Take 5 (Double J)

I still remember the first time I heard Magic Dirt. The burning sounds of their single “Ice” captured my 16 year old heart, and I can still recall climbing the stairs of my favourite city record store to buy their “Life Was Better” EP. Adalita was the coolest woman I knew; she shredded on stage and exuded the ultimate rock n roll attitude. In the years that would follow, I’d see them play on stages small and large, then follow Ads down her solo path to hear a whole other side of her musical heart.

2021 marks 20 years since Magic Dirt scored their highest placing in a Hottest 100 for their pop tinged song “Dirty Jeans”. It’s also a year that Adalita plans to release her third solo album. In the years dotted around this, Adalita has gone through many evolutions in life and sound, and we explore the songs that took her there.

'Here Comes Your Man' - The Pixies

'Hieronymus' - The Clouds

'That Ain't Bad' – Ratcat

'50ft Queenie' - PJ Harvey

'Toys and Flavours' - The Hellacopters

Adrianne Lenker feels things deeply. You hear it in every one of her songs; whether solo, or with her band Big Thief. Lucky for us, she shares it all. Over the past few years she's become one of the most promising and prolific songwriters around. Adrianne got her start early though, and it feels as though music has always helped her better understand the world. When she speaks about music everything slows down. She has a way of articulating what is often intangible, and she draws you into a beautiful meditative state with her voice and ideas. Whether you’re a superfan, or if Adrianne Lenker is a new name, this is a conversation that will speak to you. It’s about connection, about how melancholy can filter through joy, and how you can find space in the most intensely crowded sounds. It’s five songs that get under her skin, from an artist that will get under yours.

Sibylle Baier – 'Driving'

Bill Callahan – 'What Comes After Certainty'

Ithaca – 'Impulse Crush'

Sheer Mag – 'Point Breeze'

Life Without Buildings – 'Sorrow'

Aldous Harding is one of the most compelling voices of our time. Across three albums she has shapeshifted in every song, her voice bends and changes almost like stepping into a different character, with each story.

Aldous is a spellbinding human in person too; on stage and in other interviews I’ve read and seen. But I learned more about her from this Take 5 than I ever have before. These songs reveal a lot about Aldous, as a performer, as a songwriter, and as an artist. This is one of those conversations where I could frame just about everything she said. From El Perro Del Mar to Nina Simone, this is the voice.

God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get) - El perro del mar

Stars (Live At Casino Montreux, 3rd July 1976)- Nina Simone

Diana - Alexander ‘Skip’ Spence

Houses - Elyse Weinberg

Janitor - Suburban Lawns

Alexisonfire have been releasing brilliant albums for more than twenty years, but it’s been a good thirteen since their last.

That changed recently when they returned with Otherness, a brilliant capture of a band renewed, and still holding the raw power and soaring beauty they always did.

Dallas Green is one of three lead singers in the band, and one of the friendliest fella’s you’ll meet. He also has a hugely broad musical palette, which we learned when I asked him to Take 5.

From Kimbra to Spiritual Cramp to Tropical Fuck Storm, this is a passionate embrace of those who do it differently.

• Kimbra - Settle Down 
• Spiritual Cramp - Spiritual Cramp
• Dead Tired - Vast Lethality
• Zaki Ibrahim - Something in the Water
• Tropical Fuck Storm – You Let My Tyres Down

Have a look at the Take 5 TV trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfEGnGSNlRM 

Through the early to mid-noughties, Amanda Palmer’s voice cut through as frontwoman for the Dresden Dolls. Their cabaret pop filled the airwaves, and when she went solo fans were just as curious.

Palmer is a woman of great conviction; she speaks often about the communities that form around art, and is unrelenting in her commitment to her own vision. She’s also great company.

When she did this Take 5 in the Summer of 2011, she had just got married and was about to release her album Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under.

So from the Magnetic Fields to Paul Kelly and the appropriately-titled Love, here’s Amanda Palmer with her love song dedications.

Jason Webley - ‘Eleven Saints {Ft. Jay Thompson}’

The Magnetic Fields - ‘The Book of Love’

Ben Folds Five - ‘Song for the Dumped’

Paul Kelly With Uncle Bill - ‘Taught By Experts’

Love - ‘Everybody’s Gotta Live’

As soon as I heard Amyl and the Sniffers, I was hooked. The name for one: genius. And this band out of Melbourne, with a phenomenal frontwoman and wild live show, held a lot of promise. They delivered on their debut, and kept that fire alive on the follow up too. Amy Taylor is the lead singer of Amyl and the Sniffers, and every time I’ve spoken to her I’ve been left feeling giddy afterwards. As we kick off Ausmusic Month for another year, who better to ask to Take 5? From Slim Dusty to Barkaa to AC/DC and beyond, this is Amy Taylor’s Australia.

AC/DC – If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)

Maureen Elkner  - Rak off, Normie!

Barkaa & Mackridge - 22Clan  

Slim Dusty - Looking Forward Looking Back

Yothu Yindi - Treaty (Radio Mix)

Back in 2004, Andrew Stafford published a book called Pig City. It captured the Brisbane music scene, the politics that fuelled this artistic reaction and so much more. From the Saints to Savage Garden, it became a bible in music history. Fifteen years passed, and Staffo finally returned with his follow up. This time a personal memoir, taking us through the life of a quiet fan who always felt on the outside, until he found music. Something to Believe In is it’s title, and when I heard it was being published, I knew I wanted Staffo to Take 5. His theme was simple. Songs to believe in; the music that had been a saviour in his life. From Ramones to Do Ré Mi, Jen Cloher to Television, this is a heartfelt walk through a true fan’s life.

Ramones - 'Something To Believe In'

Do Ré Mi - 'Man Overboard'

Jen Cloher - 'Hold My Hand'

Motörhead - '(We Are) The Road Crew'

Television - 'Marquee Moon'

Anna Calvi is a powerhouse. A virtuoso guitarist from a young age, it took her a while to gather confidence to get behind the mic; but when she did, the world took notice. In the last decade, Anna has released three acclaimed albums, she’s toured Australia, and she’s consistently pushed the boundaries, sonically and lyrically.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Anna a couple of times before, and it’s always a trip to hear her diminutive speaking voice when you know the power she has on stage and on record. It’s like something transforms, when she’s inside a song. Our most recent meeting happened with the help of technology; Anna joining me on Skype at her apartment in London, and me in Australia, while we all stay close to home. I gave her this theme not just because we’re all in lockdown, but for that very switch I see flicked in her; when music has the power to bust us out, lift us up, and take us somewhere.

From the heavenly sounds of Elizabeth Fraser, to the explosion of love from Perfume Genius, and the abandon of the Bad Seeds, this is a brilliant exploration of a wild heart.

Grace Jones – Walking in the Rain

Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas

Courtney Barnett – Pedestrian At Best

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Get Ready for Love

Perfume Genius – Slip Away

Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to live with a comedian? You’re about to find out. Anne Edmonds and Lloyd Langford both make people laugh for a living. You would have seen Eddo on stage and screen over the past ten years, she reached a whole new audience as her alter ego Helen Bidou, and is part of the hugely popular podcast The Grub. Lloyd Langford hails from Wales, and has popped up on QI, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and countless over TV shows as he’s plied his trade in stand up. Recently, he moved to Melbourne. To be with Anne. Cos they’re a couple. As the Melbourne International Comedy kicked off, I asked the two of them to join me to Take 5. See, they’re doing a show together, so why not continue the theme? Two songs each, one together, and a barrel of laughs.

Kasey Chambers – Captain

Lee “Scratch” Perry – Clint Eastwood Rides Again

Chuck Berry – Let It Rock

Emmy Lou Harris – The Boxer

Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash – Jackson

When Ariel Rechtshaid fronted a ska pop band called The Hippos, I doubt he had any clue where his musical path would take him. They had a big hit in 2000 with “Wasting My Life”, which scored a spot in the Hottest 100. But playing on stage wasn’t to be his destiny. After some time in the band Foreign Born, he stepped back and started crafting other people’s songs. As a writer and producer, his CV has ballooned from indie artists like Cass McCombs, Blood Orange and Sky Ferreira, to huge names like Usher, Kylie Minogue, U2, and Adele. His collaborations with Vampire Weekend extend back to their last two, for HAIM it’s their entire catalogue. When you think back over the past decade in music, Ariel Rechtshaid is responsible for so many of the songs you love.

Which is why I asked him to Take 5, and take us into his studio to peel back the layers of five of his biggest songs. Even if you’re not a gear head, this is an amazing conversation, and it reflects the grounded nature of Ariel, who works alongside his best mates one day, and some of the world’s biggest artists the next. Through it all, his drive to find that sweet spot, to solve that problem, answer that question, guides him always.

Cass McCombs - 'County Line'

Usher - 'Climax'

Adele - 'When We Were Young'

Vampire Weekend - 'Ya Hey'

HAIM - 'The Wire'

2010 was a big year for bangers. The Australian dance music scene in particular, was thriving. Stalwarts like The Presets and Cut Copy were kicking it, and a new breed of beat makers were coming up, soundtracking hedonistic summer days and big festival party nights.

This was the year Bag Raiders released their debut album, and on it’s 10th anniversary I invited the duo to Take 5 and go back. Jack and Chris joined me for the final Take 5 for Ausmusic Month, and so I thought it’d be fun to stay local, and celebrate the incredible talent in our own backyard. From supermarket crossover hits, to deep club bangers, this is a glorious celebration of one very bright year in Australian music.

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP - 'We No Speak Americano'

Flight Facilities — 'Crave You'

Tame Impala — 'Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind (Erol Alkan rework)'

Light Year — '5 Girls'

Temper Trap — 'Sweet Disposition'

Do you remember, around 15 years ago, when Bat For Lashes first broke onto the scene? This Pakistani-British singer created haunting, dramatic music. She descended from a squash playing dynasty, and her music inhabited an otherworldly quality in the indie music scene.

In 2012 she had a huge hit with “Laura”, and a few months later when she was in Australia to tour, I invited her to Take 5. It was one of those conversations that has always stayed with me; we bonded over these five songs and it left me flying afterward. Which is why I wanted to bring it to the podcast. From James Taylor to a young Laura Mvula, soak up the sounds of song dedications care of Natasha Khan.

James Taylor - 'Fire & Rain'

Bjork - 'One Day'

Tame Impala - 'Music To Walk Home By'

The Cure – 'Mint Car'

Laura Mvula – 'She'

Baltimore duo Beach House have been making epic, beautiful and dreamy music for eight albums. For the latest, they upped the pretty by adding a string section. And Once Twice Melody lands in the world just when we need it most.

I’ve long been a fan of Beach House, and I’ve chatted with them a few times. Every time I do, their insight into the music they make, has me glued to the conversation. And when they talk about the music they love, I’m all in.

Which is why I asked them to Take 5 with their reveries, and share the songs that take them away to another place, a dreamlike space, and give a sense of connection in that realm. From The Durutti Column to Aphex Twin, this is a poetic conversation about how sound can transport you.

The Durutti Column - Sketch For Summer

Suicide - Dream Baby Dream

Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes

Aphex Twin - Xtal

Joe Hisaishi - The Path of the Wind (Instrumental)

Every now and then I invite someone who isn’t a muso, to Take 5. It makes sense right; all of us are affected by music, and the songs that soundtrack our lives. Ben Shewry’s trajectory has been remarkable. He heads up Attica, acclaimed as the best restaurant in Australia, and one of only two that has made it into the world’s Top 50 Best Restaurant list. He appeared on that very first season of Netflix’s Chefs Table series, and has popped up on Masterchef as a special guest over the years. The early part of Ben’s life set the tone for who he would become though, as I discovered when he joined me to Take 5. Music, just like food, is a sensory experience. It can take you back to a particular moment when you hear that first note, or taste that first bite. Which is why I asked Ben to share his songs for the senses. From heading up north to find unique Indigenous ingredients, to having his favourite band dine in, we trekked through a culinary life that has always been filled with music.

