‘An Absolute Emotional Mess’: Amy Shark Nets No. 1 With ‘Sunday Sadness’
Following a barren ten months, an embarrassment of riches for homegrown artists on the ARIA Chart as Amy Shark lands at No. 1 with Sunday Sadness.
It’s the third successive leader for Shark, and the third straight No. 1 for Australian artists after Lime Cordiale’s drought-busting Enough of the Sweet Talk and Tones And I’s Beautifully Ordinary, respectively.
Shark, who stopped by the 2024 Logie Awards at The Star Sydney on Sunday night, a year after she won for best new talent, is admittedly overwhelmed by her latest piece of silverware. “I’m an absolute emotional mess,” she writes on social media.
Sunday Sadness (via Sony Music) debuts at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart, published Friday, Aug. 16, and at the summit of the national vinyl tally. “Words cannot explain how much this #1 means to me,” she writes. “Sunday Sadness has been three years in the making and I’m so glad you all love it as much as I do. Today is a day I’ll never forget.”
The Gold Coast-raised singer and songwriter is now a perfect three-from-three in a career that has yielded eight ARIA Awards. Shark propelled to No. 1 for one week in 2018 with Love Monster and her follow-up 2021 collection Cry Forever reigned for two weeks.
Standout songs and a fearsome work ethic were the secrets to the success of Sunday Sadness.
“Amy’s work ethic is inspiring,” comments Shark’s partner and manager Shane Billings, director of Rage More. “She worked very hard to support the album. On this occasion she did 10 in-person events — signing vinyls/CDS and also some acoustic performances — she was live on Instagram/Tik Tok and was up at 4am for promo every-day for two weeks.”
Also, her label Sony Music “put an incredible promo and marketing” around Amy, which, combined with her “work ethic and the high quality of the music, No. 1 was always going to be our target. It’s always special to see Australian acts top the Australian charts.”
Led by the singles “Can I Shower At Yours” (nominated for best single at the 2024 Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards), “Beautiful Eyes,” “Two Friends” and “Loving Me Lover,” Shark says she “specifically wrote this album on Sundays, constantly daydreaming about the happiest moments and the worst, remembering the best people while still getting over others.”
She will support the new LP with a tour of Australia and New Zealand, kicking off with a spot on the Deni Ute Muster 2024, spread over two days in early October.
Three No. 1s in six years is “a remarkable achievement in a very competitive market,” says Billings.
“She’s an incredible songwriter. All 11 songs on Sunday Sadness are single-worthy. The album deserved to be No. 1 so I am very proud that she achieved this,” he continues.