Drifting Clouds' debut single 'Bawuypawuy' is one of the best songs I've heard in years
Music. It’s everywhere.
It’s playing in your headphones when you’re crossing a busy road. When you’re sitting on the bus. When you’re in the shower. It’s on at the chemist, the supermarket, the op shop. There’s a DJ at the day spa. A subwoofer in the cafe. Playlists in group chats. Snippets of sound in videos about conflict resolution.
I’m guilty of playing music at every available opportunity. I don’t think there’s anything inherently offensive about using music as background noise, and I’m also not a fan of people telling you the right and wrong way to listen to music. But I do know that to experience a transformative thrill, music requires attention.
This might make it sound like work. It’s not. It’s just that focus is a prerequisite for pleasure. Music hits you in the body. And to feel its full effect, you want to be open to feeling. Engulfable. Ready to fall. To melt. To dissolve.
That’s how I suggest you experience these 28 songs, which are some of the best I’ve heard in the past six months. All the artists are either from or based in Australia. There’s dub, folk, soul, downtempo guitar pop, experimental beats, trip hop, dance music, and a fair bit of blissed out electronic groove.
There’s also “Bawuypawuy” by Yolngu musician Drifting Clouds, sung in the Yolngu Matha language Liyawulma’mirr-Djambarrpuyngu. It’s one of the best songs you will ever hear in your life.
LISTEN: I played a bunch of my favourite Australian songs of 2025 on Triple R
Previous lists:
The best Australian music of 2025 (so far)
The best Australian music – sina, Sleep D, Olana + more
The best Australian music – Ela Stiles, Maggie Tra, Nū + more
Find all 28 songs, bar Tina Disco’s “Do you love me?”, in the YouTube playlist.
The best Australian music of 2025
Cold Hands Warm Heart – “magma / Forge and Crucible” (Reworking by Troth)
From the album day and night have equal weight, released by Eastmint Records in September
Stream/buy here
Drifting Clouds – “Bawuypawuy”
Single released independently in June
Stream/buy here
Birdsnake – “Scintillate In A Dark Blue Light” feat. Milou Moon
From the album Biofilter, out through Bathtub Music in November
Stream/buy here
Local Woman – “Your Way”
From the album 27, released independently in April
Stream/buy here
Acopia – “See You In Everyone”
From the album Blush Response, released by Scenic Route in September
Stream/buy here
Nice Girl – “Done” (feat. Michael Kime)
From the VA comp Chill Pill Volume VII, released by Public Possession in August
Stream/buy here
Georgia Knight – “Mingle”
From the album Beanpole, out independently on October 31
Stream/buy here
RONA. – “Apmere”
From EP It’s All Here, released by Rarre Records in September
Stream/buy here
June Jones – “Bachelorette”
From the EP Would that it were a fortress, released independently in August
Stream/buy here
Foreigner – “Land One”
From the Visible EP, released by Livity Sound in June
Stream/buy here
trickpony – “Heart2Heart”
From the EP 24/7 Heaven, released by Step Ball Chain in December
Stream/buy here
Cousin & Priori – “Stepping Stoned”
From the EP Fly In Amber, out October 30 through MOONSHOE/Naff
Stream/buy here
Bumpy – “Cosy Comfy”
From the album Kanana, released by Astral People in October
Stream/buy here
Dawn Again – “A Day in the Life of Pond Algae”
From the EP Lost In The Front Bar, released by Hell Yeah Recordings in July
Stream/buy here
Fin Healy – “bird land”
From the album Yet It Moves, released by Hobbies Galore in September
Stream/buy here
Tina Disco – “Do you love me?”
From the EP Sol, released independently in October
Stream/buy here
Blood Lotus – “Dragonfruit”
Single released by CONTENT.NET.AU in May
Stream/buy here
L Lewis – “Infinite” (Alex Albrecht remix)
From the album Intