Confidence Man (band)
Australian electropop band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Confidence Man are an Australian electro pop band formed in 2016 in Brisbane, Queensland. They released their debut album, Confident Music for Confident People, in 2018. Their second album, Tilt, was released in 2022, followed by their third album, 3AM (La La La), in 2024. The front-duo and their band members have been a part of many festivals across the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, most notably Glastonbury Festival.
_(53120163561)_(cropped).jpg)
Confidence Man | |
|---|---|
Confidence Man performing at Boardmasters Festival in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | Electropop |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | www |
Background
2016–2022: Formation, Confident Music for Confident People and Tilt
The band was formed in 2016. The members had met on the Brisbane music scene, and had been in other bands including: The Belligerents, Moses Gunn Collective and The Jungle Giants,[3] and use pseudonyms in Confidence Man; McGuffie and Goodchild reportedly took their stage names from tombstones.[4] They started writing dance songs together, initially as a "kind of joke", but eventually realised the material was worth pursuing.[5]
Planet and Bones provide vocals and dancing while Goodchild and McGuffie, who appear as masked figures, play keyboards and drums. The band signed to UK label Heavenly Records and released their debut UK single, "Bubblegum", in March 2017.[5][6]
Confidence Man released their debut album, Confident Music for Confident People, on 13 April 2018.[7] They toured Europe extensively in the middle of the same year, with festival slots and a sell-out at London's Scala before returning to Australia for dates in September.[8]
The band released a Christmas single, "Santa's Coming Down the Chimney", in December 2018.[9]
On 17 November 2019, Janet Planet and Sugar Bones were guests on Richard Kingsmill's '2019' programme on Triple J to premiere their new single "Does It Make You Feel Good?" During the interview, they revealed they have made celebrity friends with U2 and had been partying with them and Noel Gallagher while in Melbourne. They continued to explain their plans to feature The Edge playing tambourine on a future recording.[10]
On 21 August 2020, Confidence Man released the non-album single, "First Class Bitch".[11]
On 10 November 2021, the band announce the forthcoming release of their second studio album, Tilt and released "Holiday" as its lead single.[12] Tilt was released on 1 April 2022 and peaked at number 7 on the ARIA charts. In late 2022, the band toured Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe, which also included a performance at Glastonbury Festival which received critical acclaim.[13][14]
In September 2022, the band released a remix EP, titled Re-Tilt. The EP featured collaborations with Tame Impala, CHAI, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and more.[15]
2023–present: 3AM (La La La)
In April 2023, Confidence Man released "On & On (Again)" with Daniel Avery. The single continued the shift from electro-pop towards a club-focused sound which had begun with Tilt, and marked their debut at new label home at Polydor.[16] In July, the band released a collaboration with Swedish producer DJ Seinfeld on dance-pop record "Now U Do".[17] Band member Sam Hales, who had initially been behind the pseudonym "Clarence McGuffie", stopped being credited on songs from this point forward; McGuffie's current identity is unknown.[18][19]
In November 2023, after releasing several bootlegs and mashups through their SoundCloud page, the band released "Firebreak",[20] and in February 2024, the band released a single in collaboration with DJ Boring, "Forever 2 (Crush Mix)".[21] In May, Confidence Man released ConMan Club Classics Vol. 1, a compilation EP featuring the non-album singles and their remixes, including a new remix of "Boyfriend (Repeat)" by Cowboy Rhythmbox.[22]
On 5 June 2024, the band announced their third album, 3AM (La La La), with the release of the single, "I Can't Lose You", along with a video of Planet and Bones singing the track in a helicopter naked over the London skyline.[23] The album is inspired by the band's move to London, and by British rave culture of the 1990s.
In August 2024, Fabric Presents Confidence Man, a DJ mix by the band, was released. In April 2025, a remix album titled 5AM (La La La) was released.[24]
In December 2025, the EP Active Scenes Vol. One will be released.[25]
Members
- Current
- Janet Planet (Grace Stephenson) – vocals
- Sugar Bones (Aidan Moore-Stephenson) – vocals
- Reggie Goodchild (Lewis Stephenson) – production
- Clarence McGuffie (currently unknown)
- Former
- Lachlan McGeehan
- Sam Hales[1] – production
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [26] |
SCO [27] |
UK [27] |
UK Dance [27] |
UK Indie [27] | ||
| Confident Music for Confident People |
|
31 | — | — | 13 | 30 |
| Tilt | 7 | 34 | — | 1 | 11 | |
| 3AM (La La La) |
|
40 | 4 | 9 | 1 | — |
Remix albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| 5AM (La La La) |
|
DJ mixes
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Fabric Presents Confidence Man |
|
Extended plays
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL (WA) Tip [29] |
NZ Hot [30] |
UK Phy. [31] | ||||
| "Boyfriend (Repeat)"[32] | 2016 | 24 | — | — | Confident Music for Confident People | |
| "Bubblegum"[33] | 2017 | — | — | — | ||
| "Better Sit Down Boy"[34] | — | — | — | |||
| "Don't You Know I'm in a Band"[35] | 2018 | — | — | — | ||
| "Out the Window"[36] | — | — | — | |||
| "Try Your Luck"[37] | — | — | — | |||
| "Santa's Comin' Down the Chimney"[38] | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Does It Make You Feel Good?"[39] | 2019 | — | — | — | ||
| "First Class Bitch"[40] | 2020 | — | — | 13 | ||
| "Holiday"[41] | 2021 | — | — | — | Tilt | |
| "Feels Like a Different Thing"[42] | 2022 | — | — | — | ||
| "Woman"[43] | — | — | — | |||
| "Luvin U Is Easy"[44] | — | — | — | |||
