It was in 1998 that The Feelers entered the New Zealand charts with their debut album ‘Supersystem’.
A string of successful singles, including ‘Venus’, ‘Supersystem’, Space Cadet', Pressure Man', ‘World Away’, and ‘As Good As It Gets’, saw their album grow to over four times platinum, and assured them a place as one of the most successful bands in New Zealand history.
The band comprising of James Reid, Matt Thomas and Hamish Gee begun their careers in Christchurch in the mid 1990's. They begun as a talented group of youthful lads who had an uncanny ability at making really good music. It did not take long for the band to become noticed and they were subsequently signed to major label Warner Music.
The Feelers then went on to achieve dizzying heights of success, with their well-crafted songs. They completed several massively successful Australasian tours and received numerous awards:
- Pressure Man was nominated for six awards at the 1998 New Zealand Music Awards, and won “Best Production” (Malcolm Welsford).
- Supersystem, the single, achieved the status of the song remaining in the Top 40 for the longest period of ‘98 ahead of any other International Artist and it also won the Apra Silver Scroll for “Most Performed Work in New Zealand Award ’98”.
- Supersystem, the album, was the second biggest selling album in New Zealand in 1998.
- In 1999 the feelers went on to win Album of the Year, Song Writer of the Year (James Reid-Venus), Band of the Year, and Producer of the Year (Malcolm Welsford) at The New Zealand Music Awards in 1999.
- Later that year Venus was awarded the Apra Silver Scroll Most Performed Work in New Zealand Award of 1999.