This Song Is Yours

Our guest this week is Gretta Ray . The Australian folk pop artist has spent the better part of a decade building a devoted following through two studio albums, tours alongside Gang of Youths and Maisie Peters, and a breakthrough moment on triple J Unearthed with Drive. Two years ago, as she was preparing to move abroad to take the next step in her career, a heartbreaking medical condition stopped her in her tracks. What followed saw her navigating her health, the end of a long-term relationship, and a real questioning of her future in music. Out of that period came Heartsong, her third studio album, made alongside Matt Corby and Gab Strum at Rainbow Valley, a record about grief and resilience that sees Gretta return to a folkier side of her sound. On today’s episode, Gretta joins us back on the podcast to discuss the making of Heartsong, the process of turning her own trials and tribulations into songs, and what touring behind this record looks like. Gretta Ray: Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Sampa the Great . The Botswana-raised artist emerged as one of Australian hip-hop’s most distinctive voices across The Return (2019) and As Above, So Below (2022), earning multiple ARIA Awards, two Australian Music Prizes, and a global fanbase that includes Zane Lowe, Annie Mac and Michelle Obama. Upon recently reconnecting with family, Sampa discovered that her blood uncle George Kunda, known as Groovy Joe, was a founding member of WITCH, Zambia’s legendary psychedelic rock band and pioneers of the 1970s Zamrock movement. That discovery became the creative spark for Nu Zamrock (Oct 30th), an electrifying record that sees Sampa rediscovering her roots through a bold new lens. On today’s episode, Sampa joins us to discuss discovering this musical history within her own heritage and how it reshaped her creative perspective, the influence of African music across modern music and the importance of recognising its contribution, and how a certain Australian mega pop star ended up on the record. Sampa the Great : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Lottie McLeod . The Meanjin/Brisbane-based singer and songwriter has built a devoted following quickly since releasing her first single in 2023, earning QMusic’s Emerging Artist of the Year for 2025 and releasing her debut EP Bug along the way. She returns this year with The Boathouse, a seven-track sophomore EP via ABC Music that draws comparisons to Phoebe Bridgers’ Stranger in the Alps. On today’s episode, Lottie joins us to talk about the making of The Boathouse, how working with producer Caleb Wright (Samia, Hippo Campus) came about, and what first inspired her to start writing her own music. Lottie McLeod: Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Azure Ryder . The Australian-Lebanese songwriter has spent the better part of a decade building a following through a run of EPs that showcase her gift for folk, americana and dream pop. In September she released Even Flowers Can Bruise, her long awaited debut record — a gorgeous album that highlights her keen eye for detail and a real willingness to go somewhere vulnerable as a songwriter. On today’s episode, Azure joins us to talk about how she settled on the sound of the record, the vulnerability in her songwriting and the healing process it can provide, and the family connection that brought her to the producer of the album. Azure Ryder: Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guests this week are from Wishy . An indie rock five-piece from Indianapolis, Wishy have spent the last few years earning praise from Pitchfork, NME and Stereogum, landing on year-end lists at The New York Times and GQ, and notching a Colbert performance along the way. Last year a run of tour dates with Momma brought them across the US and through LA, where we were lucky enough to catch them live. Last week they returned with their sophomore record 'Nature's Pill', a gorgeous collection of guitar-driven songs that finds the band fully in their stride. On today's episode, Kevin and Nina join us to discuss the making of Nature's Pill and how some of these songs first took shape, the vulnerability that comes with two primary songwriters sharing new work with their bandmates, and how the Indiana music scene compares to others they've encountered on the road. Wishy: Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Sycco . The project of Naarm-based songwriter, artist and producer Sasha McLeod has built serious momentum since its inception: touring with Remi Wolf and Glass Animals, accumulating over 80 million streams, and releasing debut record Zorb to an ARIA nomination and the J Award, with collaborations alongside Flume and Mallrat cementing her reputation as one of the most promising young artists in the country. Last week she returned with Look Up, a sophomore record made on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula that swaps the familiar for the open air, blending RnB, pop and electronica into something genre-bending, youthful and deeply satisfying. On today's episode, Sash joins us to talk about the vulnerability running throughout Look Up, how recording out on the Mornington Peninsula influenced the sound of the record, and her introduction to songwriting. Sycco: Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Johnny Marr . One of the most restless and influential guitarists of his generation, Johnny has spent four decades refusing to stand still, from the iconic guitar work that defined The Smiths, to Electronic, Modest Mouse, Hans Zimmer film scores, a memoir, and a solo career that has only grown in confidence with each record. This week he returns with The Age of Everything, an album that captures an artist completely at ease with who he is and what he wants to say, while finding optimism in a world that isn't always