| "Angry Girl" (CHAI Version)[15] |
— | — | — | Re-Tilt | ||
| "Heaven" (triple j Like A Version)[45] |
— | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Toy Boy" (RAW SILK Remix)[46] |
— | — | — | |||
| "On & On (Again)" (with Daniel Avery)[16] |
— | — | 63 | ConMan Club Classics Vol. 1 | ||
| "Now U Do" (with DJ Seinfeld)[17] |
2023 | — | — | 26 | ||
| "Chez Moi (Waiting for You)" (with CC:Disco)[48] |
— | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Firebreak"[49] | — | — | — | ConMan Club Classics Vol. 1 | ||
| "Forever 2 (Crush mix)" (with DJ Boring)[21] |
2024 | — | — | — | ||
| "I Can't Lose You"[23] | — | — | — | 3AM (La La La) | ||
| "Break It Down" (with In2stellar)[50] |
— | — | — | Fabric Presents Confidence Man | ||
| "So What"[51] | — | — | — | 3AM (La La La) | ||
| "Let Them Bells Ring"[52] | — | — | — | Fabric Presents Confidence Man | ||
| "All My People" (with Sweely)[53] |
— | — | — | 4AM (La La La) | ||
| "Control"[54] | — | — | — | 3AM (La La La) | ||
| "Real Move Touch"[54] | — | — | — | |||
| "I Heart You" (with Eliza Rose)[55] |
2025 | — | — | — | 4AM (La La La) | |
| "Far Out" (Orbital remix)[24] |
— | — | 18 | 5AM (La La La) | ||
| "Re-Lush" (with Orbital)[56] |
— | — | — | Brown Album (re-issue) | ||
| "Gossip" (with Jade) |
— | — | —[A] | Non-album single | ||
| "Brand New Me" (with Saint Etienne)[57] |
— | — | —[B] | International | ||
| "The Right" (with DJ Seinfeld)[58] |
— | 23 | — | TBA | ||
| "Damaged Goods"[25] | — | — | — | Active Scenes Vol. One | ||
Notes
- "Gossip" did not enter the top 100 UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.[31]
- "Brand New Me" did not enter the top 100 UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 5 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart.[31]
Awards and nominations
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | "Bubblegum" | Best Independent Dance/Electronic Club Song or EP | Nominated | [59][60] |
| 2019 | themselves | Best Breakthrough Act | Nominated | [60][61] |
| Confident Music for Confident People | Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album | Won | ||
| 2020 | "Does It Make You Feel Good?" | Best Independent Dance or Electronica Single | Nominated | [62][63] |
| 2022 | "Holiday" | Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single | Nominated | [64][65] |
| 2023 | TILT | Best Independent Dance or Electronica Album or EP | Won | [66][67] |
| I OH YOU, Mushroom Marketing: Confidence Man – TILT | Independent Marketing Team of the Year | Won | ||
| Mushroom Publicity: Confidence Man – TILT | Independent Publicity Team of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2024 | "On & On (Again)" | Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single | Nominated | [68] |
| 2025 | 3AM (La La La) | Best Independent Dance or Electronica Album or EP | Nominated | [69] |
| "I Can't Lose You" | Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single | Nominated | ||
| I Oh You and Mushroom Music for 3AM (La La La) | Independent Marketing Team of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Independent Publicity Team of the Year | Nominated |
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tilt | Best Dance/Electronic Release | Nominated | [70] |
| 2024 | "I Can't Lose You" | Best Dance/Electronic Release | Nominated | [71] |
| "I Can't Lose You" by Confidence Man, Zac Dov Wiesel | Best Video | Nominated | ||
| Confidence Man - Laneway Festival | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated | ||
| 2025 | 3AM (La La La) | Best Dance/Electronic Release | Nominated | [72] |
| Best Independent Release | Nominated | |||
| 3AM (La La La) Tour | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated |
BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Confidence Man | Best Breakthrough Artist | Won | [73] |
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards is a ceremony presented by British Phonographic Industry (BPI) to recognise the best in British and international music.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Confidence Man | International Group of the Year | Nominated | [74] |
J Awards
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards are an annual awards night celebrating music and pop culture. They commenced in 1994.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Confidence Man | Best Australian Act | Nominated | [78] |
Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.
National Live Music Awards
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
Queensland Music Awards
The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.[85]
Rolling Stone Australia Awards
The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3AM (La La La) | Best LP/EP | Shortlisted | [88] |
| Confidence Man | Best Live Act | Shortlisted | ||
| Confidence Man | Rolling Stone Global Award | Shortlisted |
Rolling Stone UK Awards
The Rolling Stone UK Awards are annual awards celebrating music and events across the UK.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024[89] | Confidence Man | The Live Act Award | Won |
UK Music Video Awards
The UK Music Video Awards are annual awards celebrating music videos from the UK music scene and abroad. They commenced in 2008.
Performances and appearances
Headline tours
- The Boyfriend (repeat) Tour (2016)
- The Hard Candy Tour (2017)
- The Ring'A Ding Ding Tour (2017)
- Confident Music for Confident People World Tour (2018)
- Tilt Tour (2022)
Support tours
- Chairlift – Australian support act
- Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (2022)
- New Order (2023)
- Sofi Tukker (2024)
- All Points East (2025)
In popular culture
- FIFA 19 – "Out the Window"
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before – "Boyfriend"[90]
- Television commercial for iPhone XS, released 2018 – "Catch My Breath"
- Australian television commercial for Hyundai Tucson, released July 2024 - "Don't You Know I'm in a Band"
- Trailer for the 2025 film Friendship (2024 film), released February 2024 - "Holiday"[91]