Iyaz tops singles chart with "Replay"

LONDON (Reuters) - Singer and rapper Iyaz from the Virgin Islands shot to the top of the British singles chart on Sunday after his single "Replay" sold more than 106,000 copies.

"Replay" is one of the defining tracks behind a fast-rising Island Pop sound -- a genre blending rap, reggae and pop.

Dutch House DJ and producer Sidney Samson took the number two slot with "Riverside (Let's Go)," a single that notched up more than 97,000 sales over the week.

"You might expect a sales lull at this time of year, but Iyaz and Sidney Samson clearly defy expectations," said Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company.

"To have two singles selling such significant numbers in the first chart of the year is fantastic."

On the albums chart, Paolo Nutini's "Sunny Side Up" held the top spot for a second consecutive week.

(Reporting by Christina Fincher; Editing by Michael Roddy)