Take 5

Just a few years ago Leon Bridges was a relative unknown in Fort Worth, Texas. A chance encounter brought his beautiful voice out of that town and across the world. Everywhere he plays, people flock to see him, Barack Obama is one of his biggest fans. In the last three years Leon Bridges has toured Australia annually. On his most recent trip, he came in to share five songs that carry the torch. Modern music makers continuing the soul tradition, in their own way. From his mate Nathaniel Rateliff, to fellow Texas Khalid and the British soul of Lianne La Havas, his song choices were as smooth as his voice. Along the way we heard of White House dance off’s and the importance of home, to this newly minted star.

Nathaniel Rateliff - 'You Worry Me'

Lianne La Havas - 'Unstoppable'

Brent Faiyaz - 'Poison'

Khalid - 'American Teen'

Alabama Shakes - 'Don't Wanna Fight'

Angel Olsen has been making music for years. As a collaborator she played with Will Oldham, and then released her own music back in 2010, debuting on cassette. But it was her 2016 record My Woman, that made the world sit up and take notice. Acclaimed all over, it marked the arrival of an incredibly powerful songwriter and when we saw Angel Olsen live, we fell in love even more. Her life since has been one of travel, touring all over the world to play her songs. When away from so long, what are the songs that keep her grounded? We explored that over some known and not so well known choices, as well as hot days in Lisbon and drinking gin in Tasmania. Bookended with The Jam and Psychedelic Furs, Angel Olsen took us all on an odyssey.

The Jam - 'That's Entertainment'

Cristina - 'He Dines Out On Death'

Chris Spedding - 'Video Life'

House Of Love - 'The Hill'

Psychedelic Furs - 'Love My Way'

As founding member for Grizzly Bear, Ed Droste has shaped the sound of modern indie music. Across five albums, the American band have layered intricate and nuanced guitar music with choirboy vocals and a lot of heart. Their breakthrough album was Yellow House, but since then they’ve held fans enraptured and toured Australia multiple times over the years. Their latest album is Painted Ruins, a record that came after a five year break from the band.  With Grizzly Bear’s layered music in mind, I gave Ed the theme “songs that unravel.” The mid 90's reigned supreme as the meat in this sandwich, but he really did go all over the place and spoke about the songs he loved as well as the time we're living in, as music fans. From album vs playlist culture, to the risks we take in music, this is a wonderful conversation not only diving into his own collection but his deepest thoughts on the state of the industry. 

Beach House - 'Master of None'

Bjork - 'Army of Me'

Pavement - 'Fight This Generation'

Aaliyah - 'One In A Million'

Adele - 'Rolling In The Deep' (Jamie xx Shuffle)

Kamasi Washington’s tenor sax is all over music right now. The LA musician has spent a good part of his career collaborating with artists like Lauryn Hill, Chaka Kahn, Flying Lotus and Wayne Shorter, but it was his 2015 three hour long album “The Epic” that made the world stand up and take notice. In the same year, he worked closely with his friend Kendrick Lamar on “To Pimp a Butterfly”, as arranger and tenor sax player; a sound that defined this ground-breaking album.

Kamasi Washington may perform jazz, but his background as a hip-hop head and his penchant for working with people outside of jazz circles mean that he has fans both inside the scene, and people who have never before witnessed an improvised jam. Kamasi’s experience base is broad; the lessons he has learned along the way, are legendary. Across five songs this beautiful spirit sat with Zan and opened up about the incredible moments that made him the musician he is today.

