Take 5
Take 5 is a music podcast where guests pick five songs that hold special meaning for them, each tied to a unique theme. The memories and stories behind these beloved tracks often reveal a more personal side of well-known figures. Host Zan Rowe guides these conversations, offering listeners a glimpse into the creative hearts of her guests through their musical choices.
Episodes
Take 5 with Sampa The Great, The Presets, Pia Miranda, Dan Sultan and John Butler
Take 5 is celebrating 20 years, and we're marking the milestone with something special.Zan Rowe is bringing the show to record stores around the country for four intimate, live conversations with some of Australia's most loved artists:The PresetsKate Miller-HeidkeDan SultanJohn ButlerEach guest takes on a theme and chooses five songs that speak to it, and what unfolds is always u
Take 5 with Vika & Linda
Vika and Linda Bull are national treasures.From their early days singing backing vocals with Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows to breaking out on their own with acclaimed records, they're part of the very fabric of Australian music, and they do it all in harmony. Their voices have soundtracked decades of Australian life, but it's the story behind those voices that makes them ex
Take 5 with Genesis Owusu
Genesis Owusu is one of Australia's most thrilling new artists.Born Kofi Owusu-Ansah, he immigrated to Canberra with his family when he was just two years old. Almost immediately he felt like an odd one out. And he used that feeling to get weird.20 odd years later, his music, visuals, and storytelling has resonated with millions. He's won the ARIA for Album of the Year twice (fir
Take 5 with country music superstar Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson is a force of nature.Raised in the tiny farming town of Baskin, Louisiana (population 170) she grew up between corn fields and country radio, where music wasn't a genre but a way of life. From writing her first song at nine years old to hauling a camper trailer to Nashville at 19, her path to becoming one of country music's biggest stars was anything but overnight.
Take 5 with Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Ardern is a history-maker.As Prime Minister of New Zealand at 37, she became only the second woman in the world to give birth while in office. But it was her leadership style that defined her time at the top, leading with empathy and kindness in the face of back-to-back tragedies, and showing the strength of coming together.From growing up in small-town New Zealand singin
Take 5 with David Byrne
David Byrne is a music icon.With Talking Heads, or his many wild collaborations, and as an acclaimed solo artist, he's continually pushed the boundaries of sound, crafting some of the most iconic live performances of our time.Over five decades, he's never stopped asking why. His curiosity has driven an extraordinary creative life that stretches way beyond music: on canvas, in wri
Take 5 with Darren Hayes from Savage Garden
When you look back at the Australian artists who've made their mark internationally, Savage Garden are right up there. Two guys from Brisbane who went Number 1 around the world, cracked the notoriously tough U.S. market and sold nearly 30 million albums with hits like 'I Want You', 'To The Moon And Back', and 'Truly Madly Deeply'. They may have only been together for two albums,
Take 5 with Shania Twain
Shania Twain holds the record for the biggest selling country album of all time: Come On Over. Growing up poor in a Canadian mining town, who could have foreseen that the woman born Eileen Regina Twain would go on to sell over 100 million records, cross country music into pop, and become one of the most recognisable voices on the planet?Her life has been extraordinary, dotted wit
Take 5 with Peter Garrett
Peter Garrett has been an unstoppable force of Australian music for decades.As the iconic frontman of Midnight Oil, a grassroots activist, and a former Federal Parliamentarian, he's spent a lifetime driving change: from the pubs of Sydney to the remote outback communities that reshaped the band's sound, from the floor of Parliament to the world's biggest stages. He's never stoppe
INTRODUCING: Brand new TV episodes of Take 5 with Zan Rowe
Take 5 with Zan Rowe is back on your screens from Thursday August 20, and Season 5 is the biggest yet!What song makes Peter Garrett cry? What was the tune that woke David Byrne up to the full body physicality of music, at Studio 54? And who do you think a teenage Jacinda Ardern was blasting, as she hooned around her hometown in New Zealand? You’re about to find out, as Take 5 ret
Best Bits: Paul McCartney on The Beatles and writing a song
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.One of the greatest songwriters of all time sat down with Zan Rowe to open his songbook and dive deep into the making of five of his greatest. Paul McCartney has provided the soundtrack to billions of lives. His legacy in song is unparalleled; starting with The Beatles, who changed the game forever, he rolled on with his own solo career wh
Best Bits: Kacey Musgraves on Tame Impala and Dolly Parton!
