In 2010, Sia released her fifth studio album We Are Born, which peaked at number two on the Australian Albums Chart.[1] Following the release, Sia took a musical hiatus and co-wrote songs for multiple recording artists, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Flo Rida and David Guetta.[2] In 2013, Sia recorded the track "Elastic Heart" for The Hunger Games soundtrack.[3]
In May 2014, Sia announced her sixth studio album 1000 Forms of Fear and released "Chandelier" as its lead single.[4] Sia revealed that she initially wrote the track for Rihanna or Beyoncé, but scrapped it and kept the song as her own record.[5][6] The melody was formed after Sia played the piano, while Greg Kurstin and Jesse Shatkin played the marimba in the studio.[7] In the United States, "Chandelier" was released for digital download onto iTunes Stores on 17 March 2014 through Monkey Puzzle, with distribution by RCA Records.[8] In the United Kingdom, "Chandelier" was released digitally on 29 June 2014.[9] A day later, it was sent by RCA Records to US hot adult contemporary radio.[10]