New Order - Blue Monday

George Rrurrambu and Birdwave - Gating

Phranc - Take off your Swastika 

Yo La Tengo - Green Arrow

Fugazi - Epic Problem

There are certain bands that are part of the fabric of Double J and triple j. Powderfinger is one of them.

As we trek through the Take 5 archives, I want to take you back to summer 2015, when triple j was celebrating our 40th birthday. It was such an amazing time: we got to connect to dots between the original Double Jay to triple j to our new Double J family. Former presenters jumped on air, we played heaps of wonderful memories across our networks, and we celebrated with a massive concert in Sydney’s Domain called Beat the Drum.

Right before the gig, I asked Bernard to come in and Take 5. He and Powderfinger have so many memories with triple j, not just as a band but as listeners too. So get ready for a trip down triple j memory lane.

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - ‘Television, The Drug of the Nation’

Ben Harper - ‘Ground on Down’

Elliott Smith - ‘Waltz #2 (XO)’

Mia Dyson - ‘The Outskirts of Town’

Big Scary - ‘Luck Now’

There’s a family tree of modern music and one of its biggest branches is New Order.

The Manchester band, formed in the wake of Joy Division’s untimely end, have fed into the sound of almost every band and artist you’ve loved for, for forty years. Even if you’re not a fan, you can trace their blueprint across all you hear. Their transformation from post punk to electronic music, swept up kids who would go on to become techno DJ’s, rock bands, pop acts, and everything in between.

In the 80’s, they were the backbone of The Hacienda, bringing big club culture to Manchester. And over four decades there have been stops and starts, barneys and breakups.

It’s a lucky year when I have the chance to Take 5 with two different members of New Order. You might remember back in winter 2019 Peter Hook joined me to share his Unknown Pleasures. If you missed that, scroll back in your feed to hear Hooky’s tales.

In 2020, it was Bernard Sumner’s turn. The surprise frontman of New Order, who made it his own. The theme I gave Bernard, was just that. The songs that made him. And from Iggy Pop to Arcade Fire, he traced the blueprint of his own life, with plenty of incredible stories between.

Iggy Pop - ‘Shades’

Electronic - ‘Twisted Tenderness’

Joe Smooth - ‘Promised Land’

Arcade Fire - ‘Ready To Start’

David Morales - ‘Hideaway [Ft. Blondewearingblack] [Classic Mix]’

It’s been a massive year for the Take 5. Since 2006 I’ve been having conversations that go well beyond music, but in the last couple of years I feel as though these co-hosts have gone deeper than ever. In 2019 alone, I had so many pinch myself moments, so I wanted to share them with you here in a frankensteined best of: a Take 10 to cap off a big year. 

Over the next little while you’ll hear why this segment is so special. And if this is your first time listening, it’s a great smorgasboard to feast on. A taster plate that may spur you to scroll back into your feed and dig into some of these other wonderful conversations.

Neneh Cherry: Stevie Wonder - ‘Living for the City’

Kurt Vile: Neil Young 'Ambulance Blues'

Mark Ronson: Kasey Musgraves - Slow Burn 

Kasey Musgraves: Tame Impala - ‘Eventually

Jimmy Barnes: Led Zeppelin - ‘Immigrant Song’

Vika & Linda Bull - The Staple Singers - ‘I'll Take You There’

Peter Hook: The Velvet Underground - ‘Venus in Furs’

Christine & The Queens: Kate Bush - ‘Wuthering Heights’

Jessica Mauboy - Baker Boy - 'Marryuna (ft Yirrmal)'

Warren Ellis: Beethoven -  ‘Symphony 7 slow movement number 2 Allegretto’

So we’ve taken another trip around the sun, and before we have a short break – I want to leave you with the annual best of buffet, for the Take 5.

It’s been a remarkable year for this podcast. When the borders closed, and the tours stopped, we – just like everyone else – had to figure out how to do things differently. What I realised pretty quickly, is that music was central to how we got through… and for many of us, those deep connections in the stories that we tie to songs, got even stronger.

A silver lining to 2020 was reaching out beyond the guests I could share a studio with. We spoke to people from all over the world, all walks of life. And got heroes who had been on my bucket list for years, to finally say yes. This year we were also awarded Best Radio Podcast at the Australian Podcast Awards; which I’m hugely proud of. I love the Take 5 and love sharing these conversations with you every week.

If this is your first time listening, it’s a bloody good place to start. Over the next little while, we’ll visit some of the best moments...  that mirrored the beauty, the tumult, and the grounding force of music in all our lives.

J Walter Negro And The Loose Joints – ‘Shoot The Pump’ (chosen by Fatboy Slim)

Prince – 'Let’s Go Crazy' (chosen by Susan Rogers)

Christine Anu – 'Island Home' (chosen by Miranda Tapsell)

Micko Donovan - 'Promised Land' (chosen by Emma Donovan)

Elvis Costello - 'Shipbuilding' (chosen by Peter Garrett)

Midnight Oil – 'Beds are Burning' (chosen by Daniel Levitin)

Gloria Gaynor – 'I Will Survive' (chosen by Kylie Minogue)

Joe Smooth - ‘Promised Land’ (chosen by Bernard Sumner)

The Stooges - ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ (chosen by Roisin Murphy)

Nina Simone – 'Mississippi Goddamn' (chosen by Tori Amos)

When people ask me who’s on my bucket list to Take 5, Billy Bragg is up there. The poet and activist has been part of my life since I was born. He’s a regular visitor to Australia, and his activism, songs and stories have captivated me for decades.  So having him join me on the day he released his new album, was a dream come true.

The Million Things That Never Happened is a pandemic album, and we all leaned on songs to get us through the last two years. So I asked Billy to share his songs for the soul. From The Supremes to Laura Nyro to Curtis Mayfield, this is a grounding and beautiful convo about the power of music to keep us afloat

Willin' - Little Feat

Stoned Love - The Supremes

Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield

Save the Country - Laura Nyro

Musical Communion - The Skatalites

Bjorn Stewart is a slashie. An actor, director, writer, and comedian; I became a massive fan seeing him doing Quarantine Cooking Challenges on the lockdown TV series At Home Alone Together. He’s also written and appeared on Black Comedy, and has been performing on stage for years. Recently Bjorn flipped to director, and will soon showcase his latest project, a comedy called All My Friends Are Racist. I wanted to get to know Bjorn, so asked him to Take 5 with the full course. Five songs for five sides of his creative life... from appetizer all the way through to cheese. He thoroughly embraced it.

Gorillaz -  "19–2000 (Soulchild Remix)"

Thelma Plum - "Woke Blokes"

Run the Jewels - "Walking in the Snow"

Janelle Monae - "We Were Rock and Roll"

Electric Fields - "2000 And Whatever"

Bodyjar are a band many of us grew up with; seeing them at all ages shows and festivals, hearing their music on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and voting them into many a Hottest 100. Eight years on from their last album, they’re back with New Rituals, and on the day of it’s release lead singer Cam Baines joined me to share his rituals across five songs. From their heroes Descendents, to the inspiration of Adalita, this is a coming of age story – not just of Cam, but all of us.

Descendents – 'Coolidge'

Ramones – 'Too Tough To Die'

Face to Face – 'Disconnected' 

Magic Dirt – 'Ice' 

Brand New – 'Not The sun'

There are only a handful of people I ask back to Take 5. Brendan Cowell is one of them. The actor, author, playwright, and poet is a master storyteller who lives a full life. And in the decade since we last met on air, he’s starred alongside Billie Piper in hit plays on Broadway and the West End, had a key role on Game of Thrones, written a book, and scored a major part in the two new Avatar sequels shooting in New Zealand.

It’s no surprise though, Brendan has an electricity about him. He draws you in as an audience member and fires off the inspirations in his daily life, no matter where in the world he finds himself. From growing up in Cronulla, to living in New York and London, this is a conversation about the moments that were turning points for him, from Pearl Jam to Drake to Bob Seger.

Pearl Jam – 'Animal'

Sharon Van Etten – 'Give Out'

Drake – 'God’s Plan'

Justin Townes Earle – 'Lone Pine Hill'

Bob Seger – 'Night Moves'

Yorta Yorta man Briggs is a real renaissance man. We may have met him first as an MC, but in the years since he’s shown his creativity knows no bounds. He’s an actor, a writer, a label head, an author, and one of the funniest people I know.

Briggs grew up in Shepparton in regional Victoria, it’s a big part of his identity. So when the opportunity came up for triple j and Double J to head to Shepp for a weeklong Takeover, Briggs immediately sprung to mind for a Take 5.

Shepp is on the lands of the Yorta Yorta Nation, and home to the largest Indigenous population in regional Victoria. The Briggs family looms large in Shepp, and the opportunity to come back to Adam Briggs’ hometown to hear about his foundations, was too good to miss. From Ice Cube to Ryuichi Sakamato, to The Simpsons, this is a beautiful capture of a true talent.

Ice Cube - 'It Was a Good Day'

The Simpsons - 'Monorail'

Danzig - 'Twist of Cain'

Ryuichi Sakamoto - 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence'

Sam Cooke - 'A Change is Gonna Come'

Casey Donovan, is one of Australia’s greatest voices.

We first met her as a 16 year old on Australian Idol. Her audition grabbed us immediately, and she would go on to win the second series. Since then, she’s been a star on musical theatre stages, written a memoir, made podcasts, and become our official Queen of New Years – belting out the biggest songs on ABC TV’s big broadcast.

But what are the songs that have been guiding lights for her? That have led Casey through an extraordinary life, and filled her heart (and lungs) with inspiration? From Kasey Chambers to Human Nature to Mama Cass, this is a beautiful conversation about finding strength in music, and finding your own voice.

• Marie Osmond – Paper Roses
• Human Nature – Wishes
• Kasey Chambers – Million Tears
• Tiffany Taylor & Company – Here’s Where I Stand
• The Mamas & The Papas – Dream a Little Dream of Me

Have you ever seen those videos online where someone hears a song, and they’re instantly transported back to a moment? It could be someone with Alzheimers or Dementia, or with a brain injury or trauma that language can’t reach, but music can. Maybe you’ve known someone with autism, who is non verbal but can communicate with song.

It’s called music therapy, and the science behind it, is incredible. Usually the Take 5 is with a muso, or person in the public eye. But I wanted to step into another realm, and get inside the brain of a registered music therapist. Chanelle Henderson is just that. She works with a really broad array of people too, from elderly clients to little kids and preterm babies and their parents. And across five songs, she invites you into this world and tells you the stories of some incredible breakthroughs. From three chord simplicity, to bonding with babies, and the music that takes us back instantly as a sensory memory, this is a beautiful conversation about the scientific and emotional power of song.

You Are My Sunshine - Johnny Cash

Stop - Spice Girls

Raining on the Rock - Warren H Williams

Song for Sammy - Missy Higgins

Sitting On The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

Have you ever seen one of Karen O’s outfits and thought to yourself “who MADE that?”. Today you’re going to meet her. Christian Joy is a fashion designer and lifelong collaborator of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman. Her DIY style has become iconic over two decades, gracing album covers, video clips and wild stage shows.

For this untrained punk from Iowa, meeting Karen O right before Yeah Yeah Yeahs broke it big, changed the trajectory of her life. In between that epic friendship she’s made costumes for Childish Gambino, Maggie Rogers, and Alabama Shakes. She’s collaborated with fashion brands and held major exhibitions.

For her Take 5 I gave her the theme “visionary songs”, and we trekked back to her childhood in Iowa, formative years in street fashion in New York City, and to the many stages where her creativity has made a gig, an iconic event.

