For years, Sia Furler enjoyed plenty of success in her native Australia. She really blew up in the United States after “Chandelier” became a mega hit. Sia has been very outspoken about how she prefers to operate behind the scenes, writing hits for other pop stars. So I don’t know why she chose to take her career to the next level, but I’m happy to hear her on the radio. Much moreso than, say, Ellie Goulding and her breathy lyrics (or most of the other current pop stars without personality). Sia songs have substance. She’s a complicated person, and it shows.

Sia has a few new interviews and appearances. She appeared on Australia’s Sunrise program and forgot her trademark wig, so she wore a tinsel headdress instead. (You can see that performance here.) Sometimes the wig feels stuntqueeny, although I understand the logic behind it. The wig has a new Billboard interview too:

On Kayne: “I think he’s a really interesting artist. This is the truth. I don’t really listen to music. I don’t. I watch television. I find him fascinating to talk to. I rate him as a person. He’s an ideas man. He’s fascinating to have a conversation with. Mostly you’re listening, but it’s fascinating.”

On writing Rihanna’s “Diamonds” in a few minutes: “It literally fell out.”

On her fame: “It’s kind of a disappointing because we can’t do anything. Because I’m a bit famous. I didn’t realize I was so famous. My friends were with me the other day when the paps were at the airport and it was like they all got diarrhoea and I had to explain … you go into fight or flight. You feel like prey and they’re the predator and you’re being hunted. Would you like to spend your life feeling like prey? Probably not.”

The wig: “It’s just like wanting to have a regular life just like a regular person and still be able to make music and sing … but without having to sacrifice just having a regular life, that’s all.”

[From Billboard & Daily Sunrise]

Sia seems to respect Kanye a lot, although it’s funny that she says a conversation with him involves mostly listening to the rapture of Yeezus. You know it’s true! I think Sia is genuinely befuddled by her fame level. She toiled away in the industry for awhile, and the stateside pop scene treats her like an overnight sensation. It must be a difficult adjustment. She’ll have to deal eventually though. There are shades of Shia LaBeouf at work here (he and Sia do collaborate together), but Sia doesn’t sound obnoxious like Shia does.

Photos courtesy of WENN