Take 5

At the age of 16, Lorde went #1 across the world. She was catapulted from the suburbs of Auckland to the Grammy's stage, winning Song of the Year. 12 years and four albums later, she's continued to defy expectations as a pop artist and is one of the most gifted songwriters of our time. This is an episode of Take 5 that was filmed for the TV series, but this podcast is an extended edit - capturing even more stories, insight, and sounds. It's an incredible conversation with one of the most thoughtful people I've met. Lorde has been going through a massive period of change. A chrysalis, taking new form. So I worked up a Take 5 theme to draw that out. And from Lucinda Williams to Westerman to something very close to home, hearing her speak about the craft of song is a rare treat.Lorde's song choices:Lucinda Williams – 'Fruits of My Labor'Bronski Beat – 'Smalltown Boy'Nina Simone – 'Suzanne'Westerman – 'Confirmation'Charli xcx & Lorde – 'Girl, so confusing featuring lorde'00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview00:49 Lorde's Early Influences and First Song Choice02:03 SONG 1: Lucinda Williams – 'Fruits of My Labor'02:33 Lucinda Williams' Impact on Lorde09:30 Lorde's Childhood and Musical Beginnings12:56 The Mystery of Songwriting14:02 SONG 2: Bronski Beat – 'Smalltown Boy'18:55 Writing songs about life experiences21:05 Reflecting on the huge success of 'Royals', The Love Club EP and being world famous at 1624:10 Reflecting on Teenage Years and Womanhood28:22 Lorde's Relationship with Her Parents30:18 SONG 3: Nina Simone – 'Suzanne'30:27 Nina Simone's Transformative Cover of 'Suzanne'31:16 Leonard Cohen's Inspiration and Poetic Imagery32:12 Nina Simone's Unique Interpretation35:39 Exploring Gender and Identity in Music36:36 Relationship break-up and personal transformation39:47 SONG 4: Westerman – 'Confirmation'42:01 The Creative Process Behind 'Virgin'44:55 Physical reactions to music46:15 SONG 5: Charli xcx & Lorde – 'Girl, so confusing featuring lorde'46:44 Charli xcx releasing 'Girl, so confusing' about Lorde48:04 Lorde's verse and working it out in the remix49:08 Articulating the complexity of female friendships54:02 Lorde reflecting on her friendship with Charli xcx55:22 Concluding Thoughts and Future PlansWatch Take 5 on ABC iview:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe

You’re about to learn a whole lot more about Kevin Bacon. The prolific actor has been on our screens for more than 40 years. It was his breakthrough part as Ren in Footloose that got him attention, but he was just getting started. Acclaimed roles in Apollo 13, A Few Good Men, The River Wild, and Mystic River would follow. In fact his filmography and range is so broad he literally had a game made up about him – Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon – where you could connect any Hollywood actor to him in six or less steps, he’s worked with that many stars.But bubbling away in the background, Kevin has always loved music. He played and wrote songs as a kid, joined his brother’s band and formed The Bacon Brothers in ’95, and shares his love of songs on the regular, across his social media.It was this thread I wanted to pull at, when I asked him to Take 5. But what emerged was a greater sense of the man himself. Deeply empathetic, very grounded, and with his heart in all the right places.Kevin Bacon's song choices:Earth, Wind & Fire – 'Happy Feelin'Spin Doctors – 'Little Miss Can't Be Wrong'John Prine & Iris DeMent – 'In Spite of Ourselves'Frank Ocean – 'Thinkin Bout You'Brandi Carlile – 'The Joke'00:00 Introduction to Kevin Bacon's Musical Journey01:00 Kevin Bacon's Love for Music02:19 Kevin Bacon's Acting and Music Synergy04:11 SONG 1: Earth, Wind & Fire – 'Happy Feelin'05:59 The Influence of Philadelphia's Music Scene09:59 Kevin Bacon's Acting Aspirations and Early Career14:38 SONG 2: Spin Doctors – 'Little Miss Can't Be Wrong'18:02 The Bacon Brothers and Overcoming Stage Fright22:53 SONG 3: John Prine & Iris DeMent – 'In Spite of Ourselves'23:28 Marriage to Kyra Sedgwick and singing together30:32 SONG 4: Frank Ocean – 'Thinkin Bout You'35:21 Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon and Philanthropy39:51 SONG 5: Brandi Carlile – 'The Joke'44:28 Kevin Bacon's Musical Journey45:57 Upcoming Episodes and Podcast Details46:29 Double J Radio HighlightsWatch Take 5 on ABC iview:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe

