Ricki-Lee (album)

Ricki-Lee is the debut studio album by Australian recording artist Ricki-Lee Coulter, released through Shock Records on 3 October 2005. Coulter recorded the album in Melbourne and worked with several songwriters and producers, including Audius Mtawarira, Israel Cruz, Jarrad Rogers, Hayley Aitken and Kara DioGuardi, among others. The album reached number 30 on the ARIA Albums Chart and number six on the ARIA Urban Albums Chart. Ricki-Lee was preceded by the lead single "Hell No!" in June 2005, which peaked at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The second single "Sunshine" was released in September 2005, which peaked at number eight and was also certified gold. "Breathe" was released as the album's third and final single in January 2006, which reached number 14.

Background and reception

Following her departure from Australian Idol in 2004, Coulter was offered recording contracts by record labels including the show's sponsor Sony BMG, but she signed with Australia's biggest independent label Shock Records. Coulter explained, "I'd met with a number of labels and Shock were the only one that asked me what I wanted to do and what kind of album I wanted to make and who I wanted to work with". She recorded her debut album in Melbourne.Ricki-Lee was released on 3 October 2005, as both digital download and CD formats.

Ricki-Lee Coulter

Ricki-Lee Dawn Coulter (born 10 November 1985), also known mononymously as Ricki-Lee, is an Australian singer, songwriter, television and radio presenter. She was born in Auckland, New Zealand, grew up on the Gold Coast, Queensland and began performing at the age of 15. In 2004, she auditioned for the second season of Australian Idol and placed seventh in the finals round. She subsequently signed with Australian independent label Shock Records, and released her self-titled debut album Ricki-Lee in 2005, which yielded the top-ten singles "Hell No!" and "Sunshine". Both songs were certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The following year, Coulter became a member of Australian all-girl pop group Young Divas, before leaving in early 2007 to resume her solo music career.

Coulter's second album Brand New Day was released in 2007 and was certified gold. The album included the top-ten singles "Love Is All Around", "Can't Sing a Different Song" and "Can't Touch It", the latter became a platinum seller. Coulter's first compilation album titled The Singles was released in 2008, with the top-twenty lead single "Wiggle It". In May 2011, she ended her contract with Shock Records and signed with major label EMI. Coulter's third album Fear & Freedom (2012) debuted at number seven and became her first top-ten album. It included the top-twenty singles "Raining Diamonds" and "Do It Like That", which were both certified platinum. "Do It Like That" earned Coulter her first ARIA Music Award nomination for Song of the Year. Her fourth album Dance in the Rain was released in 2014 and became her second top-twenty album.