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.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 made her one of the most loved artists around.For Kacey’s Take 5, Zan wanted to find out about the music that brought her to today, and to borrow a title from her own debut album, helped Kace
Best Bits: Blink 182’s Tom DeLonge on the 80’s songs that changed his life
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.Founding member of Blink-182, Angels and Airwaves, and UFO enthusiast, Tom DeLonge hung out with Zan Rowe back in 2012, while in the country to play Soundwave Festival.You don't create a career like that without loving music, so Zan dived into the music that changed his life.Listen to the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/pr
Best Bits: The songs that renew Emily Wurramara
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.In 2024 Emily Wurramara released her second album NARA and cemented herself as a powerful indigenous storyteller. The Warnindhilyagwa woman joined Zan Rowe to Take 5 on the same day her second album was released and the energy in the studio was pumping. It’s very much a record of renewal, and one of Double J's 50 Best Albums of that year.L
Poh Ling Yeow's five sides
Poh Ling Yeow has been part of our lives for two decades. As a TV chef, a gourmet stall owner, a celebrity in the jungle, and a cookbook author. Poh is a painter and has even popped up an actor, describing herself as having a greed for life experience.Poh is currently hosting and judging on the latest series of Masterchef, and this week she's Taking 5. Fall into the stories and s
Hot Chip jubilant songs from the archive
2026 marks 20 years since Hot Chip released The Warning. Their second album leapt from the quiet, reflective electro of their debut and catapulted us all onto the dancefloor.To mark the occasion, we share an episode from 2020 when Joe Goddard and Al Doyle dropped in to Take 5. Their theme? Jubilant songs. Their vibes? Pure joy. From classic to modern gold to deep cuts, settle in
Gotye Takes 5 from the archives
This month, Gotye's breakthrough album Like Drawing Blood, turns 20. It was the record that took him from bedroom producer to Hottest 100 favourite, showcasing his incredible talent at sewing sounds. The man behind Gotye, Wally De Backer, has been keeping a low profile for a while. But back in 2007, after a huge year following this album's release, he joined Zan Rowe to Take 5. T
Tool's unexpected finds in their music library
This week marks the 20th anniversary of Tool's huge album 10,000 Days. Back in 2013, Tool were in the country playing massive shows when drummer Danny Carey and bass player Justin Chancellor came into the triple j studios to Take 5 with Zan Rowe.As we mark the anniversary of Tool's chart topping album, let's time travel back to a Take 5 classic.The theme? Unexpected finds in thei
Emma Louise Takes 5 with before and after
In the fifteen years since Emma Louise wowed us with her debut single 'Jungle', she’s shown all sides of herself, singing her story with vulnerability and reflection.Last year, Emma released the collaborative album Dumb with producer Flume. But it’s been 8 years since her last solo album, the daring and romantic Lilac Everything. This week, she returns with Sunshine for Happiness
Billy Corgan's songs that make him feel good
35 years ago, we met a band called Smashing Pumpkins. Rising in the wave of American grunge, the Chicago band were led by the iconic voice of Billy Corgan and would rise and rise like all their contemporaries, over the coming years. If you know anything about music history, you know the story of the Pumpkins is a tumultuous one. But Billy has continued through it all. Back in 201
Alexei Toliopoulos shares the soundtrack to his life
Alexei Toliopoulos is a lifelong cinephile. Known for his excellent podcasts including The Last Video Store, he’s a writer, comedian, filmmaker and loves talking about the movies that made us who we are today. The way he speaks about cinema invites everyone into the conversation. But what are the songs that soundtrack his life? And why?Dig into a joyful convo that will have you c
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Take 5 with time
Thirty years ago the world met Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Their debut album Revival introduced us to two incredible storytellers, singers and guitarists, and in the three decades since they’ve swept us away in song.It's long been on my bucket list to have them Take 5, and finally here it is. When thinking on a theme, I landed on time. Time, and their ruminations on time, h
Ed Le Brocq's songs on the road
Are you ready for some incredible stories? Take 5 always gifts us with some cracking yarns, but this week’s episode takes the cake. In fact, I’ve had more responses to Ed Le Brocq’s Take 5 than any other, in ages.Ed used to be Eddie Ayers, a legendary ABC Classic FM broadcaster who has shared his life of adventure with us over the past two decades. Ed is a cellist, viola, and vio
Tim Rogers Takes 5 with "a living"
Where do you begin with Tim Rogers? For more than 30 years he has been the soundtrack to our lives. As frontman for You Am I, an acclaimed solo artist and keen collaborator, an actor, author and once even a Double J broadcaster.He's made a living in more ways than one, and his approach to living has shifted over the years. A long time coming, I invited Tim to Take 5 and explore t
