Let the Music Play (Stan Walker album)

Let the Music Play is the third studio album by Australian-New Zealand recording artist Stan Walker, released through Sony Music Australia on 18 November 2011. Walker worked with several record producers on the album, including Richard Vission, Chico Bennett, Nicholas "RAS" Furlong and Static Revenger, among others. The album featured several guest vocalists, including Jessica Mauboy, Annabel Fay and Walker's mother April, who is featured in a remake of Eva Cassidy's version of "Songbird". Musically, the album features more up-tempo dance-pop and R&B genres than Walker's previous album, From the Inside Out (2010), which included deep and emotional tracks.

Let the Music Play
Studio album by Stan Walker
Released	18 November 2011 (2011-11-18)
Genre	Dance-pop R&B^[1] pop
Label	Sony
Producer	Louis Schoorl Drew Pearson Anthony Egizii David Musumeci Khaled Richard Vission Chico Bennett Brad Ackley Lindsay Rimes Adam "Wyshmaster" Cherrington Nicholas "RAS" Furlong Braddon Williams Static Revenger Michael D'Arcy Styalz Fuego Carl Dimataga
Stan Walker chronology
From the Inside Out (2010) Let the Music Play (2011) Inventing Myself (2013)
Singles from Let the Music Play
"Loud" Released: 6 May 2011 "Light It Up" Released: 16 September 2011 "Music Won't Break Your Heart" Released: 23 March 2012

Two singles preceded the album's release including, lead single "Loud", which reached the top-ten on the singles charts of Australia and New Zealand. "Light It Up", featuring Static Revenger, was released as the album's second single. Let the Music Play debuted at number 18 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, becoming the lowest charting album of Walker's career to date. On the New Zealand Albums Chart, the album debuted at number 12.

Background and recording

Walker described the album as "a declaration of a celebration", stating that it is far more upbeat, playful and fresh in comparison to the deeper tracks on his previous album From the Inside Out (2010).^[2] In an interview with Nathan Taylor from Western Weekender, Walker explained, "The last album was more serious and showed the deeper parts of me. This one still shows all the depths of me but also me as a 21-year-old – the young, crazy and fun side definitely comes out in Let the Music Play."^[2] The album was inspired by many sounds from around the world, including Indian Bollywood to UK bubble gum pop and Māori culture.^[3]

Let the Music Play was recorded over four weeks;^[4] Walker recorded much of the album in the United States.^[2] The album includes a duet with Walker's mother, April, in a remake of Eva Cassidy's version of "Songbird".^[2] Walker said that he had to find the right song to sing with his mother on one of his album's, and chose Cassidy's version of "Songbird" because it is one of their all-time favourite songs.^[2] Let the Music Play also includes a duet with fellow singer Jessica Mauboy on the track "Galaxy", which had originally appeared on a re-release of her second studio album Get 'Em Girls.^[4] Walker explained, "We had been waiting for the right song to come for a while, because we really had to choose the right song for this. And that song came about and we both really liked it and decided that was the one, and that we just had to do it. And it turned out really well."^[4]

In an interview with Leesa Smith from Southern Courier, Walker explained, "The album is quite pop and dance-y, but there are hints of old skool stuff, like the duet I did with my mum. There are songs about freedom, liberation, unity and music."^[5]

Release and promotion

Let the Music Play was released by Sony Music Australia on 18 November 2011, as both digital download and CD formats.^[6][7] A CD release in New Zealand followed on 21 November 2011.^[8] To celebrate the album's release, Walker appeared at the Westfield Parramatta store in Sydney with dance troupe Justice Crew on 19 November 2011, to perform several of the album's songs and sign CDs.^[9] The following day, he appeared at the Highpoint Shopping Centre in Melbourne.^[9] During a promotional tour in New Zealand, Walker appeared at The Warehouse Sylvia Park in Auckland on 24 November 2011, to sign CD copies and perform a song from the album.^[1] On 29 November 2011, Walker and Jessica Mauboy made a guest appearance on the Australian breakfast television program, Sunrise, to perform "Galaxy".^[10]

Singles

"Loud" was released as the album's lead single on 6 May 2011.^[11] It peaked at number nine on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and number eight on the New Zealand Singles Chart.^[12] "Loud" was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for selling 70,000 copies.^[13] In New Zealand, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), for selling 7,500 digital copies.^[14] "Light It Up", featuring Static Revenger, was released as the second single on 16 September 2011.^[15] It peaked at number 45 on the ARIA Singles Chart and number 23 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.^[16] "Music Won't Break Your Heart" was released as a Digital EP on 23 March 2012, as the third single from Let the Music Play.^[17]

