A Decade-Defining Celebration of Soul, Groove, and Heart
It’s been 21 years since Guy Sebastian won over the country as Australia’s first Idol, but his tenth studio album, 100 Times Around the Sun (released 8 August 2025), proves he’s still evolving, experimenting, and most importantly – thriving. Across 13 tracks, Sebastian delivers a rich, soul-soaked tapestry of love, self-reflection, and sheer joy. This is an album built for long drives with the windows down, backyard summer parties, and those late-night headphones-in moments when the lyrics suddenly feel like they’re just for you.
Four Years in the Making – And Worth Every Second
Recorded over four years, the album’s DNA was collected like passport stamps – songwriting camps in Bali, LA, and Nashville – before Sebastian brought it home to his Sydney studio to shape the final vision. That international flavour is felt in the production: slick yet warm, polished but not over-processed, with enough live-instrument grit to keep it human. The project isn’t rushed; it feels curated, each track placed with intention, like chapters in a well-loved book.
The Stories Behind the Songs
Guy’s gift has always been making music that sounds effortlessly good while holding genuine emotional weight – and here, that skill is on full display.
- Cupid, born from a moment of cheeky wordplay, bounces with charm yet lands emotionally by the chorus.
- Antidote – a heartfelt duet with Sam Fischer – sprang from a wedding speech, its warmth and sincerity seeping into every note.
- The title track, 100 Times Around the Sun, is pure disco-tinged celebration, practically begging for a dance floor.
- Afterlife channels vintage Stevie Wonder, dripping in funky basslines and sunny optimism.
- Ballads like The Keys and Strangers bring the hush – those goosebump-inducing slow burns that have become Guy’s signature.
Every lyric feels lived-in. Every melody feels like it could only come from someone who’s taken the time to reflect on where they’ve been and where they’re going.
From Feels to Feel-Good – The Balancing Act
Sebastian calls this record a balance of “feels and feels good,” and it’s an apt description. Some tracks are made for emotional immersion; others are built for moving, smiling, and soaking up life. It’s a rare pop-soul album that offers both without feeling disjointed. The sequencing is smart – there’s light after the shade, groove after introspection, keeping listeners engaged from first beat to last note.
Leaving The Voice – Finding New Energy
Guy’s decision to step away from his long-running role as a coach on The Voice Australia was, by his own admission, a creative reset. That renewed focus is all over this record – his vocals are arguably the strongest of his career, his delivery more playful and confident, and his arrangements tighter and bolder. There’s a sense that he’s singing purely for the love of it again, and that energy is contagious.
A Career High That Feels Like Home
What makes 100 Times Around the Sun so compelling is how it manages to be both a fresh chapter and a return to the elements that made us love Guy in the first place: the silky vocal runs, the gospel-inspired harmonies, the thoughtful lyrics, and the pure joy of music-making. It’s celebratory without being saccharine, emotional without being indulgent – a fine line Sebastian walks with ease.
Final Word
100 Times Around the Sun is a reminder that Guy Sebastian remains one of Australia’s most versatile and consistently exciting artists. It’s soulful, uplifting, groove-laden, and deeply personal. Whether you’ve been along for all 21 years of the ride or you’re just discovering him now, this record has a little something for every listener: moments to dance, moments to dream, and moments to just feel.
If this is what one lap around the sun with Guy sounds like, we’ll happily sign up for 100 more.