Edith Massey - Punks, Get Off the Grass

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Date With the Night

The Big Bopper - Chantilly Lace

Rammellzee and K-Rob - Beat Bop

David Bowie - Be My Wife

It’s been almost 20 years since we first met Clare Bowditch.

Back in 2003 she grabbed our attention with her brooding debut single “Human Being”. This writer was one we wanted to hear more from, and over the years we’d hear Clare craft many more beautiful songs, star on TV in “Offspring”, and become a leader in the music community as a collaborator and mentor.

Until now though, we didn’t really know what came before that first song. But last year Clare Bowditch wrote her memoir, Your Own Kind of Girl, and opened up a childhood story she’d never shared before.

That turbulent beginning is why I gave her the theme hurricane songs; music that upended her, turned Clare’s world from black and white to technicolour, and ultimately, gave her a sense of renewal.

From Donny Hathaway to Bjork to Stella Donnelly, we heard how music had been a commanding force and steady hand throughout her formative years. And how songs had given her the strength she needed when the walls were closing in.

This is a beautiful conversation; as much about the healing power of music as it is the kindness we can, and should show ourselves.

Nena - ‘99 Luftballons’

Donny Hathaway - ‘Little Ghetto Boy’

Björk - ‘Hyperballad’

Archie Roach - ‘Down City Streets’

Stella Donnelly - ‘Tricks’

Claudia Karvan has been a fixture on our screens for the last three decades. We watched her light up the screen on The Big Steal and The Heartbreak Kid, share-housed with her on The Secret Life of Us, and came of age as she did, on Love My Way.

When Claudia wasn’t acting in some of film and television’s biggest moments, she was working behind the scenes as a writer and director, and increasingly has been producing big shows like Bump on Stan.

Through all of this, I had a sneaking suspicion Claudia was a big music fan. And that was confirmed when I asked her to Take 5. From Sinead O’Connor to Pj Harvey to Warpaint, this is a brilliant capture of an artist and the songs that drive her.

Sinead O'Connor - Mandinka

PJ Harvey- 50ft Queenie

Liz Phair- Mesmerizing

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s- Down Boy

Warpaint- Undertow

American rapper Common is a renaissance man. Growing up on the south side of Chicago, his records reflected the world he saw; and the one he wanted to see. He’s an acclaimed poet, has featured on the silver screen as a lead actor, and taken to the stage as an activist; using his platform to rally against social injustice, and rally for unity, for peace, and for change.

He does this all with love, as you’ll hear for yourself. For his Take 5, I asked him to Take 5 with his music for a movement. The soundtrack that lifted him, and empowered him to make a change. From Fela Kuti to Mos Def to John Coltrane, this is a powerful and beautiful conversation about music’s ability to lift us all.

Brand Nubian - Wake Up (Reprise In The Sunshine)

Fela Kuti - Water No Get Enemy 

Mos Def - Umi Says 

Sounds of Blackness - Optimistic 

John Coltrane – A Love Supreme, Pt.3: Pursuance

Courtney Barnett is a national treasure. Ever since I started hearing her songs, around 2013,  she’s been one of my favourite storytellers. A dry wit, with a knack for writing very catchy indie rock songs and reflecting back on the world around her; big and small.

That talent has taken her around the world, and for a good part of the last five years, Courtney has been on the road; consistently touring around Australia, the US, and Europe. When coronavirus hit, that all stopped. And CB found herself back in her adopted hometown for the longest spell in quite a while. When I ask her to Take 5, Melbourne is in the midst of a coronavirus spike, the city is back in lockdown and feeling somewhat cut off and left behind from the rest of Australia. That’s one of the reasons I asked Courtney to Take 5 with HER Melbourne… the city, the songs, and the stories that have filled her heart since she first moved here.

Kee’ahn - Better Things

Nat Vazer -Higher Places

June Jones - Look at You Go

Alice Skye - Grand Ideas

Sampa The Great - Freedom

The AIR studios in Montserrat are the stuff of legend. Back in the 80’s, Sir George Martin set up a place to record in the middle of the Caribbean. It was an escape for the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Dire Straits. The Police captured one of their biggest albums there, and Duran Duran hung out for a spell too. This haven in the West Indies was short lived though; a hurricane then a dormant volcano that became active, changed the island forever. Now this story is being told, by Australian director Gracie Otto. Under the Volcano is a capture of time, when big money was being spent making albums and some of the biggest personalities were making them. But it’s also the story of an island and it’s people, and how they impacted the lives and sounds of these musicians forever. From Arrow to Dire Straits to Elton, Gracie Otto shares her island songs and the stories behind sharing this magical tale.

Hot Hot Hot - Arrow

Grace Jones - Slave to The Rhythm

Ride Across The River - Dire Straits

Stevie Wonder - I just Called To Say I love You

Elton John - I’m Still standing

Damon Albarn is one of the busiest men in music. We first met him as frontman for Blur, he kicked off Gorillaz a decade or so after that, and in between collaborated with Malian musicians, wrote operas based on Monkey, and formed supergroups with members of The Clash and Tony Allen. You get the sense that he doesn’t like to sit still, so it was a coup to ask him to do that, for a spell, to Take 5.

On the day he released his new solo album, Damon invited you into his universe across songs. There are not many people that can mention legends like Lou Reed and Bobby Womack as friends, but it’s the reverence he holds these makers in, that makes this truly special.

Ghost Town – The Specials

Trench Town - Bob Marley

Lou Reed – Dirty Blvd.

Bobby Womack – Across 110th Street

The Clash – Rock the Casbah

Have you ever wondered why you get goosebumps when you listen to certain songs? Or what makes a hit, a hit? Maybe you’ve argued that the music you listened to when you were younger, is the best music that was ever made. All of that, relates to neuroscience.

The way the brain processes music is a huge field of study; it’s why music therapy exists, why people with Alzheimer’s can remember a tune from the childhood, or why songs can be a way for non verbal people to communicate. It’s something I’m endlessly fascinated by, and I know I’m not alone. That’s why I asked Dr Daniel Levitin to Take 5.In 2007, Daniel published a book called This Is Your Brain on Music. It laid out, in layman’s terms, all of the neural pathways that spark when we hear songs. It sold millions of copies, and he backed it up with an anthropological book called The World in Six Songs. But Daniel’s life didn’t start in the sciences. First and foremost, he’s a musician himself. He was a producer and engineer for about 15 years too; working alongside Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, and The Grateful Dead.

He knows his stuff. I asked Daniel to Take 5 with the neuroscience of music, and share songs not only from his own life but explain what’s happening to the brain, when he hear them. I loved this chat. I could speak for days about this stuff, and it just adds to a rich understanding and love of music, from all  over the genre map. From Beds are Burning to Beethoven, to one of the most beautiful tunes ever written, Daniel articulates the spark of a song.

Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning

Iggy Azalea - Fancy [Ft. Charli XCX]

The Afflicted - Here Come The Cops

Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker - Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67; I. Allegro con brio

Judy Garland - Over The Rainbow

Danny Cohen is the creator of wild dreams. His music video’s have seen King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard crawl inside a giant custom built vulture, his photography has beckoned Mac DeMarco into a bathful of cigarettes, and his video for Kirin J Callinan, with a screaming Jimmy Barnes over the hills, has clocked more than sixty two million views. The Melbourne based photographer and filmmaker has also just directed his first feature length film. It’s a doco on another regular collaborator, Courtney Barnett, and is a beautiful and vulnerable account of a tough and transitory time for the songwriter. That was the catalyst for asking Danny Cohen to Take 5. But to be honest, I had questions about all of his work. From crazy experiences in Cuba, to an instant bond over a bagful of smokes, and hiring an army tank for an indie band, this is an amazing conversation about realising some truly fantastical visions.

Courtney & Kurt – Continental Breakfast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHCtH15dpmU&ab_channel=CourtneyBarnettandKurtVile

Mac DeMarco – The Stars Keep Calling My Name https://dannycohen.com/Mac-DeMarco-Bath-time-with-Mac

Kirin J. Callinan – Big Enough (ft Alex Cameron, Jimmy Barnes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvrZJ5C_Nwg

Loose Tooth – Keep On https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFamqrm0nHo&ab_channel=LooseTooth

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Catching Smoke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L3-HOdMeuM&ab_channel=KingGizzardAndTheLizardWizard

What do Tim Burton’s films, the Men in Black franchise, and The Simpsons theme all have in common? They’ve all been scored by Danny Elfman.

Danny is a Hollywood legend, and his compositions have likely soundtracked your life. That score for Good Will Hunting? That was him too, not to mention the Fifty Shades films, and Sam Raimi’s Spiderman. For me, Danny Elfman is the sound of my formative years. I swooned to the beautiful Ice Dance from Edward Scissorhands and his incredible work on Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas remains an all time fave. So having the chance to speak with Danny, is a dream come true.

The story of Danny’s life is pretty remarkable, and I was curious to get inside his history and find out the epiphanies he’d experienced in song. The music and the makers that had created this compositional genius. From the Beatles to Bowie to Kurt Weill, this conversation traces a lineage of music and creativity that has helped craft some of cinema’s most magical moments.

The Beatles - “I am the Walrus”

Duke Ellington - “Black and Tan Fantasy”

Kurt Weill - “Pirate Jenny”

Madness - “One Step Beyond” 

David Bowie - “It’s No Game (Part 1)"

Darren Hanlon is one of Australia’s great troubadours. His music has charmed us for near on twenty years now, and he’s known as a songwriter’s songwriter; his skill at getting straight to the heart of the matter has built him a loyal following of fans and fellow muso’s alike. Daz is also one of those people who you want to pull up a pew and have a cuppa with. There’s a sense of calm that falls whenever I chat with him, and for all of these reasons I asked him to Take 5. From new friends, to unheard gems, to the songs that pull at the strings of homesick heart, this conversation is a beautiful exploration of how music saves us all.

Chastity Belt - Different Now

Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou – Homesickness

The Honeys - Against the Elements

Magnetic Fields - 100,000 Fireflies

Warumpi Band - My Island Home

For many of us who came of age in the 90’s, Dave McCormack was a familiar voice. As lead singer of Custard, his husky voice atop some truly whimsical indie rock drew us out of the angsty guitar scene of the time; they made songs that were playful and were a beacon beaming out of the Brisbane scene.

The band called it a day right after their most successful album Loverama. Dave would go on to play in other bands, he began composing soundtracks for film and television, and his voice would become familiar to an entirely new generation.

Playing Bandit, the blue heeler dad in the mega hit kid’s show Bluey, that raspy tone all of a sudden filled the homes of Gen X’ers (and their kids) once again. This Take 5 is like hanging out with an old friend, one who has really eclectic and fun music taste. What a joy.

ABBA – 'SOS'

The Pet Shop Boys - 'Always On My Mind'

Britney Spears - 'Toxic'

DEVO – 'Peekaboo'

Bob Dylan - 'Tangled Up In Blue'

The story of Refused is an interesting one. The Swedish hardcore punk legends had a strong fanbase and released three albums, the final of which was a modern classic. In 1998, The Shape of Punk to Come was just that: a forecast for how the scene would change, mashing genre and all the while bringing the fire they’d had from the get go.

Soon after, they split up. Some members would go on to form The International Noise Conspiracy, and Dennis Lyxzén continued to rule as a wild and energetic frontman.

Then in 2012 they reformed and that was that year I invited Dennis in to Take 5 with some of the most memorable moments from Refused’s history.

AC/DC - ‘Back in Black’

Slayer - ‘Raining Blood’

Off! -’I Don’t Belong’

The Stooges - ‘TV Eye’

Feist - ‘The Bad in Each Other’

When I say the name Ed Kuepper, what comes to mind? The Saints? Laughing Clowns? The Aints? Maybe his prolific solo career, or his work crafting beautiful soundtracks for the big and small screen.

