Take 5

Neko Case is a powerhouse of song. Over twenty years she’s crafted some of my favourite lyrics as a solo artist dwelling in Americana, and as a soaring pop singer in The New Pornographers. On her own records, Neko’s songs often dwell in the outside; whether she’s singing of foxes, or wild weather, you can feel and see the atmosphere she creates in every story. But there’s a deeply human element to Neko Case’s music too, a compassion and heart. Neko is a vocal feminist and one of my favourite people to follow on Twitter. She calls bullshit on bullshit, but also lifts up those who need it, from the platform she has. And she is a huge music fan. I knew her own personal history with song would make this Take 5 special, and I wasn’t disappointed. While on paper, some of these songs were a mystery to me, when you hear Neko speak about the impact these artists had on her, as a little kid, as a teenager, and as a person finding their own way as an artist, it tells a story of where she’s come from. What has fuelled her life force. Take a moment with some troubadours, it’ll fill your soul.

Staple Singers - 'Slippery People'

Nina Hagen - 'Atomic Flash Deluxe'

Les Rita Mitsouko - 'Oum Kalsoum'

The Cramps - 'Thee Most Exalted Potentate of Love'

Buffy Sainte Marie - 'Now that the Buffalo’s Gone'

Caiti Baker is one of my favourite Australian singers. I first came across her work as one half of Sietta. Then she stepped out on her own and cemented her spot as one of the great soul singers making music today in Australia. Caiti is a long time resident of the Northern Territory. As a kid she’d tag along on family road trips when her dad (also a muso) would drive from Adelaide to the Top End to play shows. They’d stick around for weeks at a time, and Caiti fell in love with the place. The Take 5 comes to you from Darwin this week. The music community is tight here, I knew Caiti would be the perfect person to take you to the Top End. Across five songs she gave us a potted history of music from the Territory, introduced me to new sounds and kind of made me want to move her permanently.

Ted Egan and Galarrwuy Yunupingu with introduction from Vincent Lingiari – ‘Gurindji Blues’

Birdz - ‘Testify’

Stevie Jean - ‘Hell in Every Religion’

Wildflower - ‘Galiwin’ku’

Serina Pech – ‘I Hope To See The Sun’

Yumi Stynes is a name you know well if you grew up in Australia. She’s been on tv screens and in radio speakers for close to 20 years; as host on music network Channel V and MAX. These days she does a great podcast on sometimes taboo topics called Ladies, We Need To Talk. In between she’s also published a cookbook, written newspaper columns, and likes to do fun runs in her spare time. And, she’s a massive music fan. I love Yumi Stynes, and this Take 5 made me love her even more. Her theme was “lessons in song” and over five picks she shared some pretty incredible stories from her own time here on earth. From redefining what Regurgitator songs are actually about, to the power of representation on stage, and memories of wild times traveling around Australia making a music show. This is wall to wall great storytelling, from a living legend.

Regurgitator - ‘Don’t Go 2 Sleep’

Magic Dirt - ‘All My Crushes’

Rihanna - ‘SOS’

Dua Lipa - ‘New Rules’

Janelle Monae - ‘Pynk {ft. Grimes}'

Alex Kapranos is a Scottish national treasure. As lead singer of Franz Ferdinand, his frontman swagger has kept us dancing for more than a decade. As an interviewee, he’s an absolute delight; always generous, curious and charming every time he joins you behind the mic. On his most recent visit to Australia with his band, I knew he’d make the perfect Take 5 guest. And when I gave him the theme “musical friendships”, I imagined he’d explore great collaborations and connections he’s made over his years in music. But Alex offered something far more personal, and along the way introduced us all to the songs and relationships that have made a big impact on him. This is a special conversation about music, heart, curiosity and lifelong bonds.

Magnetic Fields – ‘Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side’

Gina X - ‘No GDM’

Fleetwood Mac - ‘Oh Well’

Bunny Brown - ‘Fat Boy’

Prodigy  - ‘Firestarter’

Kimbra is a musical genius. From the moment I first heard her jazz vocals on her Unearthed profile, to seeing her explore wild ideas, sounds and personalities (and of course a few big collaborations), she is always someone who's music and ways of approaching it has fascinated me. Over the years, she's also someone who I've seen who thinks intensely about the art that she makes, and that her contemporaries are putting into the ether. Kimbra is someone who doesn't do things by halves; her approach to art, thinking, pop music and creativity always floors me. So I knew she'd deliver a  brilliant Take 5. And oh boy, she sure did. Over five songs we talked about the sonic sigh of beautiful vocals, the digital connection and disconnection we all need, and the responsibility of the artist in the times we live in. What a joy. 

