Ian Axel

Ian Axel is an American singer and composer. After becoming well-known with his song "This Is the New Year", he developed a solo career, eventually joining forces with long-time writing partner, Chad King, to form the duo band A Great Big World in 2012.

Career
Axel grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey attending Fair Lawn High School. He moved to Manhattan, attending NYU. In 2006, Axel began performing publicly as a solo act. His song "This Is The New Year" became well-known originally when iTunes selected it as a Discovery Download and for its video on YouTube. Later it was featured as the theme song for the MTV documentary series I Used to Be Fat, which premiered December 29, 2010.

Axel's album, named after the title single, was initially released in 2010 as a self-release, then released a second time in partnership with tinyOGRE Entertainment. The tinyOGRE version was released digitally on February 15, 2011 and on CD on April 12, 2011. Later "This Is the New Year" {was used in the opening sequence of Garry Marshall's film New Year's Eve. The partnership with tinyOGRE ended when the company dissolved in December 2011.

In 2010, Axel's long-time writing partner, Chad King, began joining him on stage more frequently and in 2012 they formed the band A Great Big World.

Ian Axel and Chad King at Bowery Ballroom May 2011 Axel's primary instrument is the piano. He is also known for playing a number of songs on the ukulele.

Discography
Solo releases


 * 2007: I'm On to You EP
 * 2011: This Is The New Year CD

in band A Great Big World


 * 2012: A Great Big World
 * 2014: Is There Anybody Out There?
 * 2015: When The Morning Comes