Born in Germany, and raised in Brissie, Ed Kuepper is a living legend of the Australian underground, and his impact on the artists that have followed stretches decades. In 2021 he marks 45 years as a recording artist, so I thought it was high time he joined me to Take 5. While his work has travelled from punk to avant garde jazz and beautifully languid guitar, I was curious about the songs that fuelled him, over five decades of making music.

Some of these songs make total sense, others are total brilliant curveballs. Grounding it all is the rumbling voice of one of our greatest guitarists, songwriters, and storytellers.

John Kongos - 'He's Gonna Step On You Again'

Andy Scott – ‘Kruggerands’

Notorious B.I.G – ‘Hypnotize’

Smoke Fairies – ‘Hotel Room’

PJ Harvey – ‘The Ministry of Defence’

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros landed into the scene with their song ‘Home’. It was all over the radio, on soundtracks to films, you still hear it on TV advertisements.

It was in 2012 that I asked Jade Castrinos and Alex Ebert from the band in to Take 5. They were wrapping up a huge tour with Mumford & Sons, and made some time to come by and share their songs from the road. Their song list was brilliant, so get ready for a perfect road trip soundtrack.

Alabama Shakes - ‘Hold On’

JAY-Z - ‘Young Forever {Ft. Mr. Hudson}’

Willie Nelson - ‘On the Road Again’

The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize??

The Beatles - ‘Two Of Us’

Elbow are one of those bands who hold a place in your heart. Maybe it’s the timbre of Guy Garvey’s voice or the stomping emotion they bring to their music.

They’ve long been visitors to Australia and in 2011 made the trek to play Splendour in the Grass. When Guy Garvey and Pete Turner from the band did the Take 5 they’d just been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for the third time and had a solid history behind them already. They shared their songs of nostalgia.

Japan - ‘Ghosts’

Public Enemy - ‘Fight the Power’

Blondie - ‘Rapture’

The Mamas and the Papas - ‘Monday, Monday’

Primal Scream - ‘Come Together’

One of the biggest and best voices in Australia, is Emma Donovan’s. As a little kid, Emma got a heap of practice in with her family band. The Donovans were a legendary country group, and whether her uncles were pushing her to the front of the stage to sing, or her mum was plopping her in front of crowds at Tamworth talent quests, her soulful voice was honed over years of  family support and self belief.

Emma would go on to form the Stiff Gins, she’d release solo records, join The Black Arm Band, then collaborate with Melbourne soul outfit The Putbacks.  Through it all, her love of music and family has guided her. From Mavis Staples, to Christine Anu, and the Koori King of Country – Roger Knox – this is a beautiful conversation about the bonds of music, family, and place.

Mavis Staples - Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Micko Donovan - Promised Land

Roger Knox - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Troy Cassar Daley - Back Home Again

Christine Anu - Island Home

Eskimo Joe are a band that need little introduction. If you grew up in the late 90’s or noughties they were all over the radio, a trio from Fremantle making catchy indie guitar rock that stepped up to stadium sounds as their career progressed.

They were voted into Hottest 100 countdowns, they toured consistently around Australia and became one of the best known bands from the West Coast scene. Then around seven years ago, they took a break. In 2021, they returned with two new songs, and a catalyst for me to ask Kav to Take 5. What were the songs that united a band who had worn so many hats? From Supergrass to PJ Harvey, to Haim, this is a cracking convo about what it takes to have a long term relationship with your musical mates, and the soundtrack to some incredible moments.

Supergrass - 'Moving'

Wilco - 'A Shot In The Arm'

PJ Harvey - 'Big Exit'

DJ Shadow - 'Six Days'

Haim - 'Summer Girl'

I think we can all agree 2020 has been a YEAR. No one more so than country music singer Fanny Lumsden. Based in the tiny town of Tooma, on the western side of the Snowy Mountains, her release plans for her beautiful third album Fallow took a turn for the worse, when disaster and pandemic struck. But that didn’t stop Fanny. Her resilience, and optimism has carried her and her community through this year, and it’s why I asked her to share her songs of solace for her Take 5.

Fanny Lumsden has been making music since 2015, but her new album is what’s really put her on the map. It’s been nominated for seven Golden Guitar Awards, leading the pack. She’s up for an ARIA for Best Country Album, and she’s gained a whole lot more fans with this heartfelt and acclaimed new record. Fanny joined me from her property in Tooma to share her story, some beautiful songs, and a big dose of hope.

Josh Pyke - 'Middle of the Hill'

Allison Krauss - 'Baby Now That I Found You'

Fleet Foxes - 'Tiger Peasant Mountain Song'

Melanie Horsnell & Steve Appel - 'Someone Like You'

Debussy - ‘La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin’

Fat Mike from NOFX is a bit of a legend. As frontman for the band for almost four decades, he’s been the soundtrack to countless generations of punk fans. He set up Fat Wreck Chords, championing other bands for the past 30 years. And when he’s not doing that, he’s getting around with supergroup Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

If you know anything about Fat Mike, you know he doesn’t play by the rules, so that’s where his theme led us. From formative songs by Meatloaf, to re-energising moments from Propoghandi, this is a rare peek into the music that fuels one of music’s risk takers.

The Dickies - 'Paranoid'

Meat Loaf - 'Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul'

Operation Ivy - 'Yellin' In My Ear'

Propagandhi - 'Anti-Manifesto'

The Spits - 'Tired & Lonely'

Norman Cook is a legend.

Under the moniker Fatboy Slim the British producer and DJ has been making us dance for decades. His breakthrough album “You’ve Come a Long Way Baby” gave us ‘Right Here Right Now’, ‘Gangster Trippin’, ‘The Rockafella Skank’, and of course ‘Praise You’. Twenty years ago that song came in at #4 in the Hottest 100, but his popularity has never waned, and when he visited Australia to play massive outdoor shows, I asked him to Take 5.

Norman’s background is textured; in the 80’s he was playing bass with The Housemartins, he had a hit with Beats International, and in 1996 was born again as Fatboy Slim. But at base level, he’s a fan. So I asked him to Take 5 with his “dancefloor evergreens”; the songs that never left his crate, that he always returned to. What I didn’t realise, is that Norman Cook was about to show us the musical blueprint of who he was today.

From the turning point of how he became a DJ, to late nights with British Big Beat legends, and where his musical head is at today, this is an incredibly rich convo with a helluva soundtrack.

Arthur Conley – ‘Sweet Soul Music’

The Clash – ‘Magnificent Seven’

Donna Summer – ‘I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley remix)’

J Walter Negro And The Loose Joints – ‘Shoot The Pump’

Underworld - ‘Rez’

For Felix Riebl, exploring the world has been his life for more than twenty years. As founding member of The Cat Empire, touring all over the planet and experiencing all kinds of wild adventures is his day job. Away from the stage his curious spirit has taken him to some incredible places. And creatively, the map he draws with his music (whether in his band, solo, or collaborating with others) is broad and unknown.

From Athens to New Orleans, Glastonbury Festival to the remote Pilbara, settle in for some armchair travel with a guy who knows how to tell a yarn.

Felix picked these songs for this Take 5:

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - S.O.B.Mikis Theodorakis - I HartaetiSigrid - Mine Right Now Lil' Band O' Gold - Blue MondaySpinifex Gum - Spinifex Gum

If I say Afrobeat, what’s the first name that comes to mind? Fela Kuti. The polyrhythmic prince who coined the term, and pioneered a movement that would stretch it’s tentacles far beyond Nigeria and into the decades, and genres, that would follow. Afrobeat was a swarm of sounds. Western African highlife, American jazz and funk, and a big dose of Black power. It came to life with Fela but continues through his sons, and grandsons, and through the rhythms of bands all over the globe.

Fela’s eldest son, is Femi Kuti. As a child he would watch, then play with his father. As an adult, he has carved his own path… continuing and expanding Afrobeat through eleven albums. His latest, he paired with his eldest son, as he released his debut. And so, Made and Femi continue the legacy Fela set out all those years ago.

Having Femi Take 5 is a huge honour. Afrobeat has directly and indirectly influenced so much of the music I love. Across this Take 5 you’ll hear the foundations from where it was born, and the incredible stories, the sweat, and the passion that brought this movement to life. It’s an education, a celebration, and a tribute all in one.

E.T. Mensah – 'Nkebo Baya'

Haruna Ishola – 'Oroki Social Club'

Duke Ellington – 'Take the "A" Train'

Miles Davis – 'Milestones'

James Brown – 'Say it Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud'

Pennywise are Cali punk legends.

From backyard parties in Hermosa Beach, to touring the world over the past quarter of a century, the band have built a huge fan base; particularly in Australia.

So when they came back again to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their “Straight Ahead” album, I asked the guitarist Fletcher Dragge, to Take 5. Fletcher has always been a good chat, as up for a party as he is a solid dive into politics and punk. And it’s clear that the latter, in both genre and ethic, has informed his whole life.

From Devo to Bad Brains to NWA, this is as much a trip through his musical education as it is a story of how music saved him.

Devo – ‘Freedom of Choice’

The Jim Carroll Band – ‘People Who Died’

Bad Brains – ‘Pay to Cum’

Minor Threat – ‘Screaming at a Wall ‘

N.W.A. – ‘F*ck Tha Police’

When Fran Kelly announced she was leaving RN Breakfast after 17 years, everyone I know had a little cry. Maybe it was the same for you too, because this legendary journalist has been waking up with us for a long time. Fran has held those in power to account and told stories we may never have heard otherwise.

But it’s not often you hear Fran’s stories. That’s why I was so stoked and honoured to have her Take 5 with me, the day after she wrapped her final show on RN Breakfast. The theme was simple; life, so far. And from singing around the kitchen table, to hitting the road to get to her great love, this is a beautiful capture of an extraordinary human.

The Tokens – The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The Easybeats – Friday On My Mind

Lucinda Williams – I Just Want To See You So Bad

Yothu Yindi – Treaty

Gurrumul - Wiyathul

If I told you to 'put a bird on it', you’d know immediately what I meant. This iconic sketch from Portlandia is the work of Fred Armisen. He’s a comedian who has filled our screens for almost 20 years; as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, alongside his best friend Carrie Brownstein co-creating Portlandia, and more recently on the mockumentary series Documentary Now. Music has been central to Fred’s comedy the whole way through, and that makes sense when you know that he started his creative life as a drummer. In fact it was during a visit to SXSW back in 1998, playing in a couple of bands, that he made his first mockumentary. It got people’s attention, and four years later, he was on SNL. Fred Armisen lives a punk life, creating and recreating his identity across every character he plays, and finding the connection in brilliant songs. Here are just five.

Bad Brains - ‘Big Take Over’

Meat Puppets - ‘Up On The Sun’

Jessica Pratt - ‘This Time Around’

The Damned - ‘Under The Floor Again’

Sleater-Kinney - ‘Start Together’

We all know songs hold a lot of power. When they pair with iconic scenes from film and television, they become etched in our memory; and sometimes elevate a piece of music to the stuff of legend. Think Green Day’s 'Good Riddance' in the final moments of Seinfeld, Underworld’s 'Born Slippy' in Trainspotting, 'Don’t Stop Believin’' by Journey, in The Sopranos…

And the person that places these songs in just the right moments, is a music supervisor.

Back in 2012 I asked Gary Calamar to Take 5. He’s a music supervisor for shows like Six Feet Under, True Blood, Dexter, House, and Entourage. He’s the one who has made scenes sing, and brought some truly beautiful sounds to TV and film. It was a conversation I loved then, but has never made it’s way onto the podcast, until now. From Peter Gabriel to Sia, this is a powerful reminder of the magical marriage of sound and vision.

