Amy Shark had recorded and performed as Amy Cushway from 2008 to 2012.[2] As Cushway she released twoextended plays,I Thought of You Out Loud (2008) andLove's Not Anorexic (2009).[3] By the end of 2013, she started using the stage name, Amy Shark, becauseJaws was her favourite film.[4] In February 2014, as Amy Shark, she independently released a five-track extended play,Nelson.[5][6]
In July 2016, Shark released her next single, "Adore", with co-production by Shark,M-Phazes and Cam Bluff.[7] Shark signed withWonderlick Entertainment/Sony Music Australia in November 2016.[8] By December of that year, she was no longer using the name Amy Cushway and material under that name had been deleted from her accounts.[9] In March 2017 Shark released "Weekends" followed by her fourth EP,Night Thinker (April), which peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It included the singles, "Adore", "Weekends" and "Drive You Mad" (July 2017).
Madelyn Tait fromThe Music AU said "Each song adheres to the tried and tested formula of relatable lyrics, gentle vocals, catchy melodies and simplistic processed beats that has already proved successful for Shark with "Adore" and "Weekends". The appeal ofNight Thinker... lies in its strong lyricism and simple production. It's more of the same from Shark, but it works."[10]
Ben Grubb from Project U described the EP as "soothing, full of soul, and uplifting (at times)."[11] Sputnik Music described it as an "intoxicating 20 minutes".[12]
