Night Thinker

Night Thinker
EP by
Amy Shark
Released21 April 2017 (2017-04-21)
GenreAlternative pop, indie pop
Length20:50
Label
Producer
Amy Shark chronology
Night Thinker
(2017) 		Love Monster
(2018)
Singles from Night Thinker
  1. "Adore"
    Released: 26 July 2016
  2. "Weekends"
    Released: 17 March 2017
  3. "Drive You Mad"
    Released: 14 July 2017

Night Thinker is the fifth extended play (EP) by Australian alternative pop singer-songwriter Amy Shark. It was released on 21 April 2017 and peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2017, Night Thinker was nominated in four categories, winning Best Pop Release and Breakthrough Artist – Release.[1]

Background

Amy Shark had recorded and performed as Amy Cushway from 2008 to 2012.[2] As Cushway she released two extended plays, I Thought of You Out Loud (2008) and Love's Not Anorexic (2009).[3] By the end of 2013, she started using the stage name, Amy Shark, because Jaws was her favourite film.[4] In February 2014, as Amy Shark, she independently released a five-track extended play, Nelson.[5][6]

In July 2016, Shark released her next single, "Adore", with co-production by Shark, M-Phazes and Cam Bluff.[7] Shark signed with Wonderlick Entertainment/Sony Music Australia in November 2016.[8] By December of that year, she was no longer using the name Amy Cushway and material under that name had been deleted from her accounts.[9] In March 2017 Shark released "Weekends" followed by her fourth EP, Night Thinker (April), which peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It included the singles, "Adore", "Weekends" and "Drive You Mad" (July 2017).

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Music AU

Madelyn Tait from The Music AU said "Each song adheres to the tried and tested formula of relatable lyrics, gentle vocals, catchy melodies and simplistic processed beats that has already proved successful for Shark with "Adore" and "Weekends". The appeal of Night Thinker... lies in its strong lyricism and simple production. It's more of the same from Shark, but it works."[10]

Ben Grubb from Project U described the EP as "soothing, full of soul, and uplifting (at times)."[11] Sputnik Music described it as an "intoxicating 20 minutes".[12]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Drive You Mad"Amy Louise Billings (p.k.a. Amy Shark)3:32
2."Adore"
3:05
3."Weekends"Billings3:10
4."Worst Girl" (featuring Allday)
  • Billings
  • Thomas Gaynor (p.k.a. Allday)
3:52
5."Blood Brothers"
  • Billings
  • Blake Malone
3:45
6."Deleted"Billings3:26

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2017) Rank
Australian Albums Chart[14] 65
Australian Artist Albums Chart [15] 18

Release history

Country Date Format Label Catalogue
Australia 21 April 2017 Digital download,[16] CD[17] Vinyl[18] Wonderlick Entertainment /Sony Music Australia LICK019 /LICK020

References

  1. ^ Cockburn, Paige (28 November 2017). "ARIA Awards 2017: Gang of Youths, Paul Kelly, A.B. Original big victors at Australian music's night of nights". ABC News. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  2. ^ "'Cool Kids Die' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 9 March 2020. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  3. ^ "Amy Cushway finds pop beats!". Access All Areas. 24 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Yates, Rod (12 May 2017). "Amy Shark: Overnight Success, a Decade in the Making". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Johnson, Daniel. "Gold Coast singer Amy Shark is making her debut on American late night TV ahead of the ARIA Awards".
  6. ^ "Release "Nelson" by Amy Shark - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org.
  7. ^ Alessio, Dom (8 August 2016). "Premiere! Amy Shark – 'Adore' Film Clip". Triple J. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  8. ^ "The Puge #183". auspOp. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Amy Cushway – Its a Happy City". 5 December 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Amy Shark - Night Thinker". The Music AU. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  11. ^ "AMY SHARK HAS DROPPED HER 'NIGHT THINKER' EP AND IT IS GOOD". Project U. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Amy Shark Night Thinker". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Amy Shark – Night Thinker". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  14. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  15. ^ "2017 ARIA AUSTRALIAN ARTIST ALBUMS CHART". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Night Thinker (EP)". iTunes Store. Apple. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Night Thinker (EP) CD". JBHiFi. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Night Thinker (EP) 180g Vinyl". JBHiFi. Retrieved 14 April 2018.