McCoy Tyner - 'Fly With The Wind'

Rick James - 'Bustin' Out (The Funk)'

Flying Lotus - 'Cold Dead'

Gerald Wilson - 'Detroit'

Kendrick Lamar - 'Mortal Man'

Beck Hansen is a ground breaker. Over 13 studio albums he's taken us from slacker indie, to cut n paste folk hip-hop, to all out funk, and kaleidoscopic pop. “Loser” may have put him on the musical map, but he's continued to push the boundaries in what he creates. All while crafting an incredible soundtrack for all of our lives. When he came in to Take 5, the theme I gave him was leaps in music - songs that have pushed music forward and changed the game for everyone. While his choices on paper may have seemed obvious, hearing him talk about them opened up new ideas about the impact of these big hit songs, when they first came out. And showed him for the massive music fan that he is. From The Beach Boys to Outkast, Beck’s Take 5 is a masterclass in musical history.

The Beach Boys - 'Good Vibrations'

Gary Numan - 'Cars'

Talking Heads - 'Once In A Lifetime'

Nirvana - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'

Outkast - 'Hey Ya'

Over six albums, Sarah Blasko has consistently pushed the boundaries of her art, all while anchoring what she does with one of the most transcendent voices in music. On the day her new album came out, she came in to play songs that for her had been breakthroughs. Tunes that had busted through a creative block, and led Sarah in new directions. From the ethereal to the shredding, and sheer raw power, Blasko showed her fan side while namechecking the artists who gave her creative heart new life.

PJ Harvey - 'To Bring You My Love'

Bjork - 'Venus As A Boy'

Tori Amos - 'Pretty Good Year'

Mazzy Star - 'Into Dust'

Sonic Youth - 'Swimsuit Issue'

The middle men of two of Australia’s most loved comedy trios, duet on the Take 5 co-host with the musical of their friendship. Hailing from Doug Anthony All Stars and Tripod, their almost two decade long friendship was forged off stage and in between moments of performance. Here they dedicate two songs each to one another, by surprise, and share the stories of their friendship and the music that inspires it’s waking moments.

The Flaming Lips - 'Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots 1' (Paul)

Gillian Welch – 'Elvis Presley Blues' (Gatesy)

Kanye West – 'I Am A God' (Paul)

Powderfinger – 'I Don’t Wanna Be Left Out' (Gatesy)

Blood, Sweat & Tears – 'Spinning Wheel' (Joint)

Founding member and vocalist for Slowdive, Rachel Goswell, shares songs by performers who have inspired her to take to the stage. From 7 year old Rachel dancing to Abba, to idolising Siouxsie (and taking her song name as a band moniker), the shoegaze legend shares stories of the 90’s British music press, and what is it that inspires her to make music today. A heartfelt conversation, dotted with epic songs.

ABBA - 'SOS'

Grace Jones - 'La Vi En Rose'

Siouxsie & The Banshees - 'Cities In Dust'

Cocteau Twins - 'Lorelei'

Joni Mitchell - 'River'

For more than 25 years, Weezer have soundtracked our lives. Founding members Rivers Cuomo and Pat Wilson joined Zan to Take 5 while in the country supporting their mates Foo Fighters on their stadium tour. Over five songs they showed what fans they are, and the molecular process Rivers' takes with his own songwriting. It's a masterclass in creativity from two of the most captivating people in indie music.  

Jack Ü - "Where Are Ü Now" {ft. Justin Bieber}

Gary Numan - "M.E."

Kodak Black - "Codeine Dreaming" {ft. Lil Wayne}

Spaceman 3 - "Walkin' With Jesus"

Radiohead - "Paranoid Android"

You may not know the name, but Simon Potts has been central to the careers of many muso’s we love today. From The Beat to Simply Red, The Thompson Twins to Fela Kuti, The Cure to Patti Smith.  On holiday in December in Hawaii, Zan stumbled upon Simon after booking a room at his Hanalei Bay guesthouse, and discovered he had more than a couple of stories to tell. From working at the Virgin Record Store counter, to promoting Joy Division albums to John Peel, and living the high life as global head of Artist and Repertoire at Capitol/EMI, Simon shares the stories and songs that changed his life.

Joy Division - "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

The Beat - "Mirror in The Bathroom"

Simply Red - "Holding Back The Years"

Duran Duran - "Ordinary World"

Radiohead - "Creep"