easy to be optimistic about. On today's episode, Johnny joins us to talk about how this record was built from a single title outward, how each album serves as a document of where he was in his life at the time, and what he's still chasing as a songwriter after all these years. Johnny Marr : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Bonobo . UK musician Simon Green has spent over twenty-six years and seven albums building one of electronic music's most distinctive careers, blending field recordings, organic sounds and electronic production in a way that has earned him seven Grammy nominations and collaborations with artists like Erykah Badu and Damon Albarn. In early September he released Distance in Static, his eighth studio record, bringing together collaborators like Arooj Aftab and Nilüfer Yanya for another stunning collection of songs, and one Simon has hinted could be the last Bonobo record in its traditional format. On today's episode, Simon joins the podcast to discuss the making of Distance in Static and his process when sampling field recordings, why he feels this album marks the end of Bonobo as it currently exists, and how his varied musical past led him to making electronic music. Bonobo : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Julia Jacklin . The Australian singer and songwriter has built one of the most devoted followings in indie music off the back of three critically acclaimed albums, two ARIA Awards, and a gift for emotionally sharp lyricism that connects in a way very few artists manage. Tomorrow she releases The Gem , her fourth record, made for the first time at home in Melbourne with a close cohort of collaborators. It's a beautiful indie rock album that explores the tension between freedom and love. On today's episode, Julia joins us to talk about the experience of recording an album right above one of her favourite pubs, the vulnerability of songwriting and what it means to make music as a woman in 2026, and how she sits with and acknowledges each new record as it goes out into the world. Julia Jacklin : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guests this week are Sylvan Esso. The Durham, North Carolina duo, made up of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, have spent over a decade building a devoted global following with their distinctive electronic pop, earning two Grammy nominations and collaborations with an eclectic community of artists including Arooj Aftab and Maggie Rogers. Last week they returned with ow∞ , their fifth album and first on their own label Psychic Hotline, an album built around experimentation and improvisation. On today's episode, Amelia and Nick join us to discuss the making of ow∞ and how experimentation shaped these sessions, the community of musicians and songwriters who came through the studio, how a Sigur Rós sample ended up on the record, and the challenges of touring for artists in 2026. Sylvan Esso : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Holly Throsby . The Sydney songwriter, musician and novelist has spent over two decades releasing music that has earned her five ARIA nominations, a devoted following, and a reputation as one of Australian indie folk's most distinctive voices. Last week, after a nine year gap, she returned with Normal Magic, a record about finding wonder in the everyday and the ordinary, and one that sees Holly evolving her sound and introducing new sonic elements. On today's episode, Holly joins us to discuss the new direction on Normal Magic and her decision to push her sound somewhere new, the complexity of making and releasing a record as an independent artist in 2026, and what it looks like to bring these songs to life in a live setting. Holly Throsby : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Julia Stone from Angus & Julia Stone. The Sydney sibling duo have been one of Australia's most treasured acts since emerging in 2007, building a catalogue that spans six studio albums and includes the ARIA Award-winning Down the Way, the Rick Rubin-produced self-titled record, and 2024's Cape Forestier. This week they return with Karaoke Bar, recorded across Greece, France and Australia, including in the home of Leonard Cohen. On today's episode, Julia joins us to discuss the duo's commitment to making music on their own terms and the new sonic direction on Karaoke Bar, the experience of recording in Leonard Cohen's house, and her songwriting insights from making this record. Angus & Julia Stone : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guests this week are Tiny Habits . The folk pop trio of Cinya Khan, Maya Rae and Judah Mayowa met at Boston's Berklee School of Music and quickly built a devoted following after their heavenly harmonies went viral across social media, with collaborations alongside Lizzy McAlpine, Kacey Musgraves and Holly Humberstone cementing their reputation as one of the most exciting young acts around. This week they return with Keepers, a sophomore record that holds onto their signature stacked harmonies and gorgeous arrangements while pushing into new sonic territory, weaving in elements of yacht rock, folk pop and more. On today's episode, Cinya, Maya and Judah return to the podcast to discuss the making of Keepers and the decision to expand their sound, how Matty Healy from The 1975 came to feature on the record, and whether Australian fans might be seeing them live sooner than they think. Tiny Habits : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Vera Blue . The Sydney pop singer and songwriter has spent close to a decade building one of Australian music's most devoted followings, from the double-platinum success of Perennial in 2017 through to 2022's Mercurial, racking up over 500 million streams and a celebrated collaboration with Flume along the way. Last week she released Modern Rituals, her