You’re about to see a side to Aaron Chen you’ve never seen before. You might know him as George in Fisk, or Guy Montgomery’s sidekick on Spelling Bee. Maybe you cheered his win on Taskmaster Australia season 3. He’s also an acclaimed stand-up comic. But when I sat down with Aaron in his new home in New York City, I got a totally different sense of what makes him tick.This podcast is a companion to the TV episode you can see now on ABC iview. But here, you’re getting a whole lot more. More stories, silliness, and backstory to Aaron Chen. I really loved this conversation, mainly cos I had no idea what to expect. And what I walked away with was a rich portrait of a really beautiful human with his heart in the right place.Aaron Chen's song choices:Arcade Fire – 'Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)'Matt Berry – 'Take My Hand'Vampire Weekend – 'Jerusalem, New York, Berlin'Faye Wong – 'Dreams (夢中人)'Kacey Musgraves – 'Deeper Well'00:00 Introduction to Aaron Chen01:26 Aaron's Move to New York02:49 Comedy and Music03:57 SONG 1: Arcade Fire – 'Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)'04:38 Growing Up in Suburban Sydney12:06 Early Comedy Days15:29 SONG 2: Matt Berry – 'Take My Hand'16:05 First TV Show Experience20:43 Friendship with Sam Campbell25:16 SONG 3: Vampire Weekend – 'Jerusalem, New York, Berlin'25:38 Journey to America27:49 Auditioning for Fisk29:44 Meeting Kitty Flanagan30:29 Finding My Comedy Voice34:29 Faith and Grounding37:09 SONG 4: Faye Wong – 'Dreams (夢中人)'41:50 Marriage and Moving to New York44:27 American TV and Movie Roles48:30 SONG 5: Kacey Musgraves – 'Deeper Well'48:36 Final Reflections and Future PlansWatch Take 5 on ABC iview:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe

As one-fifth of the Spice Girls, she's one of the most famous people on the planet. But you wouldn’t know it. The Liverpudlian's down to earth beginnings define who Mel C is today.Take 5 is back on your screens for a fourth season on ABC iview, and we kicked off the series with Sporty Spice. In a beautiful HIFI bar in east London, we unpacked her remarkable story… of a kid who daydreamed about the pop stars she’d one day become friends with.This is the story of the Spice Girls you haven’t heard, where against all odds they did it their way. It’s also the story of Melanie’s path to a solo career, and her full circle return to the rave culture she grew up in.Settle in for a fireside chat with an absolute legend, in this extended uncut edition of Melanie C's Take 5.Melanie C's song choices:Stevie Wonder — 'Sir Duke'Wham! — 'Everything She Wants'TLC — 'Waterfalls'Orbital — 'Chime'The Beatles — 'Eleanor Rigby'00:00 Introduction to Mel C and the Spice Girls00:24 Mel C's Musical Beginnings00:36 Take Five Podcast and Mel C's Story01:35 The Power of Music in Mel C's Life02:50 Mel C's First Musical Influences03:38 SONG 1: Stevie Wonder — 'Sir Duke'05:43 Meeting Stevie Wonder09:22 Growing Up in Liverpool11:07 The Birth of Sporty Spice15:37 The Spice Girls' Early Days19:28 Living Together and Early Struggles20:55 Breaking into the Music Industry23:55 SONG 2: Wham! — 'Everything She Wants'30:38 Childhood Memories and First Friendships32:17 SONG 3: TLC — 'Waterfalls'35:59 Going Solo and Collaborations41:12 SONG 4: Orbital — 'Chime'42:23 Rave Culture and DJing51:33 SONG 5: The Beatles — 'Eleanor Rigby'54:44 The Beatles and Liverpool's Influence55:48 Reflecting on Spice Mania58:11 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsWatch Take 5 on ABC iview:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe

