in North America.

As a preview to 'some people have REAL problems', Sia recently released a 4-song digital EP on November 6 previewing tracks from the CD, including the first single, "Day Too Soon." The song was also made available as a free download to more than 1.5 million customers via Starbucks locations in the U.S. on November 6 as part of the company's "Song of the Day" campaign.

"It's an incredible honor for me to be a part of the Hear Music team," says Sia. "I am a huge admirer of the artists they have championed in the past and am thrilled that at this stage in my career we can be an exciting part of each other's future."

"Sia is a strikingly original artist who embodies the trailblazing spirit of Hear Music," says Ken Lombard, president Starbucks Entertainment who oversees Hear Music. "Hear Music is proud to co-release Sia's new album with Monkey Puzzle Records."

"It is such a great pleasure to be working with two of music's rising stars: Sia and Hear Music," notes ie:music's Tim Clark. "Sia is simply one of the most compelling, indeed irresistible, artists of her age. Hear Music is the brightest new music label on the block, already renowned for its choice of talent and its collaborations with some of the greatest artists in the world."

Listen: Download "Electric Bird" MP3 by Sia

Sia 2007 UK tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to Sia's Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

27 November 2007 Night & Day - SOLD OUT Manchester, Midlands
28 November 2007 Cabaret Voltaire Edinburgh
29 November 2007 King Tuts Glasgow
2 December 2007 Thekla Bristol
3 December 2007 Barfly - SOLD OUT Brighton
4 December 2007 Kings College - SOLD OUT London
5 December 2007 Moles Bath

About ie:music
ie:music was founded in 1992 by two music industry veterans, Tim Clark and David Enthoven. David was renowned for setting up EG, home to King Crimson, T.Rex, Roxy Music and Emerson Lake and Palmer. Tim is a previous managing director of Island Records and worked closely with Cat Stevens, Bob Marley, Grace Jones and David's EG roster, among others. ie:music is privileged to represent a small roster that includes, apart from Sia, superstar Robbie Williams, renowned composer and artist Craig Armstrong and Archive, who have achieved much success in Europe.

About Hear Music
Hear Music is an innovative record label and partnership between Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group. Rooted in quality, authenticity and passion, Hear Music works directly with artists, both emerging and established, to bring quality music to the widest possible audience, in both Starbucks locations and traditional music retailers worldwide.

Related: Joni Mitchell set to release Shine on Hear Music

Sia Official Website
Sia on Myspace

"I am thrilled to be able to work with the Hear Music label on my new CD," said Mitchell. "Starbucks and Concord Music Group are joining me in releasing a project which has enabled me to appreciate what I loved about making music in the first place. I am very grateful to them."

Described by Mitchell as "as serious a work as I've ever done," 'Shine' presents beautiful melodies, dark lyrics and a sparseness that recalls and even progresses beyond some the artist's most seminal recordings. Much of the lyrical content reflects Mitchell's social and theological consciousness and her longtime plea for the health of the planet.

"Joni's voice, both in the physical and lyrical sense, is as powerful as ever," said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment who also oversees Hear Music. "In addition to her extraordinary songwriting ability, she is a Renaissance artist in the every sense and we are honored to release this timely and exceptionally moving work."

Born out of a burst of creative energy, 'Shine' is one of three new artistic endeavors launched by Mitchell this year. The first, 'The Fiddle and the Drum,' a ballet based on Joni Mitchell's music, debuted with the Alberta Ballet in Calgary earlier this year with Mitchell serving as co-creator and artistic director. The second is a politically charged visual art exhibit by Mitchell that will debut in New York in the fall.

Two songs included on 'Shine,' "If" (based Mitchell's favorite poem by Rudyard Kipling) and "If I Had a Heart," were featured in the 'The Fiddle and The Drum' when it premiered on February 8, 2007. It was then that The New York Times described Mitchell's "If I Had a Heart" as "one of most haunting melodies she has ever written." The album also contains a joyous reinterpretation of her classic hit song, "Big Yellow Taxi" which was also featured in the ballet.

All of the music on 'Shine' was composed, arranged and produced by Joni Mitchell. All lyrics were written by Joni Mitchell except "If" which was adapted from Ruyard Kipling's "If."

Track Listing for Joni Mitchell's 'Shine':

1. One Week Last Summer
2. This Place
3. If I Had a Heart
4. Hana
5. Bad Dreams are Good
6. Big Yellow Taxi
7. Night of the Iguana
8. Strong and Wrong
9. Shine
10. If

About Hear Music

Hear Music is an innovative record label and partnership between Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group. Rooted in quality, authenticity and passion, Hear Music works directly with artists, both emerging and established, to bring quality music to the widest possible audience, in both Starbucks locations and traditional music retailers worldwide.
Hear Music - The Sound of Starbucks Official Website

Buy Joni Mitchell - 'Shine' on amazon.com

Joni Mitchell Official Website

Related: Joni Mitchell 'Shine' review