A Great Big World

True to the meaning of its name, A Great Big World embodies the GRAMMY® Award-winning artistry of Ian Axel and Chad King. Over nearly 20 years of collaboration, the duo has garnered widespread recognition for their exceptional songwriting and creative partnerships, which have spanned across film, television, animation, and numerous critically acclaimed music releases. Their shared passion for musicals and the art of songcraft led to a deep creative connection when they first met at New York University in 2005.

In 2025, A Great Big World is set to release their first collection of new music in years, beginning with the emotionally charged single “then there were sparks,” available on January 10th across all streaming platforms. The track beautifully showcases the duo’s signature, melody-driven style, exploring themes of rediscovery and new beginnings. With its anthemic chorus—“then there were sparks, all around me, right where the end meets the start”—the song takes listeners on a reflective journey, igniting a sense of hope and renewal that only A Great Big World can evoke. Following this release, a five-track EP of the same name will drop on February 21st, featuring another powerful new song, “Go On.” To support the new project, the group will embark on a four-date mini-tour, performing at City Winery venues across the Northeast. The tour will make stops in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and New York, beginning February 27th.

“‘then there were sparks’ is a really personal song for me! Over the last few years, I had found myself gradually singing and performing less. And as time passed, I just became more and more afraid of it,” reflected Ian Axel. “I kept making excuses for myself, and I felt like I was losing my ability to dream. I knew there was still this fire, or this spark within me that I had been ignoring, and it needed nurturing. So for me, this song is about re-discovering myself as an artist, and the magic that comes when you tap into your heart to create something new.”

The world first fell in love with A Great Big World when the group delivered a defining anthem with “Say Something,” featuring Christina Aguilera. The single achieved six-times Platinum status, surpassed one billion streams, and earned a 2015 GRAMMY® Award for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” Their 2014 full-length debut, Is There Anybody Out There?, debuted in the Top 3 of the Billboard 200 chart, later achieving Gold status and solidifying the duo’s undeniable cultural influence. This success was followed by a series of captivating studio albums, including 2015’s When The Morning Comes and 2021’s Particles.

Over the years, the impact of “Say Something” has only deepened, and in October 2024, A Great Big World marked the milestone of the song’s release with a reimagined acoustic version. Titled “Say Something (revisited),” this new rendition features string arrangements by Grammy Award-winning arranger Rob Moose (known for his work with Taylor Swift, Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, John Legend, and Sara Bareilles). The release invites global audiences to revisit the timeless track that touched so many hearts a decade ago. As part of the celebration, the duo also released a ukulele version, “Say Something (ukulele version),” which pays tribute to the song’s original composition. Both versions will be featured on the upcoming then there were sparks EP, due in February.

“Say Something’ is the song that changed our lives forever,” said the duo in a joint statement. “We are incredibly humbled that so many people have connected to it in the ways that they have. As we begin the next chapter as a band, we wanted to bring things full circle and celebrate the moment with these new recordings.”

As creators, the group’s presence has unassumingly coursed through popular culture. Among countless sync licenses, the cast of Glee famously performed their song “This Is The New Year” in a 2013 episode, as well as their song “Rockstar” shortly thereafter. In 2018, they penned the song “Fall On Me” for Andrea Bocelli with his son Matteo Bocelli, which appeared on the legendary singer’s 16th studio album Si, and graced the soundtrack and end credits of the film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. That same year, they wrote “Return to Love” for Bocelli and Ellie Goulding, and recently wrote “Holding On,” a new collaboration for Bocelli and Gwen Stefani that is featured on his latest 2024 Duets album.

In 2023, they contributed music to popular children’s brand Slumberkins® and recently released “Nothing’s Impossible” featuring Rachel Platten, an original composition the group wrote for Studio Ponoc’s critically praised Japanese animated feature film, The Imaginary. Directed by Yoshiyuki Momose (Modest Heroes, Tomorrow’s Leaves), the film was released worldwide through Netflix in July of 2024.

Ian and Chad maintain a commitment to vulnerable, clever, earnest, and heartfelt songwriting above all.

“The thread between everything we do is our writing,” notes Ian. “We’re like brothers, and our connection inspires how we write. We found each other, stayed together through all of this time, and our writing together has become a form of therapy for us.”

“We chose the name A Great Big World as an umbrella for everything we want to do,” adds Chad. “The goal is for all of our creativity to exist under this.”

Next up, A Great Big World is venturing into the world of theater with the musical adaptation of Wonder, based on the beloved novel by R.J. Palacio and the hit Lionsgate film. With their exceptional talent for storytelling through music, the duo is expanding their artistic reach into the realm of live theater, further solidifying their versatility and creative vision. This new project marks an exciting chapter in their evolving career, and with their passion for both music and storytelling, A Great Big World’s journey is only just beginning. As they continue to push boundaries and explore new creative landscapes, their impact on the entertainment world will undoubtedly keep growing, captivating audiences in even more inspiring ways.