Lizzy Hoo's life escapades
Comedian Lizzy Hoo has been everywhere the past few years. When she’s not doing stand up, she’s popping up on Have You Been Paying Attention?, and hosting her own podcast The Lizzy Hoo Show.Lizzy has made travel shows, and is even the voice of an airline. She's one of those people who says YES to life. She also has also got a razor sharp wit, and more than a few adventurous tales
Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Liberation
Sophie Ellis-Bextor knows how to fill a dancefloor. Across 8 albums, and a double indemnity hit in "Murder on the Dancefloor", she's made a name for herself as a pop-disco queen. When she’s not on stage or in a recording studio, Sophie is throwing a kitchen disco, hosting her Spinning Plates podcast, and publishing books.Sophie’s latest album Perimenopop takes stock of where she
Take 5 returns with a bumper new season
From bucket list guests to Australian rock royalty and a disco queen, find out who Zan will be Taking 5 with in 2026.
A little update for Take 5
Zan lets you know what's in store for 2026...
Best of Take 5: Aaron Chen
It's been a stratospheric rise for comedian, Aaron Chen.Getting his start in stand-up, he won a heap of fans starring in Fisk, and his charming stint on Taskmaster.But at the top of his game, he left Australia to start again in New York City.For his Take 5, Aaron shared one song from a pivotal time in his comedy career.Arcade Fire – 'Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)'This is one of the
Best of Take 5: Dannii Minogue
If you grew up in Australia in the 1980s then you probably grew up with Young Talent Time.It was a springboard for so much talent, and one of its biggest stars was Dannii Minogue.For her Take 5, Dannii shared the one song she loves the most from her sister Kylie Minogue's epic catalogue.Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue – ‘Kids’This is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. You can
Best of Take 5: Jack Antonoff
What do Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar have in common? Jack Antonoff.The decorated producer has made a name for himself shaping some of the biggest albums in the world. For his Take 5, Jack Antonoff shared how he brings an artist's vision to life.Waterboys – The Whole Of The MoonThis is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. You can hear the full episode here: https://w
Best of Take 5: CMAT
Irish artist CMAT has got it all: the voice, the songwriting talent, the charm.Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, (aka CMAT), has been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize and counts Elton John as a fan. Her Euro-Country songs capture heartbreak with a healthy dose of humour, which is why she gravitated towards country music in the first place. Gary Stewart – 'She’s Actin' Single (I’m
Best Of Take 5: Darren Hayes
Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes has lived quite the life.Hitting Number 1 around the world in 1997 with their debut album, he recently shared what was going on behind the scenes at that time, in his beautiful and devastating memoir, Unlovable.When he joined Zan Rowe to Take 5 back in 2024, he shared a whole new side of one of Australia's biggest stars.Peter Gabriel - 'Love To
Best of Take 5: Angie McMahon
Angie McMahon is the kind of songwriter who stops you in your tracks.With two albums under her belt, her most recent record Light, Dark, Light Again is about cycles and the patterns that repeat and renew throughout life.This concept of cycles inspired Angie's Take 5 theme of 'revolution songs' and she responded to it beautifully.Joni Mitchell - Circle Game (live at Universal Amph
Best of 2025: Lorde, Gordi, Trent Dalton + more
It's not definitive, but here are some of the best moments from Take 5 this year:The legendary Richard Fidler threw back to the early days of the Doug Anthony All Stars.Gordi's brilliant third album Like Plasticine gave us an insight into her experience as a doctor on the frontline during the pandemic.Comedians Matt Okine and Denise Scott celebrated Season 2 of their much-loved T
Take 5 with TV On The Radio
Hearing TV On The Radio talk about music is as fun as it sounds. When the New York band first emerged they were like nothing we’d heard before. A mash of genres and sounds and for many, the sound of tomorrow, today.10 years on from their last album, the band are back on the road again. And on their first visit to Australia in a decade, they joined Zan Rowe to Take 5. It’s the onl
Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand
Do you remember the first time you heard Franz Ferdinand's 'Take Me Out'? The way it began, then completely flipped less than a minute in? It was such a thrill, one that has never dulled in the two decades since. Six albums later, the Scottish band explore the thrill of living on their latest record, The Human Fear. How human fears drive us on, bolt us into action, give us a thri
Trent Dalton's own story in five songs
