Listen Up with Ash McGregor

Hazlett didn’t grow up chasing music, nor fame and fortune. He started his solo career at 26 after years of playing bass and a stint in advertising. In this episode, Hazlett reflects on what it really means to back yourself later than most, the leap that took him from Australia to Sweden, and the creative partnership with producer Freddy Alexander that helped shape the sound he’s now known for.We talk about going from pub gigs to touring internationally, writing songs that feel quietly devastating, and the making of his new album Last Night You Said You Missed Me. -------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

New Zealand brothers Balu Brigada have been building this for years. Writing everything themselves, producing everything themselves, no shortcuts.With their latest album Portal, that steady grind turned into real momentum. Nearly 5 million monthly listeners, global tours with Twenty One Pilots, and a fanbase that’s catching up.In this episode, we talk about the shift from early R&B influences to the alt-pop sound they’ve carved out, how moving to New York reshaped their creativity, and why they’re interested in world-building rather than chasing singles.-------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

Before stepping on stage for one of his biggest Australian arena shows, YUNGBLUD sits down for a conversation about identity, ambition, and the weight of legacy.In this episode, we go deep into the creation of his third studio album 'Idols', an album born from pushing himself to the brink, questioning the persona he built, and rediscovering who he is. YUNGBLUD opens up about chasing something real, and what it means to stand for something in a world that constantly tries to package artists into neat boxes.We talk about the state of rock music right now, why it still matters, and how his fanbase has grown into something closer to a movement than a following.This is a conversation about becoming a legacy act in real time and refusing to lose yourself along the way.-------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

Good Neighbours didn’t expect this to work.After years of trying to make it in music, the duo started Good Neighbours as a one last chance. No expectations, no long-term plan. Then Home took off, and everything changed.In this episode they open up about the moment they almost quit music for good, how a project started on a whim became their breakthrough, and the full-circle reality of sitting in label meetings with people who once passed on them as solo artists.We talk about the pressure that comes with sudden momentum, what Blue Sky Mentality represents at this stage of their journey, and what the future of the project looks like. -------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

Few bands have left a mark on Australian music quite like The Temper Trap.From their early days in Melbourne to the slow-burning rise of Sweet Disposition, the band became one of Australia’s most beloved exports.In 2025, The Temper Trap returned with Giving Up Air, their first new music in nine years, marking the beginning of a long-awaited new chapter.Recorded live on stage at Beyond the Valley, on the final day of 2025, this special episode sees the band reflect on their full journey: the years before the breakthrough, what Sweet Disposition changed overnight, life spent touring the globe, and the decision to step away. We talk about the hiatus, what time away gave them, and why now felt like the right moment to return.They also look ahead to their forthcoming album, sharing insight into how this new era of The Temper Trap feels different.

I'm backkkk! Happy 2026! Silly season has truly been silly, lots of food, lots of events, lots of gigs and rounding out the year at Beyond the Valley. Let's catch up! Plus, I want to put you on to the act that has SZA talking, Maden Lane. ------Podcast setup brought to you by RØDE:RCDUOPodMicNTH-100PSA1+WS14As part of the RØDE Affiliate Program, purchases made through ⁠⁠⁠https://brandstore.rode.com/ashmcgregor⁠⁠⁠ may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Nashville pop artist Thomas Day has lived multiple versions of an artist’s dream.After breaking through as a teenage heartthrob on America’s Got Talent, Thomas signed to a major label and was quickly positioned for pop perfection. But it wasn’t until he stepped away from polish and leaned into raw, imperfect recordings that his music truly connected; culminating in the breakout success of “She Got a Thing About Her.”In this episode of Listen Up with Ash McGregor, Thomas reflects on the pressure of early success, and why embracing imperfection changed everything. He plays unfiltered audio recordings live in the studio, and takes us through the just-do-don't-think style of music creation he lives by. This is a conversation about how unlearning expectations, trusting instinct, and discovering that authenticity is what makes music last.-------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