The transgressive trailblazer celebrates 25 years since The Teaches of Peaches. A boundary-blurring blend of electroclash, sex-positive feminist themes, and fun. It would become a defining album of the early noughties, and kick off a career that made our heads spin time and time again.Peaches has been pushing the boundaries and conversations around gender and sexuality since the beginning, and she’s someone I always relish sitting down with.So I’ve dug into my Take 5 archives this week to a chat I had with Peaches back in 2018 when I invited her to Take 5 with songs that bite. And oh boy, did she deliver.Peaches' song choices:PJ Harvey - '50ft Queenie [4-Track Demo Version]'Rough Trade - 'High School Confidential'DAF - 'Der Mussolini'Missy Elliott - 'Get Ur Freak On'Diamanda Galás - 'My Love Will Never Die'00:00 Introduction to Peaches and Her Impact00:50 Peaches' Musical Inspirations and Influences like AC/DC04:39 Exploring PJ Harvey's Influence05:06 SONG 1: PJ Harvey - '50ft Queenie [4-Track Demo Version]'07:59 SONG 2: Rough Trade - 'High School Confidential'08:02 Rough Trade and Carol Pope's Legacy13:36 Peaches' Role in Queer Culture and Feminism14:21 Influencing artists like Janelle Monáe17:31 SONG 3: DAF - 'Der Mussolini'18:13 The Power of Minimalist Punk19:32 Peaches' Unique Stage Presence20:51 SONG 4: Missy Elliott - 'Get Ur Freak On'22:33 The Evolution of Peaches' Art23:28 SONG 5: Diamanda Galás - 'My Love Will Never Die'25:15 Upcoming Take Five Episodes and Conclusion

Take 5 with Zan Rowe is back on your screens from Tuesday 9 September, and Season 4 is our biggest yet.Kevin BaconMelanie C from the Spice GirlsLordePaul KellyComedian Aaron Chen (Fisk, Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee)Pulp's Jarvis CockerAcross this new season, you’ll hear revealing, funny, and deeply personal conversations with some of the most fascinating artists around. Each guest takes on a theme and chooses five songs that speak to it, and what unfolds is always unexpected.Like Jarvis Cocker, who didn’t say “I love you” until he was 40. Or Aaron Chen, whose wild comedy days led him back to a deep Christian faith.Want a Spice Girls story?Melanie C takes us back to the early days of sharehousing with the band – and spills on who scored the solo room. That chat was filmed at Hidden Grooves, a high-end London hifi bar owned by Richard Branson. The speaker behind us? Worth £55,000. No joke.We also sit down with songwriting legends Paul Kelly and Lorde, diving into the tracks they obsess over and the stories behind them.You’ll catch all the episodes from Tuesday September 9 on ABC TV and ABC iview.PLUS: every week, we’ll drop extended cuts of these chats right here on the podcast. All the bits we had to leave out of the TV episodes, the stories that didn’t make the edit, the moments that stayed with us.So hit follow and get ready for a season of Take 5 that’ll shift your perspective, make you laugh, and maybe even make you cry.And while you wait for Season 4, there’s plenty to explore. From Eddie Perfect to Meg Washington, Bernard Sumner to Antony Green – Take 5 has been a radio and podcast favourite for years. Dig in.Watch the first 3 seasons of Take 5 on ABC iview:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-roweOther Take 5 episodes you might like:Eddie Perfect https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/eddie-perfect-take-5-source-material-beetlejuice-musical/105463030Bernard Sumner from New Order https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/bernard-sumner-take-5-still-uses-blue-monday-synth-unbeatable/104908428Meg Washington https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/meg-washington-take-5/105628150Antony Green https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/antony-green-take-5-song-preferences/105234670