Trent Dalton is a master storyteller. His debut novel Boy Swallows Universe is an international bestseller, it was turned into a Netflix series and recently voted as Australia’s #1 read of the last quarter century, in Radio National's Top 100 books.A Walkley Award winning journalist, Trent followed this stunning debut with several other works of fiction, and a collection of Love
Stella Donnelly's radical honesty
If you’ve ever lost touch with a friend or been heartbroken by a platonic breakup, Stella Donnelly’s new album is for you. Documenting the end of a friendship, it’s a brutally honest, heartbreaking, and hopeful record so many of us can relate to. And Zan couldn’t wait to talk with her all about it.Stella is one of the best songwriters around today. She has always shot from the hi
Justine Clarke's Australian songbook
Justine Clarke is a legend. For most of her life she’s been in ours; as a child actor who graduated to a lifelong career on the big and small screen and into an acclaimed theatre actor. For the last 20 years she’s probably been entertaining your kids, as a regular on Play School and ARIA winning singer of many children’s albums. But running parallel to all of this, has been music
Noel Gallagher's 'escape' songs
Oasis are undoubtedly the biggest band to rise out of Brit Pop. And it’s hard to describe how massive their return is. For years, the public fighting between the Gallagher brothers suggested they’d never come back. And one day, they did.Oasis have been playing all over the world to stadiums of screaming fans, young and old. And as they finally return to Australia, we’re celebrati
Mother and Son: Denise Scott and Matt Okine
Get ready to laugh, cry, and go head-to-head with two of Australia's most loved comedians. Denise Scott and Matt Okine are Mother and Son (the remix). And as the second series comes to a close on ABC TV and ABC iview, I roped them in to Take 5.A bit out of the ordinary, but oh boy, they embraced it. This is beautiful and hilarious Take 5, and you’re gonna walk away from it feelin
Paul Kelly's songs of 'place'
Paul Kelly is a national treasure, who's written the soundtrack to our lives. Road trips, first loves, heartbreak, our very sense of identity; he’s explored it all over more than 40 years and 30 albums. But who are the songwriters that tickle him? And what place do they take him to? That was the theme I gave PK, when I invited him to Take 5. And you’re about to dig into an extra
Jarvis Cocker from Pulp
Jarvis Cocker has had a dream run. As founding member and lead singer of Pulp, he hit the highest of the highs during Brit Pop in the 90s, before embarking on a solo career that was just as celebrated. A few years ago he published a different kind of memoir called Good Pop, Bad Pop, which visually catalogued his stuff and told his story through its memories. And within that was r
Take 5 with Lorde
At the age of 16, Lorde went #1 across the world. She was catapulted from the suburbs of Auckland to the Grammy's stage, winning Song of the Year. 12 years and four albums later, she's continued to defy expectations as a pop artist and is one of the most gifted songwriters of our time. This is an episode of Take 5 that was filmed for the TV series, but this podcast is an extended
Kevin Bacon Takes 5 with songs of joy
You’re about to learn a whole lot more about Kevin Bacon. The prolific actor has been on our screens for more than 40 years. It was his breakthrough part as Ren in Footloose that got him attention, but he was just getting started. Acclaimed roles in Apollo 13, A Few Good Men, The River Wild, and Mystic River would follow. In fact his filmography and range is so broad he literally
Take 5 with comedian and TV star Aaron Chen
You’re about to see a side to Aaron Chen you’ve never seen before. You might know him as George in Fisk, or Guy Montgomery’s sidekick on Spelling Bee. Maybe you cheered his win on Taskmaster Australia season 3. He’s also an acclaimed stand-up comic. But when I sat down with Aaron in his new home in New York City, I got a totally different sense of what makes him tick.This podcast
Melanie C's songs she 'feels in her bones'
As one-fifth of the Spice Girls, she's one of the most famous people on the planet. But you wouldn’t know it. The Liverpudlian's down to earth beginnings define who Mel C is today.Take 5 is back on your screens for a fourth season on ABC iview, and we kicked off the series with Sporty Spice. In a beautiful HIFI bar in east London, we unpacked her remarkable story… of a kid who da
Take 5 with Peaches
The transgressive trailblazer celebrates 25 years since The Teaches of Peaches. A boundary-blurring blend of electroclash, sex-positive feminist themes, and fun. It would become a defining album of the early noughties, and kick off a career that made our heads spin time and time again.Peaches has been pushing the boundaries and conversations around gender and sexuality since the
INTRODUCING: Brand new TV episodes of Take 5 with Zan Rowe
Take 5 with Zan Rowe is back on your screens from Tuesday 9 September, and Season 4 is our biggest yet.Kevin BaconMelanie C from the Spice GirlsLordePaul KellyComedian Aaron Chen (Fisk, Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee)Pulp's Jarvis CockerAcross this new season, you’ll hear revealing, funny, and deeply personal conversations with some of the most fascinating artists around.