Mr Twin Sister - ‘Blush’

Silicon - ‘Personal Computer’

Jamie Lidell - ‘Believe In Me’

Karol Conka - ‘Boa Noite’

Anohni - ‘Drone Bomb Me’

Eleanor Dixon is a born leader. I first met her a few years ago at a week long event called Bush Bands Business. It was a series of workshops for Indigenous bands throughout remote communities in central Australia, and Elly was the first woman to ever be involved, with her band Rayella. Her drive and grounded nature struck me from our first meeting, and so I wasn’t surprised to see her appear again a couple of years later in a new band, Kardajala Kirridarra. Their blend of beautiful songs sung in language, set to atmospheric beats, got a lot of attention, and by the end of 2017 they had a heap of people talking about them, and were nominated for Double J Artist of the Year. Fast forward to 2018, and NAIDOC Week, where the theme was “because of her, we can”. Eleanor joined me on the phone from her tiny community of Marlinja, and gave an incredible insight into her own musical path via the women that she looked up to. The way Elly speaks about song, story and community, is poetry in motion. From Aunty Ruby Hunter, to Nina Simone, to Emily Wurramara, this is a Take 5 that will stop you in your tracks.

Emma Donovan & The Putbacks - ‘Black Woman’

Ruby Hunter & Archie Roach - ‘Down City Streets’

Nina Simone - ‘Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair’

Emily Wurramara - ‘Lady Blue’

Shellie Morris & The Borroloola Songwomen - ‘Li-Anthawirriyarra A-Kurija (Saltwater People Song)’

This is a Man’s Man’s World, sang Renee Geyer back in 1974. And despite equal numbers of women studying, making and showing a love for music, there’s still a vast inequality in the Australian music industry to this day. It’s a story often told, but in a brilliant new doco “Her Sound Her Story”, these tales are captured also as a celebration of the scene we have (both on and off the stage). Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore and Michelle Grace Hunder are the filmmaker and producers behind this film, which may have begun as a photography project but grew quickly as soon as they saw how large and consistent these narratives still were. Everyone from Tina Arena to Ecca Vandal, Missy Higgins to Mojo Juju, Kate Ceberano to Thelma Plum feature in this brilliant doco. From backyards to baths, stages to screen, Claudia and Michelle share the stories behind Her Sound Her Story.

Ella Hooper - 'Shard'

Mojo Juju - 'Native Tongue'

Ecca Vandal - 'Your Orbit (ft. Sampa The Great)'

Kardajala Kirridarra - 'Kirridarra (Women's Song)'

Okenyo - 'Woman's World'

I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t have a soft spot for Soulwax. The Belgian band have been making us dance for years – and are known as much for their own music as their incredible remixes. Way back when I first starting doing the Take 5, they were one of my early guests. The year was 2007. They were touring Australia and I asked them to pick songs that took us on a European vacation. From the get go, they were up for it. This is such a fun co-host, and a real joy to share one of the earliest highlights of this long running adventure.

Fred Vom Jupiter – 'Die Doraus & Die Marinas'

Goose – 'Bring It On'

The Cardigans – 'And Then You Kissed Me'

Daft Punk – 'Digital Love'

Clor – 'Love & Pain'

Filth. Glue. Porno. Trainspotting. All books that have made waves, and all books by Scottish author Irvine Welsh. Like many Scots I know, he has a black sense of humour. And he’s a quiet observer; you can imagine him sitting in the corner of a pub, or watching from the street just to see how humans interact. Back in 2014 he came to Australia to speak at the Sydney Writers Festival, off the back of his latest book,  ‘The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins’. Given the fact he basically wrote one of the most iconic stories of our generation, of course I wanted him to choose songs, and come in to Take 5. The theme I gave him was “songs that should be books”. He picked classics, but through the prism of his perspective, gave them new life.

Lou Reed – 'Kicks'

Carly Simon - 'You’re So Vain'

David Bowie – 'Valentine’s Day'

Duran Duran – 'Hungry Like the Wolf'

Queen – 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Zola Jesus is an unashamed goth, with a huge voice. In 2012, she visited Australia to perform at the Vivid Live Festival. I loved Zola’s art but also had an inkling she’d be a great Take 5 guest, so I asked her to come in and co-host with me. It’s been a few years since, but as we hit the depths of winter and rug up in our best black attire I thought it’d be fun to dig this one out of the archives, and share it for the first time here on the podcast. Across textured sounds, we found out how a young girl from the rural Midwest found her way into incredible music.

El-P – 'Drones Over Brooklyn'

Mira Calix – 'Skin With Me'

Aphex Twin – 'Windowlicker'

Ben Frost – 'Coda'

KLF – '3 a m eternal'