SIX60 are New Zealand’s biggest band, and their rise is anything but conventional.Formed while studying in Dunedin, the group slowly built a grassroots following before becoming a stadium-selling force across Aotearoa. Along the way, they’ve rewritten the rules of success for Australasian bands, including a period during COVID when they were one of the only bands in the world able to tour, selling out shows while the rest of the industry stood still. In this episode of Listen Up with Ash McGregor, SIX60 reflect on the moments that shaped them: how close they came to breaking up, what nearly derailed the band, and the decisions that ultimately changed their trajectory. We talk about longevity, pressure, and what it takes to stay connected to each other after years at the top. They also tease their forthcoming album, revealing why this next chapter feels like a return to their roots.We sit down the day of their new single 'We Made It', fresh off playing the Sydney Opera House forecourt. Get to know the band that has quietly become one of the most important musical exports in the Southern Hemisphere.

Australian producer CYRIL has become one of the country’s most unlikely success stories.From growing up regionally, experiencing homelessness, and battling drug addiction; all while never letting go of his passion for producing. In just two years, he’s amassed over 1.8 billion streams and quickly became one of Australia's biggest exports.In this episode of Listen Up with Ash McGregor, CYRIL opens up about the realities behind his rise: the years before anyone was watching, the video that unexpectedly changed everything, and what it’s like navigating global success after surviving rock bottom. We talk about perseverance, identity, and how music became both an escape and a lifeline.CYRIL also teases his debut album, and it’s not what people expect.

Larissa Lambert is one of Australia’s brightest R&B stars with over 200 million streams to the name. Her story has never been linear - it’s a series of sliding doors moments. In this episode, we trace the chain of chances that built her career: from her pizza shop boss who paid for her to attend a talent camp, to saying yes to an X-Factor girl group in 2014, to backing herself as a solo artist when the group dissolved and taking a chance on a flight to LA.She talks openly about those early years, growing up in Ballarat posting YouTube covers to escape her household. And then the moment everything cracked open: posting a cover of SWV’s Weak a year before it exploded, catching the attention of Justin Bieber, SZA, and a whole new wave of fans.This is Larissa in full: the voice built on community, taking risks and backing herself even when nobody else knew who she was yet.-------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

Florence Road are one of the most exciting new bands to erupt out of Ireland. They’ve gone from making noise in a backyard shed to catching fire online, selling out rooms, and landing on massive international festival lineups and tour supports.In this episode, the band sits down with Ash McGregor for a proper introduction: their childhoods in Ireland, how they formed, and the moment a viral clip changed everything. They open up about gaining the attention of global industry players, touring with artists like Sombr, Olivia Rodrigo and Royel Otis and writing with some of the best.Florence Road are fast becoming one of the most talked about rising acts of 2025. Get to know them here. -------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

It's gigs on gigs on gigs over here! Let me catch you up on what I've seen lately and why we need to support local emerging artists when internationals tour. Plus you need to learn about Pamela., Sophian and this stunning collab between Joan & the Giants and Seb Szabo. Listen to all the tracks here: ⁠⁠⁠The A-List⁠⁠⁠, updated every Friday. ------Podcast setup brought to you by RØDE:RCDUOPodMicNTH-100PSA1+WS14As part of the RØDE Affiliate Program, purchases made through ⁠⁠https://brandstore.rode.com/ashmcgregor⁠⁠ may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Royel Otis join Ash to reminisce on the last 5 years, from writing songs in Sydney sunrooms to accidentally blowing up and becoming a household name.Royel Otis are a Sydney-born indie duo (Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic) who formed in 2019. Their 2024 debut album PRATTS & PAIN broke into the ARIA top 10, and by the end of the year they’d sold out shows globally, played major festivals and quickly became one of Australia’s biggest international exports.In this conversation, Roy and Otis open up about the early days, the tiny gigs, and the moment everything shifted. We get into the chaos behind their viral covers, performing with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, going global, navigating a fanbase that suddenly doubled overnight, and the pressure that comes with momentum. They talk touring burnout, writing on the move, nearly losing an eye on the road, advice from Chris Martin and Ed Sheeran blasting their new album hickey. If you’re a Royel Otis fan, or you’re still trying to understand how two guys from Sydney became one of the most in-demand indie bands on the planet, this is the one.-------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

