Booster Seat

Last updated

"Booster Seat"
Single by Spacey Jane
from the album Sunlight
Released7 May 2021
Length4:28
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Amelia Murray
  • Caleb Harper
  • Kieran Lama
  • Ashton Le Cornu
Producer(s) Dave Parkin
Spacey Jane singles chronology
"Straightfaced"
(2020)
"Booster Seat"
(2021)
"Lots of Nothing"
(2021)
Music video
"Booster Seat" on YouTube

"Booster Seat" is a song by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane from their debut studio album, Sunlight (2020). It was sent to commercial radio as the album's sixth single on 7 May 2021. [1] The song peaked at number eight on the ARIA charts, and polled at number two in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020. [2] In 2024, the song was certified 7× platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association, having sold over 490,000 units.

Contents

At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, "Booster Seat" won Song of the Year. [3] It also won Best Single at the 2020 West Australian Music Industry Awards, and Independent Song of the Year at the AIR Awards of 2021. [4] Further, it was shortlisted for Song of the Year at the APRA Music Awards of 2021. [5]

Composition

Lyricism

"Booster Seat" took over six months to write. [6] Frontman Caleb Harper said "the way it was put together is kind of different to our other songs", admitting the song "has a lot of space and it's very long", and that it wasn't released as a single because "it's quite slow, it's not a standard sort of single choice". [6]

As explained by Harper, "Booster Seat" lyrically deals with "feeling like anxiety and depression are taking control away from you". Al Newstead of Triple J explained "it's a complex emotional metaphor made easy to grasp by the imagery" and the "song’s gorgeous refrain." [7]

Production

The song came about as Harper was "messing about with some open chords on the guitar, sliding gently between the 1st and the 4th of the key." Lead guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu then developed the riff and presented it to the producer, who originally rejected it. [8]

Reception

Australian rock band Ocean Alley called the song "a warm and nostalgic masterpiece with thoughtful storytelling and instrumentation to match." [9] Newstead continued, praising "Booster Seat" as a "life-affirming song with a platinum-strength sing-along quality". [10] Its chorus was listed among the best song lyrics of 2020, according to Triple J. [11]

In the lead-up to the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020, several bookmakers and music publications predicted "Booster Seat" would top the countdown. [12] Josh Leeson of Northern Beaches Review wrote it was "the one presenting the best chance of securing the first Australian Hottest 100 winner since Ocean Alley's 'Confidence' in 2018." [13] The song eventually polled at number two. [14]

Harper cited the song's placement in the Hottest 100 was a key factor in the band's live performances gaining significantly more traction, reflecting "we went from playing 200 or 300 capacity rooms, to playing multiple 1,000 capacity rooms." [15]

Live performances

Spacey Jane played "Booster Seat" live at Fremantle Arts Centre on 31 December 2020, and released a video of the performance the following month. [16] The band performed the song for Triple J's live music segment Like a Version on 29 January 2021. [17] In August 2021, they released an acoustic version of the track in their Apple Music-exclusive Home Sessions EP. [18]

Music video

The music video was directed by Matt Sav and released on 11 December 2020.

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Booster Seat"
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [19] 8

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Booster Seat"
Chart (2021)Position
Australia (ARIA) [20] 62

Certifications

Certifications for "Booster Seat"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [21] 7× Platinum490,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

"It's Been a Long Day" is a song by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 8 April 2022 as the fourth single to their second studio album, Here Comes Everybody (2022). It peaked at number 79 on the ARIA Singles Chart and number 26 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart. In the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2022, the song polled at number five. In 2024, "It's Been a Long Day" was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 35,000 units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ball Park Music</span> Australian indie rock band

Ball Park Music is an Australian five-piece indie rock band from Brisbane consisting of Sam Cromack, Jennifer Boyce, Paul Furness, Dean Hanson and Daniel Hanson. Since forming in 2008, the band has released seven studio albums. Their debut, Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs (2011), was nominated for Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards, and its 2012 follow-up, Museum, debuted at number nine on the ARIA charts. Their third album, Puddinghead (2014), was supported by the certified-platinum lead single "She Only Loves Me When I'm There".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flight Facilities</span> Australian electronic music production duo

Flight Facilities is an Australian electronic production duo that also performs as Hugo & Jimmy. In 2009, they began mixing songs by other artists before crafting their own original material. The duo consists of Hugo Gruzman and James Lyell. Their debut album Down to Earth was released in October 2014 and features prominent names in the industry such as Kylie Minogue, Emma Louise, Reggie Watts, Bishop Nehru, Christine Hoberg, Owl Eyes, and Stee Downes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rubens</span> Australian alternative rock band

