Chet Faker: The Soulful Voice of Australian Electronic Music

Chet Faker is the stage name of Australian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Murphy. Hailing from Melbourne, his major breakthrough came with a 2012 cover of Blackstreet's "No Diggity," which became a viral hit and propelled his debut album to number one on the Australian charts.

Early Career

Nicholas Murphy adopted the alias Chet Faker in the early 2010s, a tribute to jazz legend Chet Baker that hinted at his blend of soulful vocals with modern electronic production. His first official release was the 2011 EP Thinking in Textures on the independent Australian label Downtown Records, which introduced his signature laid-back, sample-heavy sound.

Breakthrough

The artist's career shifted dramatically in 2012 when his minimalist, blues-infused cover of "No Diggity" gained massive traction online. This led to the 2014 release of his debut studio album, Built on Glass, which debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart and was later certified platinum in Australia.

Key Tracks

No Diggity - The 2012 cover that served as his viral introduction to a global audience, showcasing his ability to reinterpret R&B classics.

Talk Is Cheap - The lead single from Built on Glass, this track became a defining hit, earning triple platinum certification in Australia.

Gold - A smooth, downtempo single from his debut EP that established his early sound and received widespread critical acclaim.

1998 - A collaboration with fellow Australian producer Banks that highlighted his versatility within the electronic genre.

Following the success of Built on Glass, Chet Faker engaged in notable collaborations, including work with Bonobo on the track "No Reason" and Flume on the hit "Drop the Game." In 2016, he announced he would be recording under his birth name, Nick Murphy, but later clarified the Chet Faker project would continue, releasing the 2021 album Hotel Surrender.