Safia is an Australian electronica and indie pop band formed in Canberra. They have released three studio albums.
Career Safia won the Groovin' the Moo competition in 2012. The band says the name comes from a song they wrote called "Sapphire", but it does not mean anything. The band have since found out that safia means serenity in Arabic.
The band have cited artists like Purity Ring, Major Lazer, Feed Me, Chet Faker, Disclosure and James Blake as influences.
In 2014, they were featured on Peking Duk's ARIA top 10 single, "Take Me Over".
Also in 2014, lead singer Ben Woolner appeared as feature artist on the Indian Summer single "Aged Care" under the pseudonym 'Benjamin Joseph'. The band opened for Twenty One Pilots during their 2017 Emotional Roadshow Tour Pacific Leg which started in Wellington, New Zealand.
On 30 June 2016, the band announced the title of its debut album, Internal, which was released on 9 September 2016 and peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Charts. On 13 October 2017, Safia released "Cellophane Rainbow".
In 2018, they released "Freakin' Out", which was the first track they wrote after their album Internal.
The band released their second album, Story's Start or End in September 2019. The album peaked at number 13 on the ARIA charts.
In October 2022, the band released "Falling Down", the first release since their second album Story's Start or End in 2019.
In August 2023, the band announced the forthcoming release of A Lover's Guide to a Lucid Dream and released its fourth single, "Float".
Band members Ben Woolner (also uses the pseudonym "Benjamin Joseph") – vocals/producer Michael Bell – drums/producer Harry Sayers – guitars/synths/producer
Discography Studio albums +List of studio albums, with selected chart positions shown Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications AUS Internal Released: 9 September 2016 Label: Parlophone, Warner Music Australia Formats: CD, 2× LP, digital download 2 ARIA: Gold Story's Start or End Released: 9 August 2019 Label: Warner Music Australia Formats: CD, 2× LP, digital download 13 A Lover's Guide to a Lucid Dream Released: 22 September 2023 Label: Warner Music Australia Formats: CD, 2× LP, digital download —
Live albums +List of live albums, with selected chart positions shown Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS Live At First Light Released: 17 May 2024 Label: Warner Music Australia Formats: digital download
Singles As lead artist +List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album AUSPeak chart positions in Australia: All except noted: "Listen to Soul, Listen to Blues": "Counting Sheep": "Embracing Me": "Over You": AUSIndiePeak chart positions for independent singles in Australia: "Listen to Soul, Listen to Blues": "You Are the One": "Counting Sheep": "Listen to Soul, Listen to Blues" 2013 99 8 ARIA: Platinum rowspan="4" "Paranoia, Ghosts & Other Sounds" 2014 — — "You Are the One" — 9 "Counting Sheep" 2015 55 5 "Embracing Me" 69 rowspan="15" ARIA: Gold Internal "Make Them Wheels Roll" 2016 45 ARIA: Gold RMNZ: Gold "Over You" 63 "My Love Is Gone" — "Cellophane Rainbow" 2017 —Story's Start or End "Freakin' Out" 2018 — rowspan="1" "Starlight" —Story's Start or End "Resolution" 2019 — "Think We're Not Alone" — "Runaway" — "Falling Down" 2022 — A Lover's Guide to a Lucid Dream "Today" 2023 — "That's the Thing About Love" — "Float" — "A Lover's Guide to a Lucid Dream" — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist +List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album AUS NZ "Take Me Over"(Peking Duk featuring SAFIA) 2014 6 32 ARIA: 3× Platinum RMNZ: Platinum Songs to Sweat To
Other appearances + List of other non-single song appearances Title Year Album "Take it to Reality" 2015 Run "Left Hand Free"Like a Version: Volume Eleven
Music videos + List of music videos by SAFIATitleYearDirector "Listen to Soul, Listen to Blues"2013Jimmy Ennett "Paranoia, Ghosts & Other Sounds"2014Jimmy Ennett and Jaeger Vallejera "You Are the One"Jimmy Ennett "Take Me Over" Jeff Johnson and Max Miller "Counting Sheep"2015Jimmy Ennett "Embracing Me" "Take it to Reality" "Make Them Wheels Roll"2016Jimmy Ennett "Zion"SAFIA "Over You"Markus Hofko "My Love Is Gone"Anthony Bristol "Cellophane Rainbow"2017Jaeger Vallejera "Freakin' Out"2018Jimmy Annett "Starlight" (Multiverse Video) "Resolution"2019George Thomson & Lukas Schrank
Awards and nominations AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| 2014 || "Paranoia, Ghosts & Other Sounds" || Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single||
ARIA Music Awards Since 1987 the ARIA Music Awards have run annual awards. Year Category Nominated artist/work Result 2015 Best Dance Release "Take Me Over" (Peking Duk featuring Safia)
APRA Awards Since 1982 the APRA Awards are run by Australian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Year Category Nominated artist/work Result 2016 Most played Australian Work "Take Me Over" (Peking Duk featuring Safia) rowspan="2" Dance work of the Year
J Award The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
| 2013 |themselves | Unearthed Artist of the Year
| 2016 | Internal | Australian Album of the Year
National Live Music Awards The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
| 2016 | Themselves | Live Electronic Act (or DJ) of the Year
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