Mac DeMarco has long been loved for his laid-back guitar noodlings and so called “slacker” rock. He sometimes calls it "jizz jazz", but whatever it is, it’s gained him a loving fanbase across the world.For the past few years, Mac has moved away from traditional albums in favour of brain dumping huge swaths of music – a lot of it without lyrics. But now he’s returned with an old school album, and for him he says it’s capturing the essence of where he’s at right now. What matters.On the day he released Guitar, I invited Mac to Take 5. Fall into Mac's world, you'll feel better for it.Mac DeMarco's Take 5 song choices:Martin Kolberger + Ralf Illenburger – 'Waves'Akiko Yano – 'A Worried Girl'Michael Manring – 'Welcoming'Bruce Cockburn – 'You Get Bigger As You Go'Bob Dylan – 'Alberta #1'00:21 Mac DeMarco's Musical Journey01:13 Reflecting on Life and Music03:06 The Essence of Music and Collaboration05:45 Martin Kolberger + Ralf Illenburger – 'Waves'06:23 Philosophical Musings and Personal Anecdotes09:25 Akiko Yano and Musical Inspirations13:39 Akiko Yano – 'A Worried Girl'14:08 Guitars and Their Stories16:37 Canoeing and Nature's Influence on Music19:27 Michael Manring – 'Welcoming'20:18 Exploring Jazz and Its Mystique23:01 Creating Music Independently25:58 Reflecting on Canadian Roots29:39 Bruce Cockburn – 'You Get Bigger As You Go'30:06 Reflecting on new album Guitar and singing falsetto more33:26 The Influence of Bob Dylan37:20 Bob Dylan – 'Alberta #1'38:11 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsOther Take 5 episodes like this:Flaming Lips' frontman Wayne CoyneLucy DacusSharon Van Etten

Bert McCracken from The Used shares 5 songs that 'got him through'.The frontman and founding member of The Used found his tribe through music, and he’s gathered a huge community of fans over the last 25 years.It's the occasion of that quarter century that’s taking them around the world, to play out their first three albums in full night after night.It’s why I invited Bert to Take 5. His music has helped so many people overcome the hardest of times, you can see people’s faces and memories as they sing back the classics to their favourite band… and I wanted to know about the songs that got him through. From the godfathers of emo, to vampire punk, to synth pop, this is a beautiful window into a big-hearted Bert.Sunny Day Real Estate - 'How It Feels To Be Something On'Nirvana - 'Molly’s Lips'Ink & Dagger - 'Philapsychosis'Elliott Smith - 'Angeles'Robyn - 'Call Your Girlfriend'Bert McCracken's Take 5 song choices:Sunny Day Real Estate - 'How It Feels To Be Something On'Nirvana - 'Molly’s Lips'Ink & Dagger - 'Philapsychosis'Elliott Smith - 'Angeles'Robyn - 'Call Your Girlfriend'01:33 Bert McCracken's Musical Journey02:08 Life in Australia and Citizenship04:03 SONG 1: Sunny Day Real Estate 'How It Feels To Be Something On'09:52 SONG 2: Nirvana 'Molly’s Lips' 11:47 Impact of Kurt Cobain and Growing Up Mormon15:49 Band Beginnings and Personal Struggles16:58 The Brotherhood with Jeff19:02 SONG 3: Ink & Dagger - 'Philapsychosis'22:04 Memories of Ozzy Osbourne24:01 Connecting with Fans Through Music26:53 SONG 4: Elliott Smith - 'Angeles'30:04 Performing Nostalgic Songs32:57 SONG 5: Robyn - 'Call Your Girlfriend'34:02 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

