After 10 years and fifth album releases, DMA’S finally have a No. 1.
The Australian alternative rock trio opens at the top of the latest ARIA Albums Chart (published Friday, Aug. 28) with DMA’S, their fifth studio album.
It’s the band’s first ever No. 1 on the national chart, after successive near-misses. And just the second homegrown album to top the tally this year after Karnivool’s In Verses (via Cymatic Records/Sony Music), following its release in February.
“Congratulations to DMA’S on a career best chart performance, taking the number one spot with their self-titled album no less,” comment ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd. “This is just another achievement in a string of incredible work over more than a decade and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome them to the top of the ARIA Chart.”
DMA’S is notable, for several reasons. That fastest possible chart start follows close chances with 2023’s How Many Dreams, which opened and peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Chart (and No. 3 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart). And its predecessor, 2020’s The Glow, which also peaked at No. 2 in Australia (and No. 4 in the United Kingdom). The Aussies will learn of their U.K. chart debut later Friday.
As previously reported, it’s the band’s first release through a new deal with Wonderlick and Sony Music, one that introduces the trio into the major label machine for the first time. Their previous albums, going back to their debut full-length collection Hill’s End, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary, were independently released through I Oh You, part of the Mushroom Group.
Also, it’s the first of the DMA’S albums to be self-recorded. Bandmates Johnny Took (acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Matt Mason (lead guitar) and Tommy O’Dell (lead vocals) cut the new effort in their studio in Sydney’s Glebe, a space that was established by local rock’n’roll legend Col Joye, and hosted sessions with David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen and the Bee Gees.
Speaking ahead of the new release, Mason told Billboard that an ARIA No. 1 was on his mind. “I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a part of it,” he said, a nod to their new major label route.
Since their arrival with Hill’s End (which cracked the ARIA Top 10, peaking at No. 8), DMA’S have amassed over 535 million streams. In Australia, their breakthrough came with the 2016 cover of Cher’s ‘90s dance hit “Believe.” Their version came out on top of triple j’s inaugural Hottest 100 “Live A Version” countdown in 2023, and they won the ARIA Award for best group in the same year.
DMA’S will support their new chart leader with an east coast tour of Australia this November and December.
In other chart news, Tasmanian artist Miss Kaninna bags a top 10 with her debut mixtape, BLACKPRINT, new at No. 8, while Aussie singer and songwriter Vera Blue starts at No. 12 with Modern Rituals. Over on the ARIA Singles Chart, Ella Langley returns to the summit with “Choosin’ Texas,” up 2-1 for its 11th non-consecutive week at the top. Female artists or groups have now led the national singles chart for every week since early August 2025, ARIA reports.