Mac DeMarco shares 5 essential songs
Mac DeMarco has long been loved for his laid-back guitar noodlings and so called “slacker” rock. He sometimes calls it "jizz jazz", but whatever it is, it’s gained him a loving fanbase across the world.For the past few years, Mac has moved away from traditional albums in favour of brain dumping huge swaths of music – a lot of it without lyrics. But now he’s returned with an old s
Bert McCracken from The Used
Bert McCracken from The Used shares 5 songs that 'got him through'.The frontman and founding member of The Used found his tribe through music, and he’s gathered a huge community of fans over the last 25 years.It's the occasion of that quarter century that’s taking them around the world, to play out their first three albums in full night after night.It’s why I invited Bert to Take
Meg Washington's 'oasis' songs
It’s been five years since Meg Washington released an album of original songs, but that time hasn’t been wasted. Starring in Bluey as Calypso, and co-writing the Paul Kelly inspired film How To Make Gravy have dominated her last little while. But now she’s back with GEM, and it’s a welcome return.When talking about the album, Meg said she conjured a treasure island while writing
Gordi Takes 5 with 'transformation' songs
Sophie Payten has had a wild five years. Better known as Gordi, she’s been living all over, put music on hold to work her day job as a doctor during the pandemic, and has been reassessing her place and space in the world through it all.It’s been that long too, since her last album, and she’s captured the intensity, beauty, and whirlwind of her experiences on Like Plasticine.Ahead
Patience Hodgson's Hottest 100 pre-party songs
Patience Hodgson is no stranger to the Hottest 100. As lead singer of The Grates, she is certified alumni – with 8 entries and plenty of memories with her beloved band. And as we celebrate a special Hottest 100 of Australian songs, who better to wear their love of local on their sleeve. I roped Pae in for a pre-party and she delivered; not just with incredible songs but a peek be
Howlin' Pelle Takes 5 with blockbuster songs
Howlin’ Pelle is a joy to be around. As the longtime lead singer for Swedish garage rock legends The Hives, he brings big energy on stage and off. The band are known for their live shows, and their forthcoming new album is one they wrote with a stadium sensibility in mind. So when The Hives returned to Australia for the first time in 10 years, I asked him to choose his blockbuste
Outback Tom's songs for the generations
Yorta Yorta man Tom Forrest knows how to spin a yarn. Better known as Outback Tom, he’s amassed hundreds of thousands of fans on social media with his bush recipes and know how. Often joined by his Grandad, he shows his beautiful backyard of the Kimberley, while entertaining us with his charm and smarts.Tom’s a real renaissance man, he’s one of those people who tries his hand at
Zan revisits a special Take 5 with Ngaiire
This week, I’ve pulled out a special Take 5 from the archives, when Ngaiire joined me to explore songs without boundaries.Ngaiire has long been one of Australian music's most treasured voices.Having lived and travelled across many places, she draws on these experiences to shape her distinctive sound.Music has always been a big part of Ngaiire’s life. As a child of the 90’s, she g
Eddie Perfect Takes 5 with his 'source material' songs
Eddie Perfect has been entertaining us for years. A star of stage and screen, he’s a writer of Broadway musicals, played Mick Holland on Offspring, and once composed a musical about Shane Warne. Eddie’s currently starring in the titular role for another musical he wrote – Beetlejuice - and he nails it. But for someone with such a varied life in song, I was curious about the inspi
5 songs that have fused to Richard Fidler's 'history'
If you’re an avid podcast listener, you’ve likely heard one of Richard Fidler’s Conversations. For 20 years he’s been chatting with people from all walks of life, making the Conversations podcast one of the most popular in Australia. So as they mark this big 20th birthday, I thought it’d be fun to flip the mic on Richard. Because his story begins long ago, as a founding member of
Little Birdy's Katy Steele Takes 5 with 'breakout' songs
