Take 5
264 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 35 ratingsThe Take 5 is a music podcast where the people you love, share five songs they love. Each guest has a different theme, and the memories attached to their most beloved songs flip them to fan mode, often giving a rare insight into their creative heart. Hosted by Zan Rowe.
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Episodes
Tori Amos' breakthroughs
October 18, 2022 09:00 - 12 minutes - 166 MBShe’s a piano virtuoso who broke all the rules, and boundaries, of music.
Tony Armstrong's twists
October 11, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutes - 127 MBThe ABC News Breakfast sports presenter talks passion, learning from failure, and remaining true to yourself.
Missy Higgins' identity
October 04, 2022 09:00 - 13 minutes - 134 MBThis is an extraordinary conversation that will make you rethink what you thought you knew of Missy Higgins
Keith Urban's evolution
September 27, 2022 10:00 - 5 minutes - 120 MBFor this Take 5, we headed to Nashville, his adopted home town.
Guy Pearce’s songs that possess
September 20, 2022 10:00 - 11 minutes - 130 MBThe actor, musician, and music fan joins Zan Rowe to Take 5
Santigold's elevation
September 16, 2022 00:00 - 33 minutes - 76.9 MBI still remember the first time I heard Santigold. It was like a bolt from the blue, an upload to Myspace that sounded like nothing else around. The trilling high vocal, that deep bassy ownership of song. She came onto the scene demanding to be noticed, and I stood to attention with my ears wide open. Her debut album would be a big hit, and I’d soon learn her backstory; in punk bands, working at labels, understanding the wild 360 of the music industry and spitting it back and making it her ...
Marlon Williams' renewal
September 08, 2022 15:00 - 27 minutes - 37.7 MBOne 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 d...
Jess Ho's taste
September 02, 2022 00:00 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MBIf 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 B...
Alexisonfire's outsiders
August 26, 2022 00:00 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBAlexisonfire 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 ...
Hilltop Hoods' show business
August 19, 2022 00:00 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBHilltop 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 Am...
Spiderbait's songs in the key of J
August 12, 2022 00:00 - 38 minutes - 52.9 MBIt’s not overstating it to say that Spiderbait are one of Australia’s most loved bands. For more than 30 years, this power trio have ripped it up on stages and albums alike, and held a tight bond of friendship the whole way through. Their latest venture is a compilation album celebrating their bassist and singer Janet English. It’s called Sounds in the Key Of J, and off the back of it’s release I asked the main character and her bandmate Kram to Take 5. This is one of the wildest collectio...
Casey Donovan's guiding lights
August 05, 2022 00:00 - 36 minutes - 50 MBCasey 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...
Phil Jamieson's solo songs
July 28, 2022 23:57 - 26 minutes - 36.9 MBWhere do you start with Phil Jamieson? If you grew up in Australia, he’s been part of the musical fabric for decades. His band Grinspoon were the first band to ever be Unearthed by triple j, they dominated festival line-ups and made more than a few appearances in the Hottest 100. His music with Grinners has soundtracked our lives, and whether on stage or having a chat, Phil has often been the most entertaining fella in the room. So I was stoked to finally have him Take 5. The catalyst was ...
Joy Crookes' self
July 22, 2022 03:29 - 29 minutes - 40.8 MBThe 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 C...
Lykke Li's sensory songs
June 03, 2022 00:00 - 29 minutes - 67.7 MBLykke 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; stri...
Joan as Police Woman's musical heroes
May 27, 2022 00:00 - 31 minutes - 71.1 MBJoan 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...
Briggs' foundations
May 20, 2022 00:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MBYorta 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 ...
Bat For Lashes dedications
May 13, 2022 04:35 - 26 minutes - 61.7 MBDo 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 i...
Gary Calamar's songs he's put on the screen
May 06, 2022 00:30 - 28 minutes - 65.5 MBWe 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. ...
Kae Tempest's songs that speak their language
April 29, 2022 00:30 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MBKae 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. C...
Aldous Harding's voices
April 01, 2022 00:26 - 38 minutes - 50.7 MBAldous 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 ...
Steven Oliver's life in song
March 25, 2022 06:30 - 32 minutes - 44.3 MBSteven Oliver has been lighting up stage and screen for years now. A proud descendent of the Kuku-Yalanji, Waanyi, Gangalidda, Woppaburra, Bundjalung and Biripi peoples, he’s popped up on ABC TV’s Black Comedy. Hosted Faboriginal on SBS. And taken the stage as a poet and a playwright. His own story has been told in song, in Bigger and Blacker; a cabaret telling of his life. After traveling across the country with the show over the past three years, Steven brings it next to the Melbourne Inte...
Que Minh Luu's songs that bond
March 18, 2022 04:21 - 40 minutes - 55.7 MBAs this episode of the Take 5 happened, everyone is talking about Byron Baes. The first show commissioned for Netflix Australia is a glorious hate watch, full of influencer culture, questions about belonging, and some singular characters. The woman who commissioned it, is Que Minh Luu, she’s the Head of Content at Netflix Australia and her job is to find stories that are uniquely ours. Que has loved stories her whole life, and told them in shows like The Heights, Frayed, Diary of An Uber Dri...
Lina Abascal's bloghouse
March 11, 2022 05:27 - 41 minutes - 56.8 MBRemember 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,...
Beach House's reveries
March 04, 2022 03:41 - 26 minutes - 37.1 MBBaltimore 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 ...
Beach House's reveries
March 04, 2022 03:41 - 26 minutes - 37.1 MBBaltimore 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. ...