‘Season Of The Witch [Ft. Donovan]’ - Karen Elson

‘Me And The Devil’ - Gil Scott-Heron

‘Cold Wind’ - Arcade Fire

‘My Body Is A Cage’ - Peter Gabriel

‘Breathe Me’ - Sia

Georgia Barnes grew up in raves. As the daughter of Neil Barnes from Leftfield, she seemed destined to make music herself, and her formative years where her childhood bedroom was also their studio certainly helped her along the way.

These days, we know her simply as Georgia. Her second album Seeking Thrills came out in early 2020, and we were well acquainted with her talents. She’s got an incredible knack for making earworms; her songs wriggle in and get stuck in your head as soon as you’ve heard them.

Hearing Georgia’s talents as a songwriter and producer, I was keen to Take 5. I’d also heard she was a massive music nerd, so I gave her the theme “Easter egg songs”. I wanted to find out about the earworms she’d obsessed over in her formative years, and unravel the family tree of music that had fed Georgia’s creative life.

I knew she’d be the right person for the job, but this Take 5 is like a masterclass. What I love about it the most is that you don’t need to be a muso, or to understand the tech or terminology; Georgia has an intoxicating way of bringing us all into her music nerd paradise. From Glen Campbell to Gary Numan to Kanye, this is the kind of conversation you want to go on forever.

Glen Campbell - ‘Witchita Lineman’

Commodores - ‘Nightshift’

Gary Numan - ‘Metal’

Donna Summer - ‘I Feel Love’

Kanye West - ‘Flashing Lights’

For so many of us, My Chemical Romance soundtracked our angsty youth.

Their theatrical music was mirrored by the wild shows, and Gerard Way was at the centre of it all. He wasn’t just a musician - he was an illustrator, a comic book author, and most of all a fan.

In 2015 he was in Australia performing at the Soundwave festival off the back of his debut solo album Hesitant Alien and supporting the Smashing Pumpkins so I grabbed the chance to Take 5.

Supergrass - ‘Caught By The Fuzz’

David Bowie - ‘Five Years’

Iggy & the Stooges  - ‘Search and Destroy’

Sleater-Kinney - ‘I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone’

Pulp - ‘This Is Hardcore’

It’s Girls to the Front on the Take 5 podcast! A Frankensteined special of some of my favourite recent conversations with incredible women. Celebrate International Women’s Day with some incredible humans, sharing their favourite songs by some amazing creators over the past decade.

Yumi Stynes on Janelle Monae - ‘Pynk {ft. Grimes}'

Eleanor Dixon from Kardajala Kirridarra on Emily Wurramara - Lady Blue

Jen Cloher on Camp Cope – The Opener

Kimbra on Anohni - ‘Drone Bomb Me’

Kasey Chambers on Beyoncé - ‘Don't Hurt Yourself {Ft. Jack White}’

Gruff Rhys is a legend of the Welsh music scene. As frontman for the Super Furry Animals, he took his band to global success. Gruff was at the centre of the Cool Cymru scene at the dawn of the new millennium, and he’s collaborated widely with everyone from Gorillaz to Boom Bip to Sparklehorse. He’s also had a prolific solo career, and on the day he released his 7th album, Gruff joined me from Wales to Take 5.

 I’m not gonna lie, I love Welsh accents. And Gruff has such a beautiful spirit, this is one of those conversations you can just sit and let flow over you.

Gruff Rhys is no stranger to biographical albums, but Seeking New Gods could be the first one he’s made about a mountain. Or at least, set out to. This is a conversation as much about the wild making of his latest work, as it is the foundations of Gruff; from a bright eyed Velvet Underground fan to someone who work collaborate with John Cale, and find his own unique place in the world.

Y Nhw  - 'Siwsi'

Kelly Lee Owens / John Cale - 'Corner Of My Sky'

A Tribe Called Quest - 'The Luck of Lucien'

The Beach Boys - 'Til I Die'

Yoko Ono - 'What a Bastard The World Is'

It’s a special Take 5, as we mark the 30th anniversary of Nirvana releasing Nevermind. This was the record that brought grunge into the mainstream, it changed the game not just for the Seattle sound, but catapulted it into a worldwide movement. To celebrate this iconic moment, I dug up some of my most treasured conversations from the Take 5 archives, with the people at the centre of the scene.

You’ll hear from Butch Vig, the producer who shaped Nevermind. From Jonathan Poneman, who signed Nirvana and co-founded Sub-Pop; the label at the centre of the scene. Billy Corgan will pop up, whose Smashing Pumpkins were another huge player in the scene. And we’ll revisit my chat with Michael Azzerad, who penned a bestselling biography of Nirvana and also an iconic capture of the late '80s and early '90s indie scene in America, with Our Band Could Be Your Life. Nirvana’s connection to Australia is significant too, and photographer Sophie Howarth will bring it close to home with her memories of hanging with the band and seeing them play on their only Australian tour.

It’s a wild ride, and I feel so privileged to have shared this space and these stories. So don the flanny, pull on the cords, let your dirty hair down, and revisit one of music’s most loved era’s.

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm

Neil Young – Ambulance Blues

Fugazi – Waiting Room

Feedtime – Shovel

If you came of age in the 2010’s, the sound of Hayley Mary’s voice would have been a tonic. As the lead singer of The Jezabels, she soared over big, dramatic pop songs, and drew a dedicated fanbase from all over Australia.

In early 2020, Hayley stepped out on her own with her debut solo EP; and while the sound of it showed another side of her, one thing remained the same. That voice. Always cutting through, always lifting us up when we needed it the most.

Carving out blocks of time is a tried and true way to take a snapshot on how far we’ve come, and from Lana Del Rey’s debut to the shot of coffee that is Amyl and the Sniffers, Hayley’s women of the decade captures not just an amazing ten years of music, but the growth of an extraordinary artist.

Lana Del Rey – ‘Video Games’

Solange – ‘Losing You’

Julia Jacklin – ‘Pressure To Party’

Amyl & The Sniffers – ‘The Cup Of Destiny’

Confidence Man – ‘Boyfriend (Repeat)’

Hilltop Hoods are legends.

For more than twenty years they’ve dominated the local scene, with multiple Hottest 100 entries, ARIA’s and the record for the most #1 albums in Australian music. When they play a show, it’s an arena, and they’ve brought that energy to every one of their performances; on stage and on record.

Those are the accolades you hear about… but when I invited them to Take 5 I wanted to hear about their highlights in an epic career in show business.

From Def Wish Cast to Amy Winehouse, this is a fun and heartfelt ride through Pressure and Suffa’s peaks, and the music moments that have taken them to the top of the mountain.

• Def Wish Cast - Rappin’ in my Sleep
• Public Enemy - Welcome to the Terrordome
• Maverick Sabre - I Need
• Beastie Boys - Jimmy James
• Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

I still remember the first time I heard Hot Chip, and I distinctly remember the yellow sleeve their first album came in. It didn’t reveal much about the band, except that they made this comforting electronic music, they seemed like nerds with a heart of gold, and their lead singer’s voice was an instant friend.

By their second album Hot Chip had added a whole lot more party to their sound, and from then on they’ve been part of so many of our memories. Whether on record, or live, these geeks became geniuses of songwriting and turned every performance into a euphoric experience.

Twenty years after they first formed, I invited Joe and Al from Hot Chip to Take 5. From slow jams to bangers, this is a celebration not just of jubilant music, but two jubilant fellas.

Prince – ‘Starfish and Coffee’

Fever Ray – ‘To The Moon and Back’

Teyana Taylor – ‘Hurry {Feat. Kanye West}’

Double Exposure – ‘Everyman (Has to Carry His Own Weight)’

Hot Chocolate – ‘I Just Love What You’re Doing (Kon Edit)’

Ione Skye has been on our screens for decades. As a teen she starred in the legendary high school movie “Say Anything”.  She’d pop up on “Fever Pitch” and “Arrested Development”, and behind the scenes directed her own short films and music videos. From the beginning, music has been a big part of Ione’s life. Her father is Donovan, and while he wasn’t around when she was a kid, her brother would become a songwriter and Ione would immerse herself in the scene in the 80’s and 90’s.

As she admits herself in this Take 5, she’s dated a few muso’s too. Her first marriage was to a Beastie Boy, and a longer union has been forged with Australian songwriter Ben Lee. For all of these reasons and more, I asked Ione Skye to Take 5. I wanted to explore some of the “firsts” in her adventurous creative life. And draw back to how those moments have shaped the person she is today. From The Go-Go’s to U2 to Stevie Wonder, this is a rainbow patchwork life filled with incredible stories.

The Go-Go's - Our Lips Are Sealed

Stevie Wonder - Maybe Your Baby

Beastie Boys - Get It Together

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire

Harry Nilsson - Me And My Arrow

Over the past decade, James Blake has gone from grabbing our hearts with the Wilhelm Scream, to collaborating with some of the biggest names on the planet. The London born producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist has always kept it moving; expanding his sound, testing new waters, and through it all remaining grounded in what matters.

I first met James back in 2011, just as the hype around him was beginning to grow. And I’ve been lucky to catch up with him over the years at various points. But he’s never done a Take 5, until now.

On the day he released his fifth album, he joined me to play over people’s tunes. Specifically, his favourite heartbreak anthems. From Stevie Wonder to Pink Pantheress to Al Green, this is a capture of an incredible music mind and heart.

Stevie Wonder - Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer

Jeff Buckley - I Know It’s Over

Dijon - Many Times

Pink Pantheress - Break It Off

Al Green - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

Jen Cloher is a beacon in Australian music. She’s one of our best songwriters, and a great champion of her peers. Whether it's running management workshops, or co-founding Milk Records, her sage advice and keen ears propel others. But what about the artists who light a path for her? From Patti Smith to Gareth Liddiard, Camp Cope to PJ Harvey, this is a conversation about so much more than music.

Adalita - ‘Free Money {Live}’

The Drones - ‘Taman Shud’

Camp Cope ‘The Opener’

PJ Harvey - ‘The Words That Maketh Murder’

Evelyn Ida Morris - ‘The Body Appears’

If you’ve ever worked in hospitality, you’ve seen things. The long hours, the patrons, those blurry lines between work and play, and, if you’re Jess Ho, the complex world of what is good and bad taste.

Jess has game in hospo. They may have started off as a waiter, but would become one of the most iconic gatekeepers at Melbourne’s coolest restaurant, would go on to be a venue owner themselves, a food writer, a podcaster, and now, a debut novelist.

They capture it all in their memoir Raised By Wolves. It’s a brilliant page turner that not only takes down the bullshit of the foodie scene, but gives a heartbreaking insight into Jess’ personal life – the story of a fractured childhood and a found family with it’s own tragedies. I loved Jess’ book, so I invited them in to Take 5. From Bjork to Chris to LCD Soundsystem, this is the soundtrack to a curious and story filled life.

• Bjork - Where is the Line
• IDLES - Television
• Elbow - Scattered Black and Whites
• Christine and the Queens - Doesn't Matter
• LCD Soundsystem- Losing My Edge

Jessica Mauboy is a ray of light. We met her on a singing show more than a decade ago and since then she’s been flat out being a renaissance woman with a helluva big voice. I’ve wanted to do a Take 5 with Jess for years; she’s one of those people you just want to spend time with. Her beautiful energy sucks you in and charms the heck out of you. She’s also always struck me as incredibly grounded; through all of the twists and turns in her life as a pop star, Jess has kept her feet on the ground. That ground is often her home town of Darwin where, away from the cameras and stages, she can unwind with her sisters and parents. Just be Jess. Darwin is also the home of the National Indigenous Music Awards: an annual celebration of the best in First Nations music. Jess was due to headline the event, and the day before she joined me to Take 5 with her songlines. She came up with the theme; Jess wanted to talk about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists who had inspired her, and led a path for her own creative life. Across legends and new voices alike, the connection Jess has and the places she takes you on this Take 5 is something else. Head to the Top End with a legend.