The Rubens are an award winning 5 piece alternative rock band from Menangle, Australia. The band comprises the three Margin brothers, Izaac, Sam and Elliott, and friends Scott Baldwin and William Zeglis. Their debut self-titled album The Rubens gained them domestic success with it reaching number 3 on the ARIA Charts and being nominated for a J Award for Album of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hockey Dad</span> Australian indie rock band

Hockey Dad is an Australian surf rock band from Windang, New South Wales. The duo consists of drummer Billy Fleming and vocalist and guitarist Zach Stephenson. Since 2013, they have released one EP– Dreamin' (2014), and four studio albums – most recently, Rebuild Repeat, on 14 June 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baker Boy</span> Indigenous Australian rapper, dancer, artist, and actor (born 1996)

Danzal James Baker, known professionally as Baker Boy, is a Yolngu rapper, dancer, artist, and actor. Baker Boy is known for performing original hip-hop songs incorporating both English and Yolŋu Matha and is one of the most prominent Aboriginal Australian rappers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallrat</span> Australian pop musician (born 1998)

Grace Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw, known professionally as Mallrat, is an Australian musician, singer, and rapper from Brisbane. Mallrat has released three EPs: Uninvited (2016), In the Sky (2018) and Driving Music (2019). She also released her full-length debut studio album titled Butterfly Blue (2022) in May 2022 to critical acclaim. In 2019, her tracks "Groceries" and "UFO" placed at number 7 and 70, respectively, in the 2018 Triple J Hottest 100, in 2020, "Charlie" and "Nobody's Home" placed at number 3 and 59, respectively, in the 2019 Triple J Hottest 100 and in 2021, "Rockstar" placed 13 in the 2020 Triple J Hottest 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kian (musician)</span> Australian singer-songwriter

Kian Maxwell Bytyci Brownfield, known professionally as Kian is an Australian singer and songwriter from Castlemaine, Victoria. He is best known for winning Triple J Unearthed in August 2018. His breakthrough single "Waiting" was polled at number 20 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Fields</span> Australian musician

Ruby Phillips, known professionally as Ruby Fields, is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Cronulla, New South Wales. In 2018, she released her debut EP Your Dad's Opinion for Dinner, followed by the singles "I Want", "P Plates", and "Ritalin". Her single "Dinosaurs" reached number nine on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lime Cordiale</span> Australian pop rock duo

Lime Cordiale are an Australian pop rock group formed in 2009. It consists of brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach, with additional members James Jennings, Felix Bornholt and Nicholas Polovineo. They released their debut studio album Permanent Vacation in 2017. The group have performed at Groovin' the Moo and South by Southwest (SXSW). At the 2020 ARIA Music Awards they were nominated in eight categories and won Breakthrough Artist – Release for their second album, 14 Steps to a Better You.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slowly Slowly (band)</span> Australian pop punk band

Slowly Slowly is an Australian pop punk and indie rock band from Melbourne, Victoria. The band consists of Ben Stewart, Patrick Murphy (drums), Albert Doan (guitar), and Alex Quayle. They released its debut album Chamomile in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spacey Jane</span> Australian indie rock band

Spacey Jane are an Australian indie rock band formed in Fremantle in 2016. The group consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Caleb Harper, lead guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, drummer Kieran Lama and bassist Peppa Lane, who replaced Amelia Murray in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good for You (Spacey Jane song)</span> 2019 single by Spacey Jane

"Good for You" is a song by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 15 August 2019 as the second single to their debut studio album, Sunlight (2020). It is a guitar-heavy uptempo song that lyrically discusses self-worth amidst a broken relationship, and serves as the album's opening track. It polled at number 80 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2019, and was nominated for Most Performed Rock Work at the 2021 APRA Awards. In 2024, "Good for You" was certified 2× platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling 140,000 units.

