Take 5
Episodes
Ed Le Brocq's songs on the road
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready for some incredible stories? Take 5 always gifts us with some cracking yarns, but this week’s episode takes the cake. In fact, I’ve...
Tim Rogers Takes 5 with "a living"
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Where do you begin with Tim Rogers? For more than 30 years he has been the soundtrack to our lives. As frontman for You Am I, an acclaimed solo artis...
Lizzy Hoo's life escapades
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Lizzy Hoo has been everywhere the past few years. When she’s not doing stand up, she’s popping up on Have You Been Paying Attention?, an...
Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Liberation
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sophie Ellis-Bextor knows how to fill a dancefloor. Across 8 albums, and a double indemnity hit in "Murder on the Dancefloor", she's made a name for ...
Take 5 returns with a bumper new season
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From bucket list guests to Australian rock royalty and a disco queen, find out who Zan will be Taking 5 with in 2026.
A little update for Take 5
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Zan lets you know what's in store for 2026...
Best of Take 5: Aaron Chen
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a stratospheric rise for comedian, Aaron Chen.Getting his start in stand-up, he won a heap of fans starring in Fisk, and his charming stint...
Best of Take 5: Dannii Minogue
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you grew up in Australia in the 1980s then you probably grew up with Young Talent Time.It was a springboard for so much talent, and one of its big...
Best of Take 5: Jack Antonoff
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What do Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar have in common? Jack Antonoff.The decorated producer has made a name for himself shaping some ...
Best of Take 5: CMAT
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Irish artist CMAT has got it all: the voice, the songwriting talent, the charm.Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, (aka CMAT), has been shortlisted for the Me...
Best Of Take 5: Darren Hayes
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes has lived quite the life.Hitting Number 1 around the world in 1997 with their debut album, he recently shared wha...
Best of Take 5: Angie McMahon
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Angie McMahon is the kind of songwriter who stops you in your tracks.With two albums under her belt, her most recent record Light, Dark, Light Again ...
Best of 2025: Lorde, Gordi, Trent Dalton + more
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's not definitive, but here are some of the best moments from Take 5 this year:The legendary Richard Fidler threw back to the early days of the Dou...
Take 5 with TV On The Radio
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hearing TV On The Radio talk about music is as fun as it sounds. When the New York band first emerged they were like nothing we’d heard before. A m...
Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you remember the first time you heard Franz Ferdinand's 'Take Me Out? The way it began, then completely flipped less than a minute in? It was such...
Trent Dalton's own story in five songs
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trent Dalton is a master storyteller. His debut novel Boy Swallows Universe is an international bestseller, it was turned into a Netflix series and r...
Stella Donnelly's radical honesty
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever lost touch with a friend or been heartbroken by a platonic breakup, Stella Donnelly’s new album is for you. Documenting the end o...
Justine Clarke's Australian songbook
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justine Clarke is a legend. For most of her life she’s been in ours; as a child actor who graduated to a lifelong career on the big and small scree...
Noel Gallagher's 'escape' songs
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Oasis are undoubtedly the biggest band to rise out of Brit Pop. And it’s hard to describe how massive their return is. For years, the public fighti...
Mother and Son: Denise Scott and Matt Okine
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready to laugh, cry, and go head-to-head with two of Australia's most loved comedians. Denise Scott and Matt Okine are Mother and Son (the remix...
Paul Kelly's songs of 'place'
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Kelly is a national treasure, who's written the soundtrack to our lives. Road trips, first loves, heartbreak, our very sense of identity; he’s...
Jarvis Cocker from Pulp
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jarvis Cocker has had a dream run. As founding member and lead singer of Pulp, he hit the highest of the highs during Brit Pop in the 90s, before emb...
Take 5 with Lorde
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. 1...
Kevin Bacon Takes 5 with songs of joy
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 breakthroug...
Take 5 with comedian and TV star Aaron Chen
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Spell...
Melanie C's songs she 'feels in her bones'
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 begi...
Take 5 with Peaches
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The transgressive trailblazer celebrates 25 years since The Teaches of Peaches. A boundary-blurring blend of electroclash, sex-positive feminist them...
INTRODUCING: Brand new TV episodes of Take 5 with Zan Rowe
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 GirlsLorde...
Mac DeMarco shares 5 essential songs
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Bert McCracken from The Used
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Meg Washington's 'oasis' songs
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, a...
Gordi Takes 5 with 'transformation' songs
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 durin...
Patience Hodgson's Hottest 100 pre-party songs
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Howlin' Pelle Takes 5 with blockbuster songs
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Outback Tom's songs for the generations
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Zan revisits a special Take 5 with Ngaiire
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Eddie Perfect Takes 5 with his 'source material' songs
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
5 songs that have fused to Richard Fidler's 'history'
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Little Birdy's Katy Steele Takes 5 with 'breakout' songs
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 l...
Ball Park Music's Sam Cromack Takes 5 with 'departures'
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Izzi Manfredi from The Preatures goes full circle
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Kumi Taguchi: 5 songs she’s deeply bonded to
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 beau...
Holy Holy's Tim Carroll shares his songs of place
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Carroll has got stories. One half of Holy Holy, he’s been adventuring around the world for most of his adult life, and place is key to his stor...
The Kooks' Luke Pritchard on Dylan, Bowie and Lykke Li
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It was 2006 when UK band The Kooks burst onto the scene with their debut record Inside In / Inside Out.Six albums later, they're returning to the sa...
Antony Green's song preferences
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’re about to hear a side of Antony Green you’ve never heard before. The longtime Chief Election Analyst for the ABC is about to hang up his b...
Zan returns to Slowdive's girls to the front songs
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Back in the early '90s, a little band called Slowdive were making waves in the UK. With wall of sound, they dwelled in the same realm as My Bloody Va...
Zan revisits a beautiful Take 5 with Lucy Dacus
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy Dacus is one helluva songwriter. Whether collaborating with boygenius, or crafting solo songs, she’s gathered a dedicated following across the...
Bon Iver on SABLE, fABLE, leaving the cabin, and finding happiness
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A special treat in the feed this week, as Zan speaks with Justin Vernon in his only Australian interview. Bon Iver have just released their first new...
Zan Rowe revisits a joyous Take 5 with Common
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The acclaimed rapper, actor, poet and activist joined Zan Rowe for a joyous Take 5 at the end of 2020.It was after a tumultuous year in American poli...
Mahalia Barnes picks 5 songs that sum up her soul
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the oldest child of Jimmy and Jane Barnes, music has always been in Mahalia Barnes' blood, so it was no surprise that she inherited her dad’s ex...
Mel Buttle's gala songs
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mel Buttle knows how to make you laugh. She’s one of Australia’s most loved comedians, and this year got to check another thing off her bucket li...
Julia Stone's songs of freedom
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Julia Stone is one of Australia’s most successful musicians.With her brother Angus, she’s topped the Hottest 100 and sold-out massive shows acros...
Kristin Hersh's songs that shine
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kristin Hersh is a singular artist. For almost 40 years she’s been writing and performing songs. She may have gotten her start as a kid in Throwing...
Mardi Gras best of: HAAi, Jake Shears, Casey Donovan, Ed Le Brocq and Rhys Nicholson
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Over the years of I've chatted with many incredible people from the LGBTQIA+ community. Artists, comedians, musicians, singers; and a common thread ...
Sharon Van Etten's songs of metamorphosis
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For more than 15 years, Sharon Van Etten has worn her heart on her sleeve. Over 7 albums she's processed the raw emotions of life through some incre...
Shihad once drove Faith No More around Auckland in an old volvo
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand band Shihad are calling it a day. Over almost 4 decades they’ve torn up stages around the world, proving themselves one of the best li...
Take 5 with New Order's Bernard Sumner
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most influential bands of our time are coming back to Australia. To celebrate New Order’s return, I’m dusting off a cracking Take 5 f...
Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne shares his life-affirming songs
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you say about Wayne Coyne? The legendary frontman of Flaming Lips has been bringing us joy for more than four decades. Their live shows are ...
Best Bits: Hilltop Hoods—"It was the best day of my life"
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.Aussie hip-hop royalty Hilltop Hoods had me in stitches when they came in to Take 5 in 2022. Like many of yo...
Best Bits: How Angel Olsen gets the most out of life
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.Angel Olsen did a stunning Take 5 in early 2023. It came after a period of massive upheaval for Angel—the ...
Best Bits: The song that converted Fatboy Slim to disco music
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.Fatboy Slim was in Australia in January 2020, right before the world locked down.He came in to Take 5, and t...
Best Bits: Caroline Polachek on Pink Floyd
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.Caroline Polachek had a huge 2023, and at the end of it she joined Zan Rowe to Take 5. The energy of her mo...
Best Bits: Adam Hills' accidental text to Elbow's Guy Garvey
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.Comedian and much loved TV host Adam Hills got a huge reaction when he joined Zan Rowe to Take 5 with his Ha...
Best Bits: which song makes Emily Wurramara feel grown up?
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of the best bits from Take 5.Emily Wurramara had a remarkable year in 2024. She won an ARIA, was nominated for Double J Artist of the Yea...
Best Bits: Fontaines D.C. on Sinéad O'Connor—"She was right"
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fontaines D.C. are in a real purple patch. Over the last few years, they’ve become one of the most compelling bands around, and their latest album ...
Best of 2024
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
2024 was a massive year for Take 5.We reached all over the world to chat with extraordinary people about the music that's shaped their lives.Some of ...
Jamie XX's songs of surrender
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re winding out 2024 with a beautiful Take 5. Jamie xx is one of my favourite producers, so it’s really special to cap off what’s been a big...
Waxahatchee's songs that get right back to it
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Crutchfield has been making music as Waxahatchee for almost 15 years. In the early days she self-released on cassette, lo-fi indie music that w...
Chet Faker's decade
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
10 years ago, a fellow called Nick Murphy put out his debut album. The Melbournian traded on the name Chet Faker, buzz was building, but when Built o...
Darren Hayes' love songs
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There aren’t many Australian bands who have sold 23 million copies of their albums. Cast your mind back to the late 90’s, and a duo from Brisban...
Casey Donovan's sanctuary songs
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago Casey Donovan won Australian Idol. Just 16 years old, she was thrust into the spotlight and every high and l...
Bernard Fanning's vulnerability and bravado
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bernard Fanning is no stranger to the limelight. With Powderfinger he sold millions of albums and rocked out to stadiums of adoring fans.Then he ...
Neil Finn's songs of ascension
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Neil Finn is one of our greatest living songwriters. In Split Enz and Crowded House, solo and in his collaborations, his tunes have become the soundt...
Claudia Karvan's songs of hope
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us have grown up with Claudia Karvan. She's been on our screens since she was 10 years old, starring in films like The Big Steal and The Hear...
Bill Bailey's songs of humanity
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Bailey is one of the most loved comedians in the world. From his breakout role as Manny in the cult TV show Black Books, to his exceptional tale...
Dannii Minogue's catalyst songs
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re diving into a new season of Take 5 on ABC TV and ABC iview, with all of season three now up to stream! And while Take 5 comes back to your sc...
CMAT's suckerpunch songs
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Irish singer CMAT has been taking the world by storm. Shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize and counting Elton John as a fan, her country-twinged s...
Michelle Brasier's right songs, right moment
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle Brasier is a comedian, actor, writer and singer. You might have seen her on Aunty Donna, Mad As Hell and Thank God You're Here, or caught o...
