Deep Obsession

Lore & Background

Deep Obsession started recording their debut album in 1997. They signed with the newly merged New Zealand branch of Universal Music in 1998 after their first single, a cover of Air Supply's 'Lost in Love', was released in 1998 and peaked at No.1. The group's next two singles, 'Cold' and 'One & Only', also peaked at No.1, making them one of the New Zealand acts to have three consecutive singles reach No.1. The platinum-selling debut album Infinity was released in New Zealand in 1999.

After the second No.1 single 'Cold' was released, Christopher Banks stopped working with the group. Steve Peach and Adam Goodyear finished the Infinity album in Australia. When the album was re-mixed in London by Brian Rawling, bass player Steve Lewinson played on the track 'I Surrender' UK version. An LA producer who had worked with Pink, Christina Aguilera heard the track before its official release and did a US remix.

Reader's Guide

Deep Obsession holds a unique place in New Zealand music history as the only local act to achieve three consecutive No.1 singles on the Official New Zealand Music Chart. Their debut album Infinity achieved platinum sales within weeks of release, demonstrating significant commercial impact. The group's career illustrates the dynamics of the New Zealand music industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including label mergers, international remixing, and lineup changes. Their song 'Miracles' set a notable record as the highest-charting song to never be officially released, climbing to No.34 solely through radio airplay. The group's members received industry recognition, including nominations at the New Zealand Music Awards. Their 2015 reunion for the 40th anniversary of the New Zealand Music Chart underscores their lasting recognition within the country's musical heritage.

Did You Know?

• Deep Obsession is the only New Zealand act to have three consecutive No.1 singles.
• The single 'Miracles' was the highest-charting song to never be officially released, reaching No.34 from radio airplay alone.
• In late 2000 Deep Obsession became the first NZ artist signed to Universal International.

Chart Dominance and the Infinity Era

Deep Obsession burst onto the New Zealand music scene with a chart run that remains unmatched in the country's history. After signing with the newly merged New Zealand branch of Universal Music in 1998, the group released a cover of Air Supply's "Lost in Love," which shot straight to the top of the Official New Zealand Music Chart. Their follow-up singles, "Cold" and "One & Only," each claimed the number-one spot as well, making Deep Obsession the only New Zealand act ever to post three consecutive chart-toppers. The platinum-selling debut album Infinity, released in 1999, sold Platinum within its first few weeks and carried two additional top-fifty hits, "You Got The Feeling" and "I Surrender." The album's international production pedigree was remarkable: it was re-mixed in London by Brian Rawling, the producer behind Cher's massively successful album Believe, and Simply Red bassist Steve Lewinson contributed to the UK version of "I Surrender." Pop star Christina Aguilera, working as an LA producer, crafted a US remix that appeared exclusively on the CD single. Both remix versions of "I Surrender" charted separately in the New Zealand Top 50, peaking at number twenty-five, though no music video was ever produced for the track.

Personnel Shifts and Group Evolution

Deep Obsession's journey was marked by significant changes in its lineup and creative direction. The group began recording their debut album in 1997, but the project saw multiple hands. After the second number-one single "Cold" was released, producer Christopher Banks departed to work with long-time collaborator Michael Lloyd on projects for other New Zealand artists. The remaining members, Steve Peach and Adam Goodyear, traveled to Australia to complete the Infinity album. Vocally, the project featured both Zara Clark and Vanessa Kelly, who shared backing and harmony duties throughout the record, with Kelly taking the lead on the track "The Power in You." In 2001, Kelly left the group to launch a solo career backed by Universal New Zealand. Zara Clark, still bound by a publishing contract with Universal Music Group Australia, continued under the Deep Obsession name with the addition of vocalist Charlie Lawson. Together, the two fulfilled the remaining commitments tied to the Infinity album. A third iteration of the group then recorded the single "Miracles," which would go on to make a unique mark on New Zealand music history.

Awards, Recognition, and International Reach

Despite their relatively short active period, Deep Obsession attracted a steady stream of industry recognition both at home and abroad. In 2000, lead vocalist Zara Clark received a nomination for Best Female Vocalist at the New Zealand Music Awards, while the number-one hit "Cold," which she co-wrote with Christopher Banks, earned a separate nod for Best Song. That same ceremony, Vanessa Kelly took home the Most Promising Female Vocalist award, edging out Lavina Williams, the frontwoman of popular New Zealand girl group Ma-V-Elle. The group's international ambitions were cemented in late 2000 when they became the first New Zealand artist to sign with Universal International. The following year, Deep Obsession received a nomination for an International Achievement Award at the New Zealand Music Awards. On the live stage, the group shared bills with major international acts including Hanson, S Club 7, Vengaboys, and Five during the Infinity promotion cycle. In 2003, the single "Miracles" earned a Best Video nomination at the Tui Music Video Awards, extending the group's award-season presence well beyond their initial chart-topping years.

Legacy, Lost Masters, and Reunion

Deep Obsession's legacy extends well beyond their three number-one singles, touching on some of New Zealand music's most curious footnotes. The single "Miracles," recorded by the group's third incarnation, made a unique mark on the charts: it climbed to number thirty-four on the Official New Zealand Music Chart driven entirely by radio airplay, never having been officially released as a commercial single. This made it the highest-charting song in New Zealand history to go unreleased. The album Infinity itself has a ghostly afterlife; in 2013, a third version of the record was discovered and became available for purchase in Japan through the online marketplace Discogs, offering collectors a previously unseen iteration of the platinum-selling project. The most emotional chapter came in 2015, when Zara Clark, Vanessa Kelly, and Christopher Banks reunited for the first time to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the New Zealand Music Chart. The three were formally honoured for their chart achievements, bringing a full-circle moment to a story that had spanned nearly two decades of personnel changes, international remixes, and one of the most remarkable early-career chart runs in the country's pop history.