It’s been five years since Meg Washington released an album of original songs, but that time hasn’t been wasted. Starring in Bluey as Calypso, and co-writing the Paul Kelly inspired film How To Make Gravy have dominated her last little while. But now she’s back with GEM, and it’s a welcome return.When talking about the album, Meg said she conjured a treasure island while writing these songs, finding music as an oasis, and that was the catalyst for her Take 5. What she revealed, was a deep love of songwriting in an age where being a musician is harder than ever. And the music that has been a refuge, and inspiration, for her.Sade - 'No Ordinary Love'The Bangles - 'Eternal Flame'Kevin Morby - 'Harlem River'Eugenio Bennato - 'Ogni uno'The Roches - 'Hammond Song'

Sophie Payten has had a wild five years. Better known as Gordi, she’s been living all over, put music on hold to work her day job as a doctor during the pandemic, and has been reassessing her place and space in the world through it all.It’s been that long too, since her last album, and she’s captured the intensity, beauty, and whirlwind of her experiences on Like Plasticine.Ahead of her third album dropping, I invited Gordi to Take 5. I was thinking it’d be a lil album preview, what I got was something a lot deeper. This is a special conversation, full of deep reflection and beautiful music.Missy Higgins - 'Any Day Now'MUNA - 'I Know a Place'Big Red Machine - 'Forest Green'Taylor Swift - 'epiphany'S. Carey - 'Take It With Me'

Patience Hodgson is no stranger to the Hottest 100. As lead singer of The Grates, she is certified alumni – with 8 entries and plenty of memories with her beloved band. And as we celebrate a special Hottest 100 of Australian songs, who better to wear their love of local on their sleeve. I roped Pae in for a pre-party and she delivered; not just with incredible songs but a peek behind the curtain of the beautiful community in the Australian music scene.The Mavis’s – 'Cry'Violent Soho – 'Covered In Chrome'WAAX – 'Labrador'Sekiden – 'Up In The Air'Regurgitator - '! (The Song Formerly Known As)'

Howlin’ Pelle is a joy to be around. As the longtime lead singer for Swedish garage rock legends The Hives, he brings big energy on stage and off. The band are known for their live shows, and their forthcoming new album is one they wrote with a stadium sensibility in mind. So when The Hives returned to Australia for the first time in 10 years, I asked him to choose his blockbuster songs. From AC/DC to Outkast to Billie Eilish, this is a fist pumping, heart filling conversation about music's power.AC/DC - Thunderstruck OutKast - Hey Ya Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have FunBillie Eilish - Bad Guy Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Yorta Yorta man Tom Forrest knows how to spin a yarn. Better known as Outback Tom, he’s amassed hundreds of thousands of fans on social media with his bush recipes and know how. Often joined by his Grandad, he shows his beautiful backyard of the Kimberley, while entertaining us with his charm and smarts.Tom’s a real renaissance man, he’s one of those people who tries his hand at everything… curiosity and drive are the cornerstones of his life. And whenever I cross paths with him, he lights up my day. I knew I wanted him to Take 5. I gave Tom the theme of generations, tapping into the theme of NAIDOC week this year – the next generation - and celebrating those who have come before, and those who are leading us into the future. Across five songs Tom shared the stories of his life, and the people who had guided him through his extraordinary path so far.Moby – PorcelainNgaiire – OnceJem Cassar-Daley - Big ContainerPaul Kelly - How to Make GravyGurrumul – Wiyathul

This week, I’ve pulled out a special Take 5 from the archives, when Ngaiire joined me to explore songs without boundaries.Ngaiire has long been one of Australian music's most treasured voices.Having lived and travelled across many places, she draws on these experiences to shape her distinctive sound.Music has always been a big part of Ngaiire’s life. As a child of the 90’s, she grew up listening to pop songs in Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, then Australia. She would find a connection particularly to Janet Jackson and Talib Kweli; a brown woman in song in an overwhelmingly white Australia.In this Take 5,  Ngaiire guides us through the music that reflects a life lived across cultures, sounds, and borders.