<i>Sunlight</i> (Spacey Jane album) 2020 studio album by Spacey Jane

Sunlight is the debut studio album by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 12 June 2020 through AWAL. It was recorded throughout all of 2019 and produced by Dave Parkin. Sunlight is the band's final release to include contributions from bassist Amelia Murray, who plays on the album alongside her successor Peppa Lane. Described by frontman Caleb Harper as an album "full of apologies", Sunlight lyrically acts as a reflection on his mental health amidst relationship breakdowns, in contrast to its affable melodies and jangling instrumentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triple J Hottest 100, 2020</span> Edition of annual Australian music poll

The 2020 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on 23 January 2021. It is the 28th countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as chosen by listeners of Australian radio station triple j. The countdown was announced on the fourth weekend of January.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feeding the Family</span> 2017 single by Spacey Jane

"Feeding the Family" is a song by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 29 September 2017 as the second single to their debut extended play, No Way to Treat an Animal. It achieved double platinum status in Australia in 2024 for selling more than 140,000 units. The track is often credited with the band's rise in popularity, and has been described by many publications as their breakthrough hit.

<i>Here Comes Everybody</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Spacey Jane

Here Comes Everybody is the second studio album by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 24 June 2022 via AWAL. Written through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, its pensive lyrics are reflective of anxieties at the time, and throughout the youth of frontman Caleb Harper. Produced mostly by Konstantin Kersting, Here Comes Everybody marks a sonic departure from their debut, Sunlight (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lots of Nothing</span> 2021 single by Spacey Jane

"Lots of Nothing" is a song by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released through their own record label and AWAL on 24 June 2021 as the lead single from their forthcoming second studio album Here Comes Everybody (2022).

"Hardlight" is a song by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 18 May 2022 as the fifth single to their second studio album, Here Comes Everybody. Premiered on BBC Radio 1, it peaked at number 68 on the ARIA Singles chart and number 37 on the NZ Hot Singles chart. The song was considered a favourite to top Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2022, on which it was polled into third place. "Hardlight" won Best Single at the 2023 Rolling Stone Australia Awards. In 2024, the song was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 35,000 units.

The 2022 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on 28 January 2023. It was the 30th annual countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as voted for by listeners of Australian radio station triple j. The day before, the Hottest 200 played, counting down songs 200–101. Merchandise sales from the event supported the Australian Conservation Foundation.

References

  1. "Booster Seat (Edit)". 7 May 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2023 via Spotify.
  2. Newstead, Al (23 January 2021). "Spacey Jane 'Booster Seat': Behind the Hottest Australian song of 2020". Triple J . Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  3. Kelly, Vivienne (20 October 2021). "ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge". The Music Network . Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  4. "2021 AIR Awards Winners". Scenstr.com.au. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  5. "One of these songs will be the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year!". APRA AMCOS . 3 February 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Spacey Jane cover The Beatles' 'Here Comes The Sun' for Like A Version". Triple J. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  7. Newstead, Al (23 January 2021). "Spacey Jane 'Booster Seat': Behind the Hottest Australian song of 2020". Triple J . Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  8. Lefevre, Jules (9 March 2021). "Spacey Jane On 'Booster Seat', Their New Album, And The Song They Can't Stand To Play". Junkee . Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  9. Newstead, Al (7 December 2020). "Hottest 100 #votespiration: Here's what Billie Eilish, Flume, Mallrat & more are voting for". Triple J. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  10. Newstead, Al (23 January 2021). "Spacey Jane 'Booster Seat': Behind the Hottest Australian song of 2020". Triple J . Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  11. Newstead, Al (22 December 2020). "2020 Song Lyrics: the good, the weird, and the misheard". Triple J. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  12. Davies, Hayden. "We're Calling It: Spacey Jane's 'Booster Seat' May Be the Hottest 100's Unexpected Champ". Pilerats. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  13. Leeson, Josh (22 January 2021). "From 'Heat Waves' to 'Booster Seats' to 'WAP', We Preview Triple J's Hottest 100 Contenders". Northern Beaches Review. Manly, NSW. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022 via National Library of Australia.
  14. Gwee, Karen (23 January 2021). "Spacey Jane the Highest-Ranking Australian Artist of Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2020". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  15. McArthur, Bridget (6 December 2022). "Spacey Jane's slow, fast, messy rise to fame". Beat Magazine . Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  16. Newstead, Al (11 January 2021). "Watch Spacey Jane play 'Booster Seat' live at New Year's Eve show". Triple J. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  17. "Spacey Jane cover The Beatles' 'Here Comes The Sun' for Like A Version". Triple J. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  18. Langford, Jackson (23 August 2021). "Listen to Spacey Jane cover Phoebe Bridgers' 2017 track 'Scott Street'". NME . Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  19. "Spacey Jane – Booster Seat". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  20. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  21. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 21 January 2024.