Take 5

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'

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’

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'

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'

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

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'

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'

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

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'

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