Australian artists have a rich history of creating successful artists, bands and celebrities in their own right. I think of the Finn brothers, Dragon, Russell Crowe and his hugely popular (not) band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.
On the other hand, we also tend to ignore foreigners. So here’s a list of 10 internationally-based artists you didn’t know were Australian.
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parcel
The electro-funk group met in high school in Byron Bay in 2014 and moved to Berlin, Germany shortly after. In an interview with a German magazine, band member Noah Hill explained the reason for Parcells’ move: “Australia has a great music scene, but it’s just really isolated. I wanted to go to a place where it was happening.” While playing a show in France, the band caught the attention of the legendary Daft Punk, who signed them to the label. The rest was history.
air supply
That’s right, the band your mom loves more than anything is from Australia. The two met in Sydney while co-starring in Jesus Christ Superstar. After the release of the hit songs “All Out of Love” and “Making Love Out of Nothing at All”, he received critical acclaim all over the world and moved to the United States, where he still lives today.
tantrum trap
The ‘Sweet Disposition’ hitmakers are Australian artists! Formed in Melbourne in 2005, they wrote their first EP. Hoping to gain international recognition, he then moved to England and signed with a label called Infectious Music, along with label mates such as Alt-J. A few years later, in the UK, they wrote the hit song “Sweet Disposition”, which reached number 14 on the ARIA charts and is considered by many to be the golden moment of the 2000s indie boom.
new zealand
The name FNZ may not be obvious at first glance, but if you’ve listened to keynote hip-hop releases from the past decade, there’s a good chance you’ve heard their beats. Originally from Perth, the duo traveled to Florida in 2009 to begin their production career. And it clearly paid off. They produced some of A$AP Rocky’s most famous tracks and provided the majority of the beats for the album. Denzel Curry’s “TABOO” and “ZUU” projects were highly acclaimed, and he also appeared on Kanye West’s final full-length, “Jesus Is King.”
chisel
He may be promoting the Lakers at every opportunity and playing with a group famous for loving all things California, but Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea actually started his career in 1962. Born in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. He lived there for a short time. He attended elementary school there for many years before immigrating to the United States and joining one of the biggest bands in the world. However, he still owns a holiday home on the NSW south coast and is said to return frequently to visit family and enjoy the local flora and fauna.
australian singer
rick springfield
Before “Jessie’s Girl” won worldwide acclaim and a Grammy Award, you could find Rick Springfield performing locally with his band Zoot. He then moved to the United States in 1972, where he began his acting career and released the album Working Class Dog, which included the hit song “Jesse’s Girl,” which reached number one on both the American and Australian charts. Obtained.
empire of the sun
Long before they were asked to provide hooks for Beyoncé and Jay-Z, both members of Empire of the Sun were already considered Australian musical royalty. Nick Littlemore was a core member of PNAU and Luke Steele rose to fame in the early 2000s. With Sleepy Jackson. The pair first met in a Sydney bar in 2000 and became songwriting partners for many years, before writing their first song as Empire of the Sun, “Walking on a Dream.” I wrote it in 2007. They relocated to Los Angeles and became the international sensation we know today.
airborne
Although still beloved by local audiences, these heavy rock giants are arguably the Australian artists who achieved more fame overseas than at home. Airborne joined forces in Warrnambool in 2003 and became regulars at popular pub The Criterion. Later, after signing with the huge American label Capitol Records, they joined the lineups of many American summer music festivals, and also appeared on the lineups of Mötley Crüe, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, the Rolling Stones, etc. across the country. I supported the band.
iggy azalea
Don’t let the southern accent fool you. Amethyst’s Amelia Kelly worked as a cleaner in Mullumbimby, New South Wales, before dating Charli XCX. Iggy is one of those Australian artists who has worked tirelessly to earn enough to move to the United States to begin a music career. Since then, she has had a successful music career in the United States, performing with artists such as Lil Yachty and Juicy J, and touring with the likes of Nas and Beyoncé.
the killers australia
Although not born in Australia, the legendary musician, best known as the bassist for The Killers, is an Australian citizen. Mark has dual Australian and American citizenship as his father was born here. He still holds this dual citizenship.
All about that bass? Check out our pick of the 15 best Australian bass lines of all time.