Yothu Yindi - 'Djapana'

Christine Anu - 'Party'

Baker Boy - 'Marryuna (ft Yirrmal)'

Thelma Plum – 'Better in Blak'

Gurrumul – 'Bapa'

Jessie Ware got her start in the club. Back before she was making her own music, Jessie’s voice jumped on songs by SBTRKT, and her love of dance music has stayed with her throughout her career, where every album is always partnered with some killer remixes. Her debut album “Devotion” came out in 2012, and in the years since she’s released soaring records of ballads and bangers. In between crafting four albums, she also started a podcast with her mum. Table Manners sees Jessie and Lenny invite someone famous over to theirs for a meal and a wine, and has drawn more than 11 million listeners since 2017; with everyone from Dua Lipa to Kiefer Sutherland popping by for a chat. If you know anything about Jessie Ware, you know she’s a riot. And if not, you’re about to be charmed… by a woman who cut her teeth in raves, and whose club heart beats strong in all she does. From drum and bass classics, to early morning come down, this is an invitation to astral travel into the club with one helluva party pal.

Adam F – Circles

Khruangbin – Time (You & I)

Masters at Work - Work

702 – You Don’t Know (Reservoir Dogs garage mix)

Donae'o – Party Hard

It’s not overstating it when I say Jimmy Barnes is a national treasure. Everyone can sing along to a Cold Chisel song, you’ve undoubtedly seen him or them live at some stage of your life, and the harrowing story of his childhood has connected him to people who may have never even engaged with his music before. He also electric; the energy that comes off him is insane. Throughout this Take 5 I just held on for dear life and went along for the ride. Even when the songs played, he was air drumming and singing along at the top of his lungs, to every word. The Take 5 is all about stories, and Jimmy Barnes has ‘em in spades. Even before he started singing, music was in his blood; a saviour growing up, and a way out of the northern suburb of Elizabeth, in Adelaide. From Ray Charles to Oasis, Tina Turner to Led Zepplin and Dylan, these are the songs that made Jimmy Barnes.

Ray Charles - ‘Hit The Road Jack’

Oasis - ‘A Bell Will Ring’

Ike and Tina Turner - ‘River Deep Mountain High ‘

Led Zeppelin - ‘Immigrant Song’

Bob Dylan - ‘Like a Rolling Stone’

Joan Wasser is prolific. As a musician, collaborator, and instrumentalist, she’s one of those people who needs to create to feel alive. Her career began in bands like The Dambuilders, before she lobbed in on records from Antony & the Johnsons and found her own voice as Joan as Policewoman.

And what a voice it is; its warm snarl captures everyone who hears it, and it’s the same when she talks. There’s something very magnetic about Joan. Which is why I will always be excited to talk music with her, and heroes. From Nina Simone to James Blake to Rufus Wainwright, this is a beautiful conversation about the love of art, from a great artist herself.

Tony Allen - ‘Go Back [Ft. Damon Albarn]’

Nina Simone - ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free’

Krystle Warren & The Faculty - ‘If It Wasn’t For The Lake’

James Blake - ‘Retrograde’

Rufus Wainwright - ‘The Art Teacher'

John Parish has crafted some of the indie music’s most acclaimed albums. The Bristol producer has been behind Aldous Harding’s last two records, he co-wrote and produced Eels “Souljacker”, and Giant Sand’s “Chore of Enchantment”, and recently he’s been working with The Goon Sax and Parquet Courts. He’s a composer and musician too, releasing his own works and soundtracking beautiful scenes on stage and screen.

But John’s longest creative relationship is also his most celebrated, a lifelong musical partnership with PJ Harvey. You’ll hear the story of how they met, and why their collaboration has been so fruitful, as well as tales from the studios of Aldous Harding, and Mark Linkous, in this beautiful insight into capturing the intangible magic of song.

Dry Cleaning – Scratchcard Lanyard

Sparklehorse – Piano Fire

Aldous Harding - Blend

John Murry – I Refuse To Believe (You Could Love Me)

John Parish & PJ Harvey - April

The South London singer joins Zan Rowe to Take 5.

It’s so good to be back with a new Take 5 in the feed!

ICYMI, over the last few weeks I’ve been off making Take 5 into a TV show. We’ve captured some incredible conversations with big names, everywhere from Melbourne to Los Angeles, to Nashville Tennesee. Take 5 will be coming to ABC TV later in 2022, and in the meantime, I’m stoked to be back where it all began; here in your ears on the Take 5 podcast. And what a return we have, with Joy Crookes.

The South London singer grabbed us as soon as we heard her first single, and she held us with her debut album Skin; a rich capture of the place, people, and sounds that have made her.

With so much genre hopping in her own record, I was curious to find out the songs that reflect her self, from others. And she delivered. This is beautiful conversation about community, connection, heart, and how history informs Joy Crookes future. From Solange, to Mariem Hassan, to D’Angelo, this is the musical DNA of Joy Crookes.

Mad (ft. Lil Wayne) - Solange

Haiyu - Mariem Hassan

Really Love - D’angelo and the Vanguard

Tezeta - Mahmoud Ahmed

Rich Spirit - Kendrick Lamar

You know when you meet someone, and from the get go you think, you’re good people. Julia Baird is good people.

An acclaimed journalist and broadcaster, she’s spent her life chasing rabbits down the hole, fighting for the causes that deserve it, and telling the stories of icons and everyday folk alike. Julia’s life has been a tale of two cities; a childhood in New York that would bring her back to the Big Apple and be the site of some of her biggest moments. And a home in Sydney, where as host of The Drum she holds it down by night, but greets every day diving into the ocean, curiously exploring the expansive world under the tides.

Julia is also an author, and her most recent book is Phosphorescence. It’s a book on awe, wonder and things that sustain you when the world goes dark. And even though it was entirely unintentional, it couldn’t be a more perfect book for 2020.

That’s one of the reasons I asked Julia Baird to Take 5. I also had an inkling she has remarkable music taste… and I wasn’t disappointed. From the big sky sound of The Triffids, to the direct sexuality of PJ Harvey, and a luminous moment on the dancefloor, these songs are stories will light you up from within.

The Triffids - 'Wide Open Road'

Fatboy Slim - 'Praise You'

P.J. Harvey - 'This Is Love'

JAY-Z ft. Alicia Keys - 'Empire State of Mind'

Elbow - 'One Day Like This'

Julia Jacklin now has two brilliant albums behind her, but three years ago she was just starting to get traction as a solo artist with her debut album.

We’d known her as a member of the band Phantastic Ferniture, but her solo work stopped us dead in our tracks. 

As the Take 5 dips into the archives here’s one from May 2017, when Julia Jacklin was back in Australia for a minute between a US and European tour.

Jack White - ‘That Black Bat Licorice’

Erykah Badu - ‘Otherside of the Game’

Grimes - ‘Artangels’

Dobie Gray - ‘Drift Away’

Radiohead - ‘Idioteque’

Julia Stone is one of Australia’s most successful musicians. With her brother Angus, they gigged hard for years before cracking it internationally. The songs she’s written have topped Hottest 100’s, and packed out massive shows across the world.

Alongside her sibling outfit, she’s also released two solo albums. But it’s been about nine years since her last, so a new Julia Stone solo record? Everyone was keen.

When I heard the first single “Break”, it was immediately clear she was on a new path. Gone were the folky, wispy styling of her past. This was spiky music, it made you move, and I was curious to hear more.  When Julia released Sixty Summers, it was clear she’d turned a new corner. The album is a pop triumph, it’s full of brilliant new sounds and also a new sense of self belief, and conviction in her stories. For all of these reasons, I asked her to Take 5 with her songs of freedom. I wanted to get inside her musical brain, and hear about some of the artists who had lit a fire, and lit the path, for her.

From Bjork to Bowie to Robyn, this is an exploration not just of Julia the fan, but an artist turning a corner in her own creative life.

Bjork – 'Hyperballad'

James Blake – 'Barefoot in the Park' (ft Rosalia)

Fiona Apple – 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters'

David Bowie – 'Let’s Dance'

Robyn – 'Honey'

Kacey Musgraves is the woman of the golden hour. At the Grammy’s she won every category she was nominated in, including Album of the Year. Her live shows, and candour, have made headlines. And her journey from Nashville country singer to crossover pop artist with that acclaimed album, has won her a whole lot of new fans. Whether speaking plainly about small town life, being open about doing drugs, or singing out for those who love who they wanna love, Kacey Musgraves is a straight shooter, a woman of conviction. In person and in song, the bridge she creates with her fans is something else, and it’s making her one of the most loved artists around. For Kacey’s Take 5 I wanted to find out about the music that brought her to today, and to borrow a title from her own debut album, helped Kacey “follow her arrow”. From Neil Young, to Sade, Bee Gees to Tame Impala, and of course Dolly Parton, Kacey tells the story of her life through the artists that shaped her.

Neil Young - 'Harvest Moon'

Sade - 'By Your Side'

Bee Gees - 'Stayin' Alive'

Tame Impala - 'Eventually'

Dolly Parton - 'Here You Come Again'

Kae Tempest is one of the most powerful voices speaking today. A poet, playwright, author, and musician, they capture their world of South East London and bring it to us. And within that, explore the big themes of the world, and how we deal with it.

They’ve has just released their fourth album; it comes after a period of great change for Kae, who recently came out as trans non-binary and is speaking publicly for the first time about what they’ve really been feeling for most of their life.

Communication and connection is at the heart of this record, so I gave Kae the theme “songs that speak their language”. They embraced it and then some. From wild sounds courtesy of Buffy Saint-Marie to life changing debuts from Jay Electronica, this is a poetic conversation about the power of words.

'God Is Alive Magic Is Afoot' – Buffy Sainte-Marie

'Gatekeeper' – ESKA

'Solstice' – Confucius MC

'Gabriel' – Roy Davis Jr feat. Peven Everett

'Eternal Sunshine' – Jay Electronica

Kasey Chambers is a living legend. Five number one albums, fourteen ARIA Awards, she recently became the youngest woman to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Kasey grew up with music. As a kid she’d travel across the Nullarbor with her dad, at the end of each day the family would always gather around the campfire to sing songs. She’d end up playing with the family band, but it was her 1999 debut album The Captain that was her breakthrough to a solo career that has been rich and rewarding. That debut turns 20 this year, so I thought it’d be fun to reflect back on the other musical breakthroughs through Kasey’s life. The moments that have nudged her in a new direction, or won her as a fan.

Hearing Kasey talk about music is a joy; as with her own music, she wears her heart on her sleeve. From Emmylou Harris to Beyonce to Steve Earle, this is a beautiful journey through a life filled with gratitude.

Emmylou Harris - ‘Boulder to Birmingham’

Ben Harper - ‘Fight For Your Mind’

J.S. Ondara - ‘Torch Song’

Beyoncé - ‘Don't Hurt Yourself {Ft. Jack White}’

Steve Earle - ‘Copperhead Road’

I first heard Kate Crawford’s work in the late 90’s; she and Nicole Skelty’s made music as B(if)tek, and it was playful electro that was always future focused. So it’s not that wild to know that Kate went on to explore this world of machine learning and artificial intelligence. What’s remarkable, is that today she’s one of the world’s leading voices on the subject. When you read Kate’s work, or see her art pieces at the Museum of Modern Art in New York or the V&A in London, you’re less likely to learn what is AI, and more what is AI doing to us.

Kate is interested in the supply chain that gets us there, the dirt, the minerals, the people, and the very human data that builds that illusive cloud, and how a few companies are controlling the power and politics of billions. Sound interesting? That’s why I asked her to Take 5.