Eddie Perfect has been entertaining us for years. A star of stage and screen, he’s a writer of Broadway musicals, played Mick Holland on Offspring, and once composed a musical about Shane Warne. Eddie’s currently starring in the titular role for another musical he wrote – Beetlejuice - and he nails it. But for someone with such a varied life in song, I was curious about the inspirations he drew from. Strap in for his source material, and some truly beautiful nerding out on music.The Beach Boys - 'I Get Around'Lauryn Hill - 'Ex-Factor'Rage Against The Machine - 'Killing In The Name'Ella Fitzgerald - 'Fascinating Rhythm'Joni Mitchell - 'Both Sides, Now' 

If you’re an avid podcast listener, you’ve likely heard one of Richard Fidler’s Conversations. For 20 years he’s been chatting with people from all walks of life, making the Conversations podcast one of the most popular in Australia. So as they mark this big 20th birthday, I thought it’d be fun to flip the mic on Richard. Because his story begins long ago, as a founding member of the Doug Anthony Allstars, and host of Race Around the World. In 2016 Richard published his first non fiction book Ghost Empire, and since then has written three more (Saga Land, Golden Maze, and The Book of Roads and Kingdoms).He is a curious soul, a master storyteller, and you’re about to relish in his tales.T. Rex – Get It OnJoy Division – InterzoneThe Violent Femmes – Blister in the SunCocteau Twins – Carolyn’s FingersBig Star – Kanga Roo

Katy Steele has always been surrounded by music. Her brothers came up with the Sleepy Jackson and Empire of the Sun, and her dad Rick Steele was a legendary blues guitarist around Perth. But Katy made her own mark more than 20 years ago, when she burst out as the songwriter and frontwoman of Little Birdy. With her soaring voice and knack for writing catchy pop songs, their debut album BigBigLove made a huge mark on Australian music. And now the band are reuniting to play that record in full for the first time in years. Good reason to invite her in to Take 5, and trek through some of the musical moments that have helped her break out as a songwriter.Odetta – Gallows Pole (Live)Peter Gabriel – The Book of Love (Live)Adrianne Lenker – Sadness As A GiftRick Steele – DianellaJanis Ian – Stars

It's been a big year for Sam Cromack and his band Ball Park Music. A sold out tour, a #1 album, and a step away from their jaunty indie tunes into a more heartfelt, reflective moment. Like Love has solidified their place and one of Australia’s most loved bands.It got me thinking about other artist's departures; when they shifted the needle on their sound and surprised us all (for the better). Dive into a gloriously nerdy and warm convo with one of Australia's best songwriters, as we explore his favourite departures in song.Big Thief - 'Spud Infinity'Beck - 'Paper Tiger'Julia Jacklin - 'Body'King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - 'Planet B'Radiohead - 'Idioteque'

Isabella 'Izzi' Manfredi was born to be a frontwoman. As lead singer for The Preatures, she brought rock n roll swagger and brilliant pop songwriting to the scene, when they arrived in the 2010’s. They called it a day in 2020, but recently decided to reform and celebrate that brilliant debut album Blue Planet Eyes. It was the catalyst to invite Izzi in to Take 5, and hear about the music that had been the foundations and moulded around her ever-evolving existence.Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)Cat Power - RuinThe Angels  - Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again (live) Christine Anu - Island HomeCharli xcx & Bon Iver - I think about it all the time featuring bon iver

Kumi Taguchi is freshly minted author. Long known to us as a journo with ABC News and the current host of Insight on SBS, she’s just put out a beautiful memoir titled The Good Daughter.Kumi has always had that perfect blend of curiosity and empathy, it’s what makes her a great journo. She’s also got a strong grounding in music, having trained in violin as a child and even winning a scholarship to study music. So when I asked her to Take 5, I knew she'd have stories. Settle in for a beautiful convo about connection with the world, and finding yourself (with one helluva soundtrack).Deep Forest - Sweet LullabyJamiroquai - Too Young To DieThe Presets - PromisesL'Impératrice - Agitations TropicalesDaft Punk - Beyond