Katy Steele has always been surrounded by music. Her brothers came up with the Sleepy Jackson and Empire of the Sun, and her dad Rick Steele was a legendary blues guitarist around Perth. But Katy made her own mark more than 20 years ago, when she burst out as the songwriter and frontwoman of Little Birdy. With her soaring voice and knack for writing catchy pop songs, their debut
Ball Park Music's Sam Cromack Takes 5 with 'departures'
It's been a big year for Sam Cromack and his band Ball Park Music. A sold out tour, a #1 album, and a step away from their jaunty indie tunes into a more heartfelt, reflective moment. Like Love has solidified their place and one of Australia’s most loved bands.It got me thinking about other artist's departures; when they shifted the needle on their sound and surprised us all (for
Izzi Manfredi from The Preatures goes full circle
Isabella 'Izzi' Manfredi was born to be a frontwoman. As lead singer for The Preatures, she brought rock n roll swagger and brilliant pop songwriting to the scene, when they arrived in the 2010’s. They called it a day in 2020, but recently decided to reform and celebrate that brilliant debut album Blue Planet Eyes. It was the catalyst to invite Izzi in to Take 5, and hear about t
Kumi Taguchi: 5 songs she’s deeply bonded to
Kumi Taguchi is freshly minted author. Long known to us as a journo with ABC News and the current host of Insight on SBS, she’s just put out a beautiful memoir titled The Good Daughter.Kumi has always had that perfect blend of curiosity and empathy, it’s what makes her a great journo. She’s also got a strong grounding in music, having trained in violin as a child and even winning
Holy Holy's Tim Carroll shares his songs of place
Tim Carroll has got stories. One half of Holy Holy, he’s been adventuring around the world for most of his adult life, and place is key to his story with bandmate Oscar Dawson.As Holy Holy get ready to wrap it up for a while, I grabbed Tim on the way out of the door, to Take 5. His great sense of adventure and exceptional music taste locked this one in as a highlight, so go for a
The Kooks' Luke Pritchard on Dylan, Bowie and Lykke Li
It was 2006 when UK band The Kooks burst onto the scene with their debut record Inside In / Inside Out.Six albums later, they're returning to the same raw energy that captured their beginnings, and a nod in the album title too.On the day Never/Know comes out, frontman Luke Pritchard joined Zan to Take 5, and celebrate the songs that capture that same energy. From Lykke Li to Davi
Antony Green's song preferences
You’re about to hear a side of Antony Green you’ve never heard before. The longtime Chief Election Analyst for the ABC is about to hang up his boots, after calling close to 100 elections in his time. He’s the guy we look to as the polling booths close, crunching the numbers, understanding the swings, and with a brain and knowledge bank that would rival the best computers. Antony
Zan returns to Slowdive's girls to the front songs
Back in the early '90s, a little band called Slowdive were making waves in the UK. With wall of sound, they dwelled in the same realm as My Bloody Valentine, a real shoegaze sensibility, and they thrived. Then they hit a wall. As the loud, brash sounds of Britpop rose, the press soured on shoegaze, and the band decided to call it a day in the mid '90s.In 2013 they made a comeback
Zan revisits a beautiful Take 5 with Lucy Dacus
Lucy Dacus is one helluva songwriter. Whether collaborating with boygenius, or crafting solo songs, she’s gathered a dedicated following across the world.Lucy just recently put out her fourth album Forever is a Feeling, but back in 2019 she was in Australia touring her second Historian, and I swooped at the chance to have her Take 5. She was 23 at the time, but already showing a
Bon Iver on SABLE, fABLE, leaving the cabin, and finding happiness
A special treat in the feed this week, as Zan speaks with Justin Vernon in his only Australian interview. Bon Iver have just released their first new album in 6 years, and it's a lush, heartfelt love letter of song.Justin doesn’t give interviews often, and this conversation finds him more open than ever before. He’s also really happy. But it’s not without nuance, as you’ll hear a
Zan Rowe revisits a joyous Take 5 with Common
