Take 5

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)

You 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. Everyone wants to know Tony, and Tony’s story, and what better way to tell it than through song? From Donna Summer to Hot Chip, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s to LCD Soundsystem, this is an extaordinary conversation about passion, learning from failure, and remaining true to yourself.

Donna Summers – I Feel Love

Hot Chip – I Feel Better

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Runaway

Miike Snow – Black and Blue

LCD Soundsystem – Home

Stephen Page is a force of nature. As artistic director for Bangarra Dance Theatre, he’s told the stories of Indigenous Australia through movement, for more than thirty years. Bangarra began in the late 80’s, but it was Stephen’s appointment as the first Aboriginal artistic director that shaped what it has become today. And the story of Bangarra is not only one of dance, but of brothers.

Stephen comes from a big family in Meanjin. A descendent of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation. Two of his brothers came with him to Sydney, to Gadigal Land, and would shape what he did from that moment forth. His younger brother Russell was renowned for his incredible talent, and a body that could express story like no other. Older brother David, was the songman. He composed beautiful scores to every Bangarra production, laced with language and culture, until his death in 2016.

Stephen has a big story, so I was hugely grateful when he joined me to Take 5 and share it. His theme, was unbroken songs. The music that had marked big moments in his life, and continued the stories of him and his culture. From Elvis to Rihanna to his brother’s beautiful compositions, this is a heartfelt conversation about family, storytelling, and passion.

Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock

Warumpi Band – Fitzroy Crossing

David Page – Gift (from Bangarra’s 2003 work “Bush”)

Whitney Houston – Why Does it Hurt So Bad

Rihanna – Love on the Brain

Rise Against have been at the forefront of socially conscious punk for the last 20 years. On the release of their 9th album, I thought it was a perfect time to get lead singer Tim McIlrath back on the radio, to Take 5. He’s one of the most articulate musicians I know, and our conversations in the past have always been rich ones.

Rise Against’s new album is about the failure of the American dream, the notion that every generation will be better than the last, is a thing of the past. Across punk, protest, and anthem, hear Tim McIlrath’s “America”, and the artists who have been singing this song for decades.

Black Flag - “American Waste”

Operation Ivy - “Freeze Up”

John Lennon - “Working Class Hero

Descendents - “Suburban Home”

Bruce Springsteen - “Born In The USA”

Sleater-Kinney have always been shapeshifters. Within that guitar forward, angular, and soaring indie rock sound they have always experimented and tried something new. When I listen to Sleater-Kinney’s songs, I feel on edge, and I like that feeling.

As with their other nine records, their newest album shifts again, and so does the band. SK have returned to their foundations of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein, and it’s the two of them who joined me to Take 5. I gave them the theme off kilter songs; music that was out of step, in the best of ways, with the culture it came into.

I’ll be honest,  I wasn’t expecting these song choices. But hearing Carrie and Corin detail why they chose them, speaks to their passions as fans, and their own choices as musicians. From Talk Talk to Frank Ocean to Chrome, this is a mind expanding conversation about the ever revealing qualities of great music.

Talk Talk – 'Eden' (Carrie)

Frank Ocean – 'Ivy' (Corin)

Joan Armatrading – 'Drop the Pilot' (Carrie)

Chrome – 'Static Gravity' (Carrie)

Prince – 'How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore' (Corin)

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)"

Do you remember the first time you heard Garbage? I do. It was 1995. Their debut single Vow. That opening guitar line, the stereo panning, and then Shirley Manson’s voice coming in. They exploded, in full flight, onto the scene. Grunge was well on the way out, and in it’s wake Garbage offered a high res view of the future, sounding like nothing we’d heard before.

This combination of three producers contributed to the mess of sounds, but they would be nothing without their frontwoman. For 26 years, Shirley Manson has been an icon. Releasing 7 albums with Garbage, touring non stop, and along the way stepping into Hollywood as well.

Her outspokenness has made her a feminist icon, and when she’s not fighting the equality fight, she’s giving her time to other issues of social justice, her voice to those who need it most.

It’s interesting that Garbage have never been an overtly political band, but that’s changed on their newest album. The gloves are off, there’s no hiding of their intentions on Gods and Masters, and out front is Shirley, roaring about it all. They say that this is the album they had to make, and on the day they unleashed, Shirley Manson joined me to Take 5. Across genres and time, hear about the songs of purpose for this living legend.

'At Seventeen' - Janis Ian

'Strange Fruit' - Billie Holiday

'I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier, Mama' - John Lennon

'Black Boys on Mopeds' - Sinéad O'Connor

'Who we Be' - DMX

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'

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'

Annie Clark is one of the most exciting musicians working today. As a songwriter she’s jumped from indie balladry, to layered, ambitious sounds, and into spiky, angular territory. She shreds as a guitarist, and when Annie is not working on her own St Vincent songs, she’s producing for others.

It’s been about four years since her last record, and in that time Annie has been through some personal stuff as well. Her father, who was incarcerated a decade ago just as her star was rising, got out of prison. And that release fed into the album she would make. Annie gravitated towards the records she had grown up listening to – her dad’s collection – and what emerged was a far looser, more slinky, more sleazy album.

It’s called Daddy’s Home. It sounds like the records that came out of early '70s New York City, and on the day it was released, St Vincent joined me to Take 5. From Steely Dan to Erykah Badu, this is an insight not just into Annie’s latest incarnation, but her incredible creative mind.

Nina Simone – 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood'

Steely Dan – 'Any Major Dude Will Tell You'

Kate NV – 'Plans'

PJ Harvey – 'A Perfect Day Elise'

Erykah Badu – 'On & On'