Commercial performance

Let the Music Play debuted at number 18 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart on 28 November 2011 and spent two weeks in the top 50.^[18] It marks the first time in Walker's career that one of his albums has missed the top five.^[19] His debut studio album, Introducing Stan Walker (2009) debuted at number three, while his second studio album, From the Inside Out (2010) charted at number two.^[19] On the ARIA Urban Albums Chart, Let the Music Play debuted at number three.^[20] On the New Zealand Albums Chart, the album debuted at number 12, again becoming Walker's first album in the country to miss the top five.^[21]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"On Our Way"	Stan Walker Louis Schoorl Jackie Barnes	Louis Schoorl	3:56
2.	"Loud"	Drew Pearson Stephen Wrabel Jon Asher	Drew Pearson	3:24
3.	"Music Won't Break Your Heart"	Walker Anthony Egizii David Musumeci	Anthony Egizii David Musumeci	3:19
4.	"Galaxy" (with Jessica Mauboy)	Richard Vission Ferras Alqaisi Brett McLaughlin Dominique Calvillo Chico Bennett Brad Ackley	Richard Vission Chico Bennett Brad Ackley* Braddon Williams Anthony Egizii David Musumeci	4:03
5.	"Song in My Head"	Walker Lindsay Rimes Brett Creswell	Lindsay Rimes	3:38
6.	"Who We Are"	Walker Egizii Musumeci	Anthony Egizii David Musumeci	3:32
7.	"Forever I'm Yours"	Walker Fady "Faydee" Fatrouni Khaled Rohaim	Khaled	3:51
8.	"Shine"	Pearson Wrabel Asher	Drew Pearson	3:48
9.	"Invisible" (featuring Annabel Fay)	Walker Rimes Annabel Fay Danielle Blakey	Lindsay Rimes	3:33
10.	"Won't Let You Down"	Walker Nick Furlong	Adam "Wyshmaster" Cherrington Furlong	3:41
11.	"Light It Up" (featuring Static Revenger)	Dennis White John Locke Charissa Saverio Jon Asher	Static Revenger	3:30
12.	"Move Your Body"	Walker Michael D'Arcy	Michael D'Arcy	3:20
13.	"Tear Down These Walls"	Walker Kaelyn Behr Barry Southgate	Styalz Fuego	3:41
14.	"Welcome Home"	Dave Dobbyn	Carl Dimataga	4:25
15.	"Songbird"	Christine McVie	Carl Dimataga	3:34

(*) Denotes additional producer

Notes

• Track 4, "Galaxy", was originally featured on the deluxe edition of Jessica Mauboy's album, Get 'Em Girls.
• Track 14, "Welcome Home", is a cover of the 2005 single by Dave Dobbyn.
• Track 15, "Songbird", is a remake of Eva Cassidy's version of the song.

Personnel

• Credits adapted from album booklet.^[22]

Managerial and imagery

• Andrew Cameron – Business Affairs
• David Champion – Management
• Pat Handlin with inspiration from Jay Dee Springbett – A&R
• Matt Johnson – photography
• Suzanne Miller – A&R Administration

Performance credits

• Annabel Fay – featured vocals on "Invisible"
• Jessica Mauboy – vocals on "Galaxy"
• April Walker – guest vocals on "Songbird"
• Stan Walker – lead vocals, background vocals on "Galaxy"
• Zion – gospel choir on "Welcome Home"

Instruments

• Vic "Per Diem" Chaga – string arrangement
• Carl Dimataga – instruments, string arrangement
• Anthony Egizii – programming and keys
• Rod McCormack – guitar
• Lindsay Rimes – instruments and programming

Technical and production

Brad Ackley – additional production Chico Bennett – production Adam "Wyshmaster" Cherrington – production Tom Coyne – mastering Michael D'Arcy – production Carl Dimataga – arrangement, production Anthony Egizii – production, vocal production Styalz Fuego – production Nicholas "RAS" Furlong – engineering, production, vocal production James Kang – assistant mixing Khaled – production David Musumeci – production, vocal production

Damien Lewis – additional/assistant engineering Brian Paturalski – mixing Drew Pearson – production Static Revenger – production Lindsay Rimes – mixing, production Louis Schoorl – mixing, production Phil Tan – mixing Richard Vission – production Miles Walker – mixing Braddon Williams – production, engineering Leon Zervos – mastering Joe Zook – mixing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2011) Peak Position ARIA Albums Chart^[18] 18 ARIA Urban Albums Chart^[20] 3 New Zealand Albums Chart^[21] 12

Year-end charts Chart (2011) Rank Australian Artists Albums Chart^[23] 37

Release history

Country	Date	Format(s)	Label
Australia^[6]^[7]	18 November 2011	CD, digital download	Sony Music Australia
New Zealand^[8]^[24]		Digital download
	21 November 2011	CD

References

1. . Mai FM. Archived from the original on 22 November 2011.
2. Taylor, Nathan (15 November 2011). . Western Weekender. Media View. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012.
3. Purdie, Ross (16 November 2011). "Mother's touch for Stan Walker". Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011.
4. Lucas, Victoria (22 November 2011). . The Music Network. Archived from the original on 25 November 2011.
5. Smith, Leesa (17 November 2011). . Southern Courier. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011.
6. "Let the Music Play – Stan Walker". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
7. . Sanity.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
8. "Let the Music Play – Stan Walker". Marbecks.co.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
9. . Stanwalker.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012.
10. "Jess Mauboy & Stan Walker 'Galaxy'". Yahoo!7. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
11. "Loud – Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
12. "Stan Walker – Loud". ARIA Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
13. . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
14. . RadioScope New Zealand. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
15. "Light It Up – Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
16. "Stan Walker – Light It Up". ARIA Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
17. "Music Won't Break Your Heart – EP". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
18. . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 5 December 2011.
19. "Discography Stan Walker". ARIA Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
20. "Top 40 Urban Albums & Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 1 December 2011.
21. "Discography Stan Walker". RIANZ Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
22. Let the Music Play (CD liner). Stan Walker. Sony Music Australia. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
23. . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
24. "Let the Music Play – Stan Walker". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.