The acclaimed rapper, actor, poet and activist joined Zan Rowe for a joyous Take 5 at the end of 2020.It was after a tumultuous year in American politics and the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Common had spent a huge chunk of the year on the campaign trail with Joe Biden, during which he recorded and released an EP called A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1) which featured huge guest
Mahalia Barnes picks 5 songs that sum up her soul
As the oldest child of Jimmy and Jane Barnes, music has always been in Mahalia Barnes' blood, so it was no surprise that she inherited her dad’s extraordinary set of pipes, and set off on her own path.We may have first met her as a little kid in The Tin Lids, but pretty soon Mahalia entrenched herself in a world of jazz and soul. Forming her own band, collaborating with American
Mel Buttle's gala songs
Mel Buttle knows how to make you laugh. She’s one of Australia’s most loved comedians, and this year got to check another thing off her bucket list when the Melbourne International Comedy Festival asked her to host their Gala.It’s no surprise to anyone who’s seen her. Ever since she took to the stage more than 15 years ago, Mel has been a regular on our TV screens and radio stati
Julia Stone's songs of freedom
Julia Stone is one of Australia’s most successful musicians.With her brother Angus, she’s topped the Hottest 100 and sold-out massive shows across the world. As a solo artist, Julia has worked with some amazing collaborators.Back in 2021 Julia joined me to Take 5. It was right after she’d released her solo album Sixty Summers, which was a sonic shift from anything we'd heard from
Kristin Hersh's songs that shine
Kristin Hersh is a singular artist. For almost 40 years she’s been writing and performing songs. She may have gotten her start as a kid in Throwing Muses, but her creative life has expanded to other bands, solo work, critically acclaimed books, and iconic collaborations.Even if you’re not across Kristin’s work, you’re going to love the conversation you’re about to hear. About the
Mardi Gras best of: HAAi, Jake Shears, Casey Donovan, Ed Le Brocq and Rhys Nicholson
Over the years of I've chatted with many incredible people from the LGBTQIA+ community. Artists, comedians, musicians, singers; and a common thread through all these conversations is how much music has meant to them. How it’s been a place of joy and solace, love and healing.As we celebrate the annual Mardi Gras parade, I dug into the archives to pull out some of my favourite mome
Sharon Van Etten's songs of metamorphosis
For more than 15 years, Sharon Van Etten has worn her heart on her sleeve. Over 7 albums she's processed the raw emotions of life through some incredible songs, and continued to evolve her sound with every album.From early days playing indie folk and Americana, to big anthems, incorporating synths, and now collaborating with her band for the first time on the writing of an album.
Shihad once drove Faith No More around Auckland in an old volvo
New Zealand band Shihad are calling it a day. Over almost 4 decades they’ve torn up stages around the world, proving themselves one of the best live bands around. As they hang up the guitar leads, what better time to ask them to Take 5 and share some of their best memories?This is a blueprint for how Shihad came to be. It's also the story of a friendship that began in a schoolyar
Take 5 with New Order's Bernard Sumner
One of the most influential bands of our time are coming back to Australia. To celebrate New Order’s return, I’m dusting off a cracking Take 5 from 2020 with the one and only Bernard Sumner. The frontman joined me to share the songs that made him, which was a real treat given his blueprint has changed the course of modern music.Dive into the Haçienda, and hear some incredible sto
Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne shares his life-affirming songs
What do you say about Wayne Coyne? The legendary frontman of Flaming Lips has been bringing us joy for more than four decades. Their live shows are the stuff of legend; wild visuals, confetti, balloons, furry animal costumes and giant plastic balls rolling across the crowd. And then there's their music, strange and uplifting pop songs that have become the soundtrack to our own li