third studio album and most sonically adventurous record to date, stepping into a more electronic and visceral creative space. On today's episode, Vera Blue joins us on the podcast to discuss the soundscape across Modern Rituals, the constant evolution of her songwriting, and how this album became the moment where Celia discovered that she and Vera Blue are more the same person than she'd previously believed. Vera Blue : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Miss Kaninna . In a few short years she's become one of the most exciting and important artists in Australia - a proud Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Kalkadoon and Yirendali fearless storyteller who has already made history with her ARIA Award nominations, won over critics, and earned the admiration of some of the biggest names in music globally like De La Soul and KNEECAP. This week she returns with BLACKPRINT, a new mixtape that arrives with a whole new energy and finds Kaninna at her most raw and freestyle yet. On today's episode, Miss Kaninna joins us to talk about how BLACKPRINT came together and these songs were built, the support she's received from fellow artists like KNEECAP, her introduction to music, and what touring behind this one looks like. Miss Kaninna : Instagram / Spotify / Website Purchase the world exclusive vinyl from Impressed Recordings Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Matt Mason from DMA'S. The Sydney trio of Tommy O'Dell, Johnny Took and Matt Mason have spent a decade crafting a sound rooted in Britpop and indie rock and growing it into one of Australia's biggest live exports, playing Glastonbury, Coachella and Splendour and releasing four albums that have built a devoted following at home and abroad. On August 21st they release their self-titled fifth record, written and recorded at the band's own Glebe studio and co-produced by the band themselves. On today's episode, guitarist Matt Mason joins us to discuss the importance of keeping fans in mind when making a new record, the unexpected influence of country music woven throughout this album, and how his early introduction to music and days spent busking helped shape what DMA'S would eventually become. DMA'S : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Rowena Wise . The Margaret River singer and songwriter has been one of Australian independent music's most compelling stories since breaking through in 2018, touring internationally alongside Ball Park Music, Folk Bitch Trio and Paul Dempsey, and earning a shortlist nomination for the Australian Music Prize for her debut album Senseless Acts of Beauty. This week she returns with Bad Things Feel Good*, a stunning and raw sophomore record that explores the multitudes of what it is to be human and the duality of transformation within a person. On today's episode, Rowena joins us to talk about the songwriting across the record as a form of therapy, her relationship with music stretching back to age eight, and the process of creating a sophomore record when your debut resonated with audiences and critics alike. Rowena Wise : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guests this week are Swapmeet . The Adelaide four-piece have quickly become one of the most talked about bands in Australian music, making indie rock that moves fluidly across grunge and shoegaze without ever feeling overloaded. Earlier this year they became the first non-US act to sign to beloved indie label Winspear, and their debut record Mount Zero has drawn praise from Pitchfork, The Line of Best Fit, Stereogum, and many more. A record built around rotating vocal duties and instrument swapping across all four members, Mount Zero is as sonically adventurous as it is immediately compelling. On today's episode, Jack Medlyn and Maxwell Elphick from the band join us to discuss the making of Mount Zero, the hype and attention surrounding the band, the patchwork of sounds across the record, and the exciting new class of musicians emerging from Adelaide. Swapmeet : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guests this week are DICE . The Western Australian indie rock four-piece have become one of Australia's most beloved young bands, known for upbeat, high-fidelity songs that sit somewhere between the energy of youth and the weight of adulthood. Their 2024 debut Midnight Zoo expanded their reach significantly, taking them on tour across the UK, Europe and North America. On July 31st they return with their sophomore record I Thought The Altitude Would Make It Worth The View, recorded in LA alongside producer Joe Chiccarelli, known for his work with The White Stripes, The Shins and The Strokes. On today's episode, Ben Hodge and Tom King from the band join us to discuss the making of the new record, how their time with Joe Chiccarelli pushed their creative techniques forward, and the self-reflective lyrical world at the heart of the album. DICE : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.

Our guest this week is Finn Wolfhard . The acclaimed actor, musician, and director is known to many through his work in Stranger Things and Ghostbusters, but Finn has been building a serious music career since his early teens, with projects like Calpurnia and The Aubreys already under his belt before releasing his debut solo record Happy Birthday last year. Now he returns with Fire from the Hip, a sophomore full length that sees the Canadian polymath expanding his sound and taking a more candid look at everyday life. On today's episode, Finn joins us to talk about his prolific output as a musician, the songwriting and sonic influences across Fire from the Hip, navigating the perception of artists who are also actors, and what touring behind the record looks like. Finn Wolfhard : Instagram / Spotify / Website Visit our official website here and follow us across our socials.