Kate Crawford recently published an Atlas of AI, tracing back where it comes from and what it’s doing. So riffing off that, I asked her to share her Atlas of Sound, and walk us through the sonic cartographers that had shaped her life. From Kraftwerk to Laurie Anderson, to sounds I’ve never heard before, this is a fascinating conversation about creativity, curiosity, and power.

Kraftwerk - 'Computer Love'

Laurie Anderson - 'Language Is a Virus'

Alice Coltrane - 'Journey in Satchidananda'

The Caretaker - 'All You're Going to Want To Do Is Get Back There'

Serpent with Feet - 'Bless Your Heart'

There’s only one person on the planet who has played Coachella, the New York Metropolitan Opera, and hit the stage at Eurovision; and that person is Kate Miller-Heidke. With her soaring voice, Kate’s talent has taken her to stages all across the world. And her talent has made her creative life a rich tapestry; writing musical theatre, performing in many different guises, and penning her own albums over the past fifteen years. With that in mind, I asked her to choose songs for the stages. Music that, through her life, had soundtracked or lifted her into another zone. From Joni Mitchell to Gurrumul to Annie Lennox, this conversation paints a beautiful picture of a polymath’s heart.

Joni Michell - All I Want

Divinyls - Science Fiction

The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd

Gurrumul - Waak (Crow)

Annie Lennox - No More I Love You's

Kate Mulvany is a professional storyteller. An award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and actor, she’s built a name for herself in her incredible performances, whether in The Great Gatsby, The Little Death, or opposite Al Pacino in the Amazon series Hunters. On stage she’s redefined roles like Richard III, and Kate is acclaimed for her writing, holding a knack for adapting and reinterpreting Australian classics. The latest, is her version of Playing Beatie Bow, and in the week before her sold out season at Sydney Theatre Company kicked off, I asked her to Take 5.

Away from her CV, Kate has lived an extraordinary life; filled with challenges and heartaches, but also hope and opportunity. For all of these reasons, I was so excited to sit down with her. If you love a good yarn, you’re in the right place. I asked Kate to share her backstory across five songs, and from The Muppets to Bowie to Ben Salter, this is a beautiful conversation about the transformative power of story.

'Can You Picture That?' - Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem (from The Muppet Movie soundtrack)

'Science Fiction' - The Divinyls

'Randwick Bells' - Jimmy Little

'Space Oddity' - David Bowie

'The Stars My Destination' - Ben Salter

When you think of electronic music, do you think of the wild? Even as a synthetic creation, is it music that anchors itself in nature, in the sounds of icicles breaking or the feel of flow? Kelly Lee Owens is a producer who take you to all of those places. The Welsh artist may have begun her career as a nurse, and working in a record store, but these days she makes music that transports you; that is as at home in the club as a transcendental meditation.

Her second album Inner Song was big favourite of mine, and her collaborations with Jon Hopkins and remixes of Bjork reminded me of music’s power to get us into a flow state. So when she joined me to Take 5, I wanted to know the songs that did that for her. From Four Tet to Radiohead, Bjork to Nils Frahm, this is a very beautiful exploration of sound, of meaning, and how music can lift us into another realm.

Four Tet – Morning Side

The Knife – Heartbeats (live version)

Radiohead – Nude

Bjork – Sun in My Mouth

Nils Frahm – Says

There are times when I like to take the Take 5 on the road; heading to places where creative people gather, and the conversations around art and music are part and parcel of daily life. Dark Mofo in Hobart is one of those places. A festival set in the middle of winter, in the southernmost city in Australia. When the wind blows, it’s coming from Antarctica. The streets light up with red crosses each night to signal some sort of curiosity you should explore within, there are open fires and pagan feasts, and there is music; curated in such a beautiful way it feels like a movement, like a moment. This is the place I met Kelsey Lu. Lu grew up in North Carolina, and was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness. Early on, she found the cello, and connected deeply with the strings. She followed her heart, left home, and broke bonds with her family as she headed to New York City to follow her musical dreams. Through her 20’s Kelsey Lu found her voice, she collaborated with Solange, and Sampha, she experienced heartache and pain, and she headed west to heal, and begin again. Across five beautiful choices, Lu shared her songs of hope. All women, all powerful, and all tied to the human and artist she has become. Settle in for a beautiful conversation, with Kelsey Lu.

Alice Coltrane – 'Journey in Satchidananda'

Billie Holiday – 'Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do'

Des’ree – 'You Gotta Be'

Lafawndah – 'Substancia'

Chaka Khan – 'I’m Every Woman'

It’s fair to say, Kirsha Kaechele has lived a life less ordinary. The American artist and curator lives in Hobart, but Australia is just the latest home for a woman who has sought out experiences her whole life. As a teenager, she left home and travelled to 50 countries in 7 years – a self-education in the furthest corners of the world. She lived with the Sannyasin cult, she dropped ayahuasca in the Amazon, and set up shop in a derelict part of New Orleans, bringing art projects to some of the poorest neighbourhoods in town. Kirsha’s latest work is a book called Eat the Problem. It’s a work of art and cookbook all at once, with contributions from famous chefs and thinkers; looking at the question of invasive species and how we can make a flaw a feature in the most sustainable way. When you read Kirsha’s bio, you want to spend a day talking to her. I got an hour. From The Kinks to The Stranglers, Chamorro celebration music, to Tasmanian troubadours, she shared her illuminating songs and incredible stories with me. A wild conversation with a wonderfully curious soul.

Johnny Sablan - ‘Tippi Tippi Tan’

The Kinks - ‘Waterloo Sunset’

The Stranglers - ‘Golden Brown’

Ben Salter - ‘Isolationism’

Christopher Coleman & The Great Escape - ‘Jesse’

Spiderbait are no strangers to triple j and Double J. They’re part of the fabric of Australian festival culture, they’re Hottest 100 champions, and drummer Kram has recently popped up again on stage in our annual One Night Stand gig in Lucindale.

In 2012, when Kram did the Take 5, Spiderbait were gearing up to play a greatest hits set at Splendour in the Grass. He took us on a trip down memory lane, through some of the band's most amazing moments.

Metallica - ‘Whiplash’

The Breeders - ‘Cannonball’

Leadbelly - ‘Black Betty’

Dialectrix - 'Buy Me A Pony {Like a Version}'

Where do I begin with Kylie Minogue? She’s been in our lives for over three decades, she’s sold more than 70 million records, holds multiple ARIA and Brit Awards, and a Grammy. Over fifteen studio albums, countless tours, and plenty of other side hustles, she has become one of the most legendary Australians alive. She’s just Kylie, our Kylie, and she’s an icon.

 No doubt like many of you, I grew up with Kylie Minogue. Her new albums would be on every Christmas and birthday wish list, and as I got older and opened up my world view, so did she; broadening her sound to indie music, taking on country pop, and collaborating with everyone from Nick Cave to Robbie Williams to The Wiggles.  But disco has always been in her back pocket, and in 2020 she returned to the Studio 54 dancefloor with an glittering new album of classic dance. On the day “DISCO” was released, Kylie joined me to Take 5 with her disco ball. The tunes she picked were classics, but wait till you hear the stories behind them. This is a bucket list Take 5 with a living legend.

Donna Summer – "Love To Love You Baby"

Earth, Wind & Fire – "September"

Gloria Gaynor – "I Will Survive"

Bee Gees – "Night Fever"

Daft Punk – "Around The World"

Leigh Whannell is a guy who likes to scare you.

Back in 2004 he wrote and starred in Saw; it was a horror movie done on a budget, it’d go on to make millions, and it got Hollywood’s attention. Pretty soon, Leigh and his mate James Wan were on a role; they’d make sequels and new horror films, and these two guys from Melbourne were all of a sudden the talk of the town.

Fast forward to 2020, and Leigh is writing and directing his take on the classic HG Wells story, The Invisible Man. It’s a modern twist on a classic; the focus is much more on the victim, played by Elisabeth Moss, than the villain… and it fits into that emerging genre of social horror where often real life is far more frightening than fantasy.

We met Leigh way before all of this. Every Saturday morning, many of us would wake up early and watch Recovery; a TV show of ramshackle proportions, with live music, an even livelier host, and a 19 year old Leigh Whannell reviewing the latest blockbusters. That’s the Leigh we met again, when he joined me to Take 5. After years on both sides of the camera, I asked this local boy made good to tell me about five “songs you can see”. Music has a way of completely changing a film’s feel, and vice versa. In so many of the films we love, it’s the sounds that cement those images in our brains. From Blade Runner to The Breakfast Club, this is a heartfelt and joyful ride through a film buff’s brain.

Vangelis – ‘Main Title’ (from Blade Runner)

Simple Minds – ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ (from The Breakfast Club)

Jóhann Jóhannsson – ‘Prisoners’ (from the soundtrack to Prisoners)

Survive – ‘Hourglass’ (from The Guest)

Air Supply – ‘All Out of Love’ (from Animal Kingdom)

Remember that time between the mid to late 00’s, when indie and dance clashed, when we scoured Myspace for the most exciting new tunes and remixes, and when the internet met the dancefloor to create one big party community?

Some call it indie dance or electroclash, and some refer to the era as bloghouse; a magical time that gave rise to big names like Diplo, Steve Aoki, Simian Mobile Disco, and Justice. It was post Napster, but before Spotify, and it was the wild west of music.

15 years on, blogger Lina Abascal has captured that scene in her first ever book. Never Be Alone Again tracks the rise and fall of bloghouse. It’s a brilliant read that is as much a fun trip down memory lane, as a document of how this scene reflected a very unique time in music, and gave rise to something massive.

From Crookers remixes, to Justice Vs Simian, and Does it Offend You, Yeah, this will catapult you back to every dance floor and worn out USB of your youth.

My Moon My Man - Feist (Boys Noize Remix)

We Are Rockstars - Does It Offend You, Yeah?

To Protect and Entertain - Busy P ft. Murs (Crookers Remix)

Pro Nails- Kid Sister ft. Kanye West

We Are Your Friends - Justice Vs. Simian

This is a story that’s not often been told. Lindy Morrison is well known as the drummer for The Go-Betweens. Over a decade, her drumming shaped the sound of one of most acclaimed acts, and her unconventional style made beautifully written poems into earworms. But before she was in a rock band, Lindy was an activist, she performed theatre, and she travelled the world. After her time with The Go-Betweens, she went on to become an advocate for Australian musicians, and every time I’ve come across Lindy she’s been the firecracker in the centre of the room. Fiercely passionate, incredibly fun, and a woman who speaks her mind.

Lindy’s story has recently been told by her lifelong friend Tracey Thorn. The British singer met Lindy backstage back in 1983, and a bond formed. Her memoir is not only a beautiful story of friendship but of the erasure of women in rock n’ roll folklore. It’s time to fill in the gaps of our musical history. Just wait till you hear the life of Lindy.

Plastic Ono Band - 'Give Peace a Chance'

Lou Reed - 'Walk on the Wild Side'

X-Ray Spex - 'Oh Bondage Up Yours!'

The Go-Betweens - 'Your Turn my Turn'

Alex The Astronaut - 'I Think You’re Great'

Lykke Li has one of those voices that stops you in your tracks.

It’s husky, it’s sweet, it can sound like love itself, then heartbreak in the next moment. From the first moment I heard it, I was a fan. And in her five albums since, Lykke Li has evolved as an artist whose depth as a songwriter and maker has mirrored her life experiences.

Her latest album is EYEYE; it follows the end of a big relationship and you can hear it in every second. Lykke recorded it in a totally different way; stripping back her production, abandoning click tracks and headphones, just feeling and being in that feeling.

