A Great Big World band members
Ian Axel and Chad King
The musical duo known as A Great Big World burst on to the music scene in 2013 with their smash hit, “Say Anything,” a haunting ballad that explores the complexities of relationships in crisis. A Great Big World was formed a few years prior, established by songwriters Chad Vaccarino and Ian Axel. The two met while attending New York University’s Steinhardt Music Program. They began writing together, and soon found that their talents were a perfect match.
A Great Big World began performing as an opening act for such artists as Five for Fighting and Ingrid Michaelson. In 2012, the duo launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for their six-song EP and released the single “This is the New Year,” which earned them acclaim after the cast of Glee performed the song in an episode. The song went on to enjoy further exposure through shows such as One Tree Hill and the Amazing Race. It wasn’t long before A Great Big World sparked the interest of Epic Records, which signed them to a record deal and launched a simultaneous tour and second EP release.
In the fall of 2013, A Great Big World released the song “Say Something,” which was featured on the show So You Think You Can Dance and then later re-recorded featuring Christina Aguilera. A duet performance on the Voice, featuring A Great Big World and Aguilera, further bolstered the success of the song and it shot to the number one spot on the iTunes charts. The song paved the way for A Great Big World’s debut album, Is There Anybody Out there, which arrived in the winter of 2014.
A Great Big World is just getting started and definitely a star on the rise. The duo’s debut album also features the recently-released singles “I Really Want It” and “Rockstar,” both of which have been making their way up the charts.
