Ren's Sick Boi beats Rick Astley's Are We There Yet? to claim Number 1 album

Ren secures his first-ever Official Number 1 album with Sick Boi, following a week-long neck and neck battle against pop icon Rick Astley.

The Welsh breakout star, full name Ren Erin Gill, storms straight to the summit of the Official Albums Chart with his independently-released second studio album; clinching the crown by almost 6,000 units, according to Official Charts Company data, after a spectacular push in the final 24 hours.

A truly emotive body of work, Sick Boi sees Ren candidly confront his physical and mental health battles, having been diagnosed with multiple chronic illnesses including Lyme disease.

With neither the backing of a major label, or the ability to play shows due to his health issues, Ren reflects on the dedicated support of his close friends and fans who have helped plug the gap and taken him all the way to Number 1.

Speaking exclusively to Official Charts, Ren says:

“It’s all because of the fans that this has even happened. We’ve done this independently and the main foundation of promotion has been the fans showing up and showing support. What they’ve done in terms of spreading it – the amount that I’ve seen them pushing this record – is incredible. I want to say thank you to them so much.

“This feels incredible, it’s so affirming. For me and everybody all my best friends around me who’ve worked on pushing this record. This means so much to me, it feels like a victory over my illness. It feels very empowering.” 

MORE: Everything you need to know about breakout star Ren

Congratulating Ren on his success, Martin Talbot, Chief Executive Officer, Official Charts says:

“Congratulations to Ren! His Number 1, which sees him join a long list of Welsh album chart-toppers – from Tom Jones, Bonnie Tyler and Shakin’ Stevens to Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics and Duffy, among many others – should not be under-estimated, especially given that it’s been achieved as a wholly-independent artist.

“It’s fantastic news, both for Welsh music and for the independent music scene.”

Sick Boi becomes independent entertainment company The Other Songs’ first ever Top 10 album, and their first Number 1 release, too. Founded in 2018 by brothers Alastair and Billy Webber, formerly of Island Records and Warner Records respectively, The Other Songs boasts a four-year-long working relationship with Ren.

WATCH Ren celebrate his Official Number 1 album with Sick Boi:

MORE: The Official Top 40 biggest albums of 2023 so far

Rick Astley is a brand-new entry at Number 2 with his ninth studio LP Are We There Yet?. The Lancashire-born chart stalwart previously enjoyed chart topping success with 1987 debut Whenever You Need Somebody and 2016 LP 50, as well as Top 10s with 1988’s Hold Me in Your Arms (8), 1991 release Free (9), 2018’s Beautiful Life (6) and 2019 release The Best of Me (4). 

Are We There Yet? takes the title of this week’s best-selling album in UK independent record shops, topping the Official Record Store Chart. 

Australian multi-hyphenate Troye Sivan claims a career-best with his third full-length collection Something To Give Each Other (4). The record, which houses singles Rush, Got Me Started and One Of Your Girls, joins 2015’s EP WILD (5) and 2018 LP Bloom (8) in Troye’s Top 10 tally to date. 

Something to Give Each Other also tops this week’s Official Vinyl Albums Chart, proving the most popular record of the past seven days on wax.

Rounding out this week’s Top 5 is 2022 BRITs Rising Star winner Holly Humberstone. Her debut LP Paint My Bedroom Black lands at Number 5, also securing Top 5 debuts on the Official Vinyl Albums Chart (2) and Official Record Store Chart (3).

Mike Skinner’s The Streets project secures a seventh UK Top 10 album with The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light today (7), the record also debuts inside the Top 5 of the Official Vinyl Albums Chart (3) and Official Record Store Chart (2).

Pink Floyd’s iconic 1973 release The Dark Side of the Moon returns to the Top 10 for the first time since 1993 this week thanks to a 50th anniversary reissue (8); following the Top 5 success of member Roger Waters’ The Dark Side of the Moon Redux last week.

English blues duo When Rivers Meet, comprising husband and wife duo Grace and Aaron Bond, secure their first-ever Top 10 album with Aces Are High (9).

It’s a ninth Top 40 album for Scouting for Girls this week, as A Place We Used to Meet debuts at Number 17. Meanwhile, congratulations to Irish singer-songwriter CMAT (real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson) who boasts a brand-new entry at Number 25 with Crazymad, for Me, her first entry in the UK Official Albums Chart.

Southampton rock outfit Creeper claim a fourth Top 40 LP with Sanguivore (29) and, finally, Death of Guitar Pop secure their second with Be Lucky (30).

See the full Official Albums Chart Top 100 here from 5.45pm.