Boy oh boy have I been thinking about how I was going to divide this years discoveries up and I think I've done it! Please find 'nic's faves from 2025' below:

top 5 music discoveries/rediscoveries

most/if not all of my top music discoveries/rediscoveries have been a result of either the podcasts I've listened to or the books I've read. I simply would not function if i didn't have media that i could learn about music and culture!

1. djos back catalogue (specifically decide)

this was a result of seeing djo at laneway in feb. I had a great time and in the lead up/rollout to his album 'the crux' i spent a LOT of time in his back catalogue. I specifically love DECIDE - as the themes are poignant but theres a lot of playfullness in amongst it too. It's pretty much impossible to remain in a bad mood after putting this album and it has stayed close by all year.

2. Celebrity skin - Hole

I have always had a soft spot for this album but I think prior to now I leaned more towards Live Through This rather than Celebrity Skin. This year that completely changed. I rediscovered this album and suddenly my perception shifted and I was hooked. There are SO many bangers on this album, but Boys on the Radio was the one that reeled me back in, and it makes me emotional whenever I hear it.

3. Suede and their debut album

learned about Suede through Bandsplain goes britpop and for the longest time thought a band by the name of 'Suede' was like 70s classic rock-esque, flared jeans, shirtless, tassels, fuzzy hair ass band (like led zep) but I was WRONG. Looked up a photo of Brett Anderson and immediately I was hooked, and this was before I had even heard a single song of theirs. I was particularly taken by their debut album which I still think trumps the rest of them. Since discovering suede I have devoured any kind of media I could - music, documentaries, Brett's first memoir, youtube interviews, you name it. I was also particularly invested in Brett's relationship with Justine Frischmann pre-Suede.

4. Triple j hottest 100s (1993-2001)

going back and listening to *every single* hottest 100 was a result of listening to a podcast about the australian alt music scene in the 90s, as well as podcasts about the history of triple j and the big day out. It was so much more eye opening going back this time around given what i had recently learned, about the culture and new bands i hadn't heard of before. I wanted to specifically point out the countdowns of the 90s, up until about 2001, where you can TELL that triple j was for the outcasts and the freaks (endearingly), as the lists were a lot more eclectic than they ended up becoming halfway through the 2000s and ESPECIALLY into the 2010s and 2020s. They're such an interesting collection of songs that kinda make me miss what triple j used to be, at the risk of sounding like that person.

5. Britpop (mainly oasis with a sprinkle of pulp and elastica) - now this was a result of both getting tickets to Oasis in November, as well britpop bandsplain. I have spent a LOT of time engrossed in Oasis' discography (mainly the good bits) and as a result have delved into Noel Gallagher's HFB catalogue which goes hard. I have also got new found respect for Pulp & Elastica, from what i've heard and read, it seemed like a very cool thing to be a part of (until it wasn't).

Top 3 albums of 2025

• The Crux - Djo

Absolutely no surprise that this album was my AOTY. Djo made my top artist spot, as well as the top 10 songs I listened to this year. I love everything about this album, from the lyrical themes to the shift in direction from his other material. My top song of the album (and let’s face it, the whole year for me) is Egg. There are so many elements to this song that make you feel like you’re being sucked into Djos sense of existential dread and I genuinely don’t feel like I’ve felt that kind of emotional response to a song quite like this in a very long time.

• Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party - Hayley Williams

This album is just incredible. I listened to a few of the tracks before the formal album release and loved them, but I think saving the bulk of the listening so I could have a proper listening experience was a great idea. It’s such a laid back listen, PERFECT for listening to whilst driving! She tackles so many lyrical themes which you can tell felt urgent for her to do so and get those feelings out. My favourite on the album is True Believer, which contain lyrics that made me thing ‘omg she really did that,’ as well as Love Me Different. Props to Hayley for this one, continuing to prove to the haters that she doesn’t solely rely on Paramore to make amazing music (which we still love btw).

• Straight Line Was a Lie - the Beth’s

This album is a goddamn delight. I’ve been a long time fan of The Beth’s and they simply do not miss. Their work is amazingly consistent, which makes me so excited every time I see they’re about to come out with new music, and having played with the twice now, I know they are the kindest people who are so deserving of the success that comes their way. I think my fave song on the album is Take, which caught me off guard with how it just explodes at the end of the song. Absolutely brilliant.

Top 3 books

• Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion - Chris DeVille

This book was CRAZY comprehensive! It was genuinely so fascinating to me as it covered everything and I got to relive my youth through my love of indie music. I feel like I flew through this book as I didn’t want to put it down so I could find out what was being covered next.

• 60 Songs that Explain the 90s - Rob Harvilla

I have been meaning to read this book since its release in 2023, but due to its lack of an ebook release in Australia, I kept putting it off until one day I bit the bullet and purchased the paperback version. As a big fan of Rob as a podcaster, I really admire his deeply personal tone and heartfelt delivery, the book carried those same warming qualities as the podcast does, and for that, I am outrageously grateful.

• Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 songs - Miranda Sawyer

I was really in my Britpop era this year, so this was a brilliant read, as it helped me plant myself in that time, in that part of the world, rather than viewing the nineties from a strictly American or Australian lens. I came across Miranda through being a guest on a few Bandsplain episodes, but halfway through the year, she herself started up a brilliant podcast called Talk 90s to Me, which I highly recommend.

Top 5 concerts attended (festivals included)

Green Day - 01/03/2025

This was the first time I've ever seen Green Day and what an HONOUR it was to see both Dookie and American Idiot in full! Paid a pretty penny for these tickets (thanks surge pricing) and the view was honestly, not great, but we still had a great time.

Oasis - 01/11/2025

This is a concert I never thought I'd get to see in my lifetime, genuinely. I was gearing up for this concert as soon as I saw footage from the first show of the tour in Cardiff, and I this was the show I've been the most excited for, perhaps ever.

This is hands down a core memory for me. The whole time they were playing all I could think of was “I cannot believe this is happening right now.” They played impeccably and I had the time of my life. Some of the concert etiquette around me was questionable but it didn’t really affect my experience, it was just more an interesting observation about what is seen as normal now lol

Lady Gaga - 05/12/2025

Now this absolutely knocked my god damn socks off. I spent most of the time she was onstage with my jaw on the floor as it was not only my first big pop production I’ve ever been to, but it was just absolutely incredible. The setlist was absolutely flawless (although there were some songs I was hoping we’d get for the secret songs cough speechless and monster cough). Words cannot describe how special it was for me to get to see Paparazzi (iykyk), Appaluse and Alejandro.

I’ve been a fan of Lady Gaga since Just Dance blew up (I think I was like 11) and The Fame Monster and I became acutely aware of the fact that she was right there and I was witnessing this all with my own two eyes so I did become quite emotional for at least the first 3 songs and many other moments throughout the night.

Harvest Rock - 25-26/10/2025

Okay so this one was a doozy for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is one of my favourite festivals on at the moment, it caters to my taste perfectly and the vibe is so welcoming! Secondly, they managed to get The Strokes (amongst many other great artists) to play, and thirdly, we were on the damn lineup.

Laneway Festival - 15/02/2025

Even though I feel old when I go to Laneway now, I still persist. I will always get there early and support my friends who are playing in the unearthed slots as well! Fave acts of the day included Djo, Clairo, Remi Wolf and ofc Charli XCX. Brat live was insane and it was worth being at a festival that oversold and was dusty as hell.

Anyway, I’ve consumed a lot of great media this year, and I cannot wait to see what next year brings!