It’s accompanied by a handful of short films, which bring this devastating heartbreak to life even further. It’s a truly sensory experience, and so I asked Lykke to share her sensory songs. From Funkadelic, to Brian Eno, to wildly beautiful Bulgarian choirs, this is therapy not only for the ears but for the soul.

Funkadelic - 'Maggot Brain'

Brian Eno - 'The Big Ship'

Lorenzo Senni 'Canone Infinito'

Melanie De Biasio - 'I'm Gonna Leave You (Cinematic Orchestra Remix)'

Bulgarian State Television Female Choir - 'Kalimankou Denkou (The Evening Gathering)'

Where do you begin with Mark Ronson? 7 Grammys, an Oscar, and so many hit records over 15 years of writing and producing music. He may not sing, but he’s topped the charts in every other way; crafting 'Uptown Funk', co-writing 'Shallow' with Lady Gaga, and collaborating with musicians from right across the genre map. Ever since that debut album back in 2003, I’ve been a fan. The way he scooped up hip-hop, soul, and funk into perfect pop packages grabbed my attention and kept it. Over the years Mark and I have crossed paths a few times but he’s never done a Take 5. And the opportunity to get inside the musical mind of Mark Ronson is something I’ve been hankering to do for a long time. From OutKast to The Smiths, King Princess to Kacey Musgraves to Prince, hear one of the world's great producers explore how their songs define pop perfection for him.

King Princess - ‘1950’

The Smiths - ‘Stop Me if You Think You’ve Heard This One Before’

Outkast - ‘Ms. Jackson’

Kacey Musgraves - ‘Slow Burn

Prince - ‘Pop Life’ 

One of the most beautiful voices performing today, is that of Marlon Williams.

The New Zealand singer has been a rising star over the past few years, not only with his music but increasingly on screen with roles in A Star is Born, The Beautiful Lie, and True History of the Kelly Gang. It’s been around four years since his last solo record, but he’s just returned with My Boy.

And it’s quite the flip from his last, full of jaunty rhythms, 80’s synths, and a lighter quality all round. On the day he released it, Marlon joined me to Take 5. From Maori children’s songs to Duran Duran, this is a beautiful and grounded conversation about renewal and finding you way back to your foundations.

• Martin Gore – Complusion
• St Joseph's Maori Girls College ft. Maisey Rika – Hine
• Hirini Melbourne – Ruru
• Lee Hazelwood – Easy and Me
• Duran Duran – A View To Kill

Matthew E White is a jack of all trades. A producer hailing from Richmond, Virginia, he’s worked with everyone from Sharon Van Etten to Natalie Prass, Justin Vernon to The Mountain Goats. A few years ago he set up Spacebomb, a studio and label which also acts as a community space for artists to experiment.

This all feeds off his own work, as a multi-instrumentalist, former jazz player, and songwriter for whom music has no boundaries. In short, Matt is the kinda guy you love to get stuck talking to in the kitchen at a house party, which I why I asked him to Take 5.

From ESG to Frankie Valli to Marvin Gaye, crawl inside the full spectrum of Matthew E White’s mind.

ESG - You're No Good

Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown

Miles Davis - Rated X

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)

Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (the Ecology)

Max Richter is one of the most loved modern composers in the world. He’s sold millions of albums, and been streamed billions of times. Max’s work is just as likely to be heard in prestigious concert halls as through your tv speakers, and his scores for shows like Leftovers and Bridgerton, or films like Ad Astra, have been critically acclaimed. Richter’s compositions are as comfortable in the catwalks of Paris as the hallways of your home, and his music has been a beautiful saviour and release to me for many years.

For all of these reasons, asking Max to Take 5 was a bucket list. I wanted to get a window into his mind, and hear the songs that compelled him. As someone whose music can make me cry, swoon, and think differently about the world around me, what are the tunes that do that for Max Richter? From Kraftwerk to Joni Mitchell, to Bach, this is as much a conversation about songs as it is the creative lifeblood of one of the world’s greatest living composers.

Kraftwerk – 'Computer World'

Joni Mitchell – 'Chelsea Morning'

Johann Sebastian Bach – 'Concerto in D Minor for two violins'

Soft Machine – 'Why Are We Sleeping?'

Nina Simone – 'I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free'

Megan Washington is one of my favourite people to talk to. Ever since we first met her ten years ago, she’s been an open book, who has an incredible perspective on creativity. On and off air, a conversation with Meg is never small talk, and you always feel richer for it. Washington’s music career began as a jazz singer, she morphed into a pop artist, and explored avant garde experiments in the years that followed. Her latest work is textured, synth filled pop music, with the lyrical weight of a decade fully lived. But will this shapeshifter rest here? Across five songs, Megan Washington wears her creative chameleon heart on her sleeve; you can hear the thread of each of her choices, sewn into what she has crafted herself. From Split Enz to Talk Talk, Kendrick to Mitski, and an unforgettable story about Rufus Wainwright, these are the songs that fill Meg’s chameleon heart.

Rufus Wainwright - 'Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk'

Split Enz - 'I See Red'

Talk Talk - 'It's My Life'

Kendrick Lamar - 'King Kunta'

Mitski - 'Nobody'

I’ve been chasing Miranda Tapsell to Take 5 for years. The proud Larrakia Tiwi woman has proven hard to pin down because she’s been so busy making movies, starring in TV shows, and writing.

Many of us first saw Taps in 2012, in her breakthrough role as Cynthia in The Sapphires. But she’s also been a star of stage and small screen, performing in plays, on telly as Martha in Love Child, and a regular guest on Get Krackin’, and most recently as the lead star and co-writer of Top End Wedding. In amongst it all, Miranda Tapsell penned her memoir Top End Girl capturing a particularly hectic time where she not only wrote a film about getting married, but got hitched herself.

Across five tunes, Miranda takes you from her childhood in Darwin and Jabiru, to what called her to acting, and the power of seeing yourself and people like you, on screen.

Roxette – 'It Must Have Been Love'

Spice Girls – 'Wannabe'

Christine Anu – 'Island Home'

TLC – 'Unpretty'

Bruno Mars – 'Marry You'

You might know Jack Steadman as frontman for British indie band, Bombay Bicycle Club. But for the past few years he’s stepped out as a solo artist, going under the moniker of Mr Jukes. It’s a project that’s allowed him to go beyond the indie realm and produce music that’s full of classic soul, funk, and hip-hop. And his latest album, features new young MC Barney Artist.

On the day they released “The Locket”, the two of them joined me from London to Take 5. I’m a big fan of their sound, but I also love the driver behind this record; it’s all about unity, and hope. Something we all need right now. And whether you’re a super fan or new to their sound, I can guarantee this convo will spark joy and give you a big belly laugh too.

A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario

Westside Gunn & Joey Bada$$ - 327 (ft. Tyler, The Creator & Billie Esscco)

Kano - Class of Deja (Feat D Double E & Ghetts)

Queen Latifah - U.N.I.T.Y

Jay-Z & Kanye West - The Joy (ft. Curtis Mayfield)

Nancy Bates is a proud Barkindji song woman, a mentor, and a curator. She recognises the power of song in sharing stories; particularly the songlines that tell the stories of First Nations peoples in Australia.

During the Adelaide Fringe in 2022, Nancy is also behind the soundtrack for a huge and beautiful performance piece called Sky Song. It’s all about light, so I thought I’d marry the two ideas in her theme, and ask her to share songs that bring stories to light. What she shared, will stay with me forever. It’s a reminder of the power of sharing, but also of hearing, of really listening.

From Archie Roach to Electric Fields, and many discoveries in between, let Nancy Bates bring stories to light.

Archie Roach - There’s A Little Child

Allara - Rekindled Systems

Corey Theatre - Ngathuk Ngalina

Aimee Volkofsky - Buried

Electric Fields - Nina

The Finns are a musical bunch. Neil has fronted the legendary Crowded House, sons Liam and Elroy play, and brother Tim led Split Enz and has made a heap of solo records.

Back in 2011, Neil’s wife Sharon joined him on a record too. They called themselves The Pajama Club and together with Alana Skyring from The Grates on drums, they made an album.

It was around then I asked them to Take 5. I remember wanting to move in with Neil and Sharon after this chat; they’re both so warm and laidback, and late nights at their place sound like a dream. From Talking Heads to Ladyhawke, settle in for some wonderful tales from this musical family.

Talking Heads - ‘Heaven’

Augie March - ‘Dog’s Day’

Connan Mockasin - ‘Faking Jazz Together’

Ladyhawke - ‘Message To My Girl {triple j Like A Version 2009}’

The Smiths - ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’

Sydney singer Ngaiire is a powerhouse. I remember the first time I heard her voice, I was a goner. The way her voice curled around every lyric was one thing, but her songwriting craft showed a promise that would pay off in the EP’s and albums that would follow.

Music has always been a big part of Ngaiire’s life. As a child of the 90’s, she grew up listening to pop songs in Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, then Australia. She would find a connection particularly to Janet Jackson and Talib Kweli; a brown woman in song in an overwhelmingly white Australia.

This is a conversation about how we find our place, and connection, no matter where we are.

Janet Jackson - ‘Together Again’

Sisqó - ‘Thong Song’

Talib Kweli - ‘Black Girl Pain’

Frank Ocean - ‘Pink + White’

Spice Girls - ‘2 Become 1’

I was 21 when I first heard Pnau. Their debut album Sambanova would become the soundtrack to pre drinks and after parties, it signalled a duo who knew how to bring it, with an exceptional debut of house music. Nick Littlemore was the producer behind it, and alongside Pete Mayes they’d craft many more records, reaching new levels of explosive, ecstatic pop music.  It wasn’t the only project Nick would excel at through. With Luke Steele, he formed Empire of the Sun, and topped the charts in Australia and the States. He’d dabble with Ladyhawke in a band called Teenager, and his latest collaboration is with Al Wright, as the duo Vlossom. Working with others is key to what propels him forward, and since he was a kid he’s sought out like minded creatives to bring his wild ideas to life. Nick Littlemore is one of those larger than life characters, and over the years I would hear him in interviews exclaiming loudly, distorting the mics with his reactions, and generally taking life by the horns. But recently, his mood has shifted. You’ll find out why pretty soon, as Nick shares his songs of enlightenment. From his adopted home of Los Angeles, in his home studio crammed with synths, amps, cords, and just gear, Nick shows a side of himself you’ve never heard before. From Frankie Knuckles to vedic chanting, this is a magical conversation about the power of song.

Frankie Knuckles - Your Love

Alice Coltrane - Om Shanti

Vangala Kasinatha Sarma & Nishtala Suryaprakash Rao - Saraswathi Suktham

The Electric Prunes - Holy Are You

The Terry Riley - A Rainbow In Curved Air

So where I do even begin with Peter Garrett? He’s one of the most iconic front men, and activists in Australia. As lead singer of Midnight Oil, he lit a fire with their music, bringing the plight of First Nations peoples, of environmental degradation, and the threat of nuclear war, to Top 40 radio.

The Oils were the first band I ever saw live. I was 12, and my parents took the whole family along to their Blue Sky Mining tour. That lit a fire in me, of the excitement and connection of live music. So the opportunity to Take 5 with Pete is a real bucket list moment. I asked him to share his five songs of reckoning. It felt like the perfect theme, and he didn’t disappoint. Peter has spoken out about his own music, he’s been on the floor of Parliament in Canberra, and at plenty of rally’s and stages across his lifetime. But this is a rare opportunity to hear from his as a fan. And what an articulate, passionate, and heartfelt fan he is. From Edwin Starr to PJ Harvey, and one of the most powerful protest songs of all time, this is an extraordinary conversation with one of our greatest artists.

Edwin Starr - "War"

Yothu Yindi - "Treaty"

Elvis Costello - "Shipbuilding"

PJ Harvey - "The Wheel"

Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"