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Pop’s Not Dead: Listen to Sia’s new single “Alive”

Cryptic Facebook posts, hidden drawings around the country and more – guerrilla marketing has never been so rife. Australia’s Duchess of Pop, Sia, has been gearing up to release a brand new single – and Alive is now here. 

The track is the first we’ve heard from her brand new album This is Acting, due for release later this year. It was co-written alongside Adele and Tobias Jesso Jr., and features production from Chandelier-producer Jesse Shatkin.  

Sia’s chair atop music royalty has been waiting for her for some time. Penning tracks for the world’s biggest stars, including Beyonce, Rihanna, Kate Perry, Celine Dion and Carly Rae Jepsen, alongside featured collabs with Eminem and Giorgio Moroder, she finally emerged as an internationally renowned star in her right last year, with the release of her dazzling 1000 Forms of Fear. 

In some ways, Alive is different to the heavy, forlorn material she showcased on 1000 Forms, perhaps an indicator of what we’ll be hearing on This Is Acting. It’s an anthem for the misshapen – “I was born in a thunderstorm…I grew up overnight,” she croons in the opening piano chords of the track (a mere example of the lyrical prowess of the song, no doubt helped by Jesso Jr.’s songwriting credits), before moving into almost Gloria Gaynor territory as she cries, “I survived.”

The anthemic quality of Alive is only bolstered by its powerhouse chorus.“I’m still breathing,” she belts over a thunderous drum beat and dramatic strings that swell and oscillate. Well, Sia, we’re certainly not, especially after this song. Have a listen of the track below.