We are in the middle of Aus Music Month, so let me put you on to three new aussie releases that can't go under the radar. Tune in to hear the stories behind FVNERAL x Ben Lee, Chris Lanzon and Ben Gerrans x PANIA. Check out ⁠⁠The A-List⁠⁠, updated every Friday. ------Podcast setup brought to you by RØDE:RCDUOPodMicNTH-100PSA1+WS14As part of the RØDE Affiliate Program, purchases made through ⁠https://brandstore.rode.com/ashmcgregor⁠ may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Few artists define a nation’s soundtrack like Paul Kelly. With 30 albums, generations of fans, and songs woven into Australian culture, this is one of the country’s greatest storytellers reflecting on life, legacy, and his brand new record, Seventy.In this deeply personal conversation, Paul opens up about the making of Seventy, the follow-up to his beloved Christmas classic How To Make Gravy, and what legacy means to him now. He shares intimate reflections on his children and grandchildren, the role of family in his writing, and the timeless art of storytelling that’s defined his music for more than four decades.It’s a rare and moving portrait of one of Australia’s greatest living artists, arriving at a deeply poignant moment in his career.

She blew up online and now she’s proving she’s the real deal. Lyric joins Ash McGregor to talk viral fame, songwriting, Like A Version, and the next wave of Australian pop.Gold Coast rising pop star Lyric has quickly become one of Australia’s most talked-about new artists.In this episode, Lyric sits down with Ash McGregor to unpack her whirlwind journey: from early viral traction and her first live shows to crafting her EP The Art of Falling First. She opens up about what inspired the project, learning production, how she’s navigating the spotlight, fan relationships, and online scrutiny.With new music and big 2026 goals ahead, Lyric proves she’s not just part of the next generation of Australian pop - she’s leading it.-------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Been a busy week in the world of Ash, so let me catch you up (I'm viral?! I hosted a 5SOS fan event?!). Plus I put you on to a debut single from Waist that I have been rinsing, and the next-gen Dijon: Jahson Paynter. Wanna know what else I'm loving? Check out ⁠The A-List⁠, updated every Friday. ------Podcast setup brought to you by RØDE:RCDUOPodMicNTH-100PSA1+WS14As part of the RØDE Affiliate Program, purchases made through https://brandstore.rode.com/ashmcgregor may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

YNG Martyr has lived a life like few others. The Wiradjuri rapper first broke out of Canberra’s underground scene with his viral hit Nike Ticks, turning gaming chats and meme culture into millions of streams - and a cult global following.But behind the fame was chaos. In this conversation, YNG Martyr opens up about growing up in Townsville, falling into drugs, and the trip that almost killed him and changed his life forever. He shares lessons from his stepdad, the highs and lows of going viral, moving to LA, and how he ended up writing Logan Paul’s WWE walk-out track.Now, with a new album on the way, YNG Martyr is entering a new chapter. You'll hear about it here first. -------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

Well well well, we are BACK in the bedroom and in honour of the BOY SODA episode that dropped this week, let me tell you three RnB artists I'm loving right now. Hear about them in the pod, but find their music here: Chelsea Jordan dawwn cikho Wanna know what else I'm loving? Check out The A-List, updated every Friday. ------Podcast setup brought to you by RØDE:RCDUOPodMicNTH-100PSA1+WS14As part of the RØDE Affiliate Program, purchases made through https://brandstore.rode.com/ashmcgregor may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

BOY SODA is one of Australia’s most exciting new R&B artists - and his rise is only getting started. Following the viral success of his hit Lil Obsession and the release of his debut album SOULSTAR, BOY SODA joins Ash for an in-depth interview about his journey so far.He opens up about his Samoan roots, his family life, and the creative community that shapes his sound. From the making of SOULSTAR to the moments that defined him, this conversation dives deep into what drives BOY SODA to create music that’s soulful, vulnerable, and unapologetically him.If you’re a fan of artists like Frank Ocean, Anderson .Paak or Erykah Badu - BOY SODA is an artist you'll want to listen to early. -------This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.