Nancy Bates' songs that bring stories to light
February 25, 2022 01:55 - 32 minutes - 44.1 MBNancy 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 st...
Claudia Karvan's acts
February 18, 2022 03:05 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MBClaudia 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 ...
Kelly Lee Owens' flow state
February 11, 2022 04:45 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBWhen 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 fa...
Bodyjar's rituals
February 04, 2022 04:51 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBBodyjar 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 – 'Cooli...
Best of 2021
December 10, 2021 04:07 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBWe’re wrapping up the Take 5 for another year and even though 2021 still kept a lot of us apart, these conversations helped me find a community again. Maybe they did for you, too. We connected a lot over Zoom, we bonded over the music that made us who we are today, and we learned a whole lot more; not just about the guests who joined us to Take 5, but also about the songs and artists they picked. Every year around this time I like to share my favourites. It’s always hard to whittle it down, ...
Fran Kelly's life (so far)
December 03, 2021 03:54 - 44 minutes - 60.9 MBWhen 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 si...
Stella Donnelly's songs that belong
November 19, 2021 01:53 - 25 minutes - 34.3 MBThe first time I heard Stella Donnelly, I knew she was a star. Then I saw her live, and the heavy weight and brutal honesty of her songs made way for comedy interludes, even cabaret. There’s more to Stella Donnelly, than meets the eye. For all of these reasons, I’ve long wanted her to Take 5. Her music has given many a sense of community, a home, so I wanted Stella Donnelly to tell me about the songs that belong, for her. From Billy Bragg to Jenny Hval to male choirs from Wales, this is a be...
Damon Albarn's universe
November 12, 2021 02:55 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBDamon 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. Th...
Amy Taylor's Australia
November 05, 2021 03:00 - 19 minutes - 27.1 MBAs 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...
Billy Bragg's songs for the soul
October 29, 2021 01:15 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBWhen 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 fo...
Ruby Wax's survivor songs
October 22, 2021 02:20 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MBRuby Wax is an icon of comedy and interviewing. Through the 90’s and early 00’s Ruby’s BBC TV specials saw her chatting with the most famous people of the times: Madonna, Jim Carrey, Imelda Marcos, Donald Trump, OJ Simpson, and Pamela Anderson. Her disarming docu-interviewing style preceded people like Louis Theroux, and when she wasn’t getting up in people’s grill, she was script editing Absolutely Fabulous. These days Ruby is an author and mental...
Ruby Wax's survivor songs
October 22, 2021 02:20 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MBRuby Wax is an icon of comedy and interviewing. Through the 90’s and early 00’s Ruby’s BBC TV specials saw her chatting with the most famous people of the times: Madonna, Jim Carrey, Imelda Marcos, Donald Trump, OJ Simpson, and Pamela Anderson. Her disarming docu-interviewing style preceded people like Louis Theroux, and when she wasn’t getting up in people’s grill, she was script editing Absolutely Fabulous. These days Ruby is an author and mental health advocate, but she still does it al...
Chanelle Henderson's music therapy
October 14, 2021 22:14 - 31 minutes - 42.9 MBHave 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 an...
James Blake's heartbreak anthems
October 08, 2021 04:31 - 33 minutes - 45.4 MBOver 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....
Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine absolute beginners
September 30, 2021 23:50 - 40 minutes - 55.1 MBSufjan Stevens is one of the most prolific songwriters working today, and it feels as though his drive to write songs is as much about the creation of music, as it is the understanding of creativity itself, and finding different ways to explore it. He first heard Angelo De Augustine a few years ago, and when you hear Angelo’s voice you’ll understand why Suf signed him to his label. And why they decided to make an album together. A Beginner’s Mind is a record inspired and created by a few for...
Grunge heroes
September 23, 2021 23:18 - 29 minutes - 40.9 MBIt’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 N...
Matthew E. White's full spectrum
September 10, 2021 04:43 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MBMatthew 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 t...
Gracie Otto's island songs
September 02, 2021 22:30 - 24 minutes - 33.2 MBThe 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 be...
Gracie Otto's island songs
September 02, 2021 22:30 - 24 minutes - 33.2 MBThe 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, change...
Steph Tisdell's greater good
August 26, 2021 23:53 - 41 minutes - 56.3 MBComedian Steph Tisdell is here to help. Literally. The proud Ydinji woman may be up on stage telling jokes these days, but a few years ago she was at uni, and looking ahead to a career in human rights law. That all changed one fateful day, and what led her to stand up comedy is a story you’ve gotta hear yourself. The comedy path has seen her win multiple awards, and appear on TV and radio across Australia, but social justice remains at the core of all she does. And you’ll hear why this loca...
John Parish's great ideas
August 20, 2021 03:04 - 48 minutes - 67 MBJohn 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 mu...
Danny Cohen's fantasy songs
August 12, 2021 23:00 - 38 minutes - 52.4 MBDanny 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, Co...
Mr Jukes and Barney Artist's songs for us
August 05, 2021 22:12 - 35 minutes - 48.8 MBYou 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...
Tony Armstrong's tales
July 30, 2021 03:32 - 40 minutes - 55.4 MBYou know when someone comes along, and everyone who meets them falls under their spell? Tony Armstrong is that someone. The freshly minted sports presenter for ABC News Breakfast has been making waves for the past couple of years, commentating the footy on Triple M and the National Indigenous Radio Service, and making bad news more palatable, on The Weekly. But before all of this, Tony was in the game, playing AFL Footy with three teams and spending his childhood working towards that goal. E...