Dan Kelly's story time
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Kelly is one of our best songwriters. He's whimsical, charming, and with indie-pop hooks for days. Almost 10 years since his last album, he’s n...
Noel Gallagher is only interested in music, football, family and friends
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Noel Gallagher is just like you.Putting aside the fame and fortune, the hit records and the very public family issues, at his heart he's a big music ...
Nick Cave on 'Wild God', the Red Hand Files and frogs
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A special little treat for you in the feed this week; a conversation with Nick Cave. After years away, he's returned to doing interviews, and Zan Row...
Emily Wurramara's songs of renewal
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Wurramara is one of my favourite Australian musicians. The Warnindhilyagwa woman writes from the heart, sings with the smokiest voice around, ...
'Dig!' director Ondi Timoner's coming of age
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 2004, a rock doco came out that was pure chaos. Dig! captured 7 years in the life of The Dandy Warhols and Brian Jonestown Massacre as they tried...
Middle Kids' songs to believe in
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever since I first heard them, Middle Kids have been a favourite. Exceptional songwriting, brilliant playing, and Hannah Joy’s beautiful voice. T...
Music Supervisor Jemma Burns' synchronicity songs
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You know that feeling when you’re watching a movie or TV show and the perfect song hits at the perfect moment? Think Lost in Translation when ‘A...
Dylan Alcott's Songs for Smashing It
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dylan Alcott is a deadset legend. A former Australian of the Year, multi-gold medallist, and disability advocate, but before all of that, he sat do...
Sarah Blasko's breakthrough songs
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Blasko has a voice that never lets you go.Her debut album The Overture & the Underscore was released 20 years ago, and she’s been a cons...
DOBBY's songs of fire
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's no other artist quite like DOBBY. The proud Filipino and Murrawarri artist (real name Rhyan Clapham) is a composer, rapper, producer and dru...
Adam Liaw's songs that set it off
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who knew cooking competitions would take over Australian television?Back in 2010, the finale for the second season of MasterChef became the most watc...
Susan Rogers' Catalyst songs
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you don’t know Susan Rogers by name, you’ll know her work. A female producer and sound engineer in an industry dominated by men, her drive and...
Vika & Linda's sibling songs
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vika and Linda are national treasures. We first met the Bull sisters alongside the Black Sorrows, doing backing vocals for Paul Kelly, and then burst...
Adam Hills' Hall of Fame songs
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Hills has lived an extraordinary life. From getting his start in stand up comedy to beaming out to millions on The Last Leg and Spicks and Speck...
Neneh Cherry's songs of force
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Back in 1989, Neneh Cherry released her debut album. Raw Like Sushi was a smash in the UK and here in Australia. This young Swede based in London cau...
Mike D's five songs from the five boroughs
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you remember when Ill Communication first came out? If you came of age in the 90’s like me, it was a huge album. Bursting outta the gates with ...
Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste: songs that unravel
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brooklyn band Grizzly Bear helped shaped the sound of modern indie music. Across their five albums they layered intricate and nuanced guitar music wi...
Kasey Chambers' musical breakthroughs
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kasey Chambers is a living legend. Five number one albums, fourteen ARIA Awards, she is the youngest woman to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame....
Angie McMahon's revolution songs
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Angie McMahon is one of those artists that stops you in your tracks. She caught my attention back in 2017 with 'Slow Mover' and immediately I was ask...
Fitzy's songs from the suburbs
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a special Take 5 this week, as we mark 10 years of Double J! To mark our birthday, I thought it’d be fun to invite one of our biggest listen...
Beth Ditto's rebel songs
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You know that question about who you’d invite to your dream dinner party? Beth Ditto is always at the top of my list. This sassy icon from the deep...
Bri Lee's power songs
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bri Lee is an author, journalist, and activist. You’ve probably seen her pop up on telly, in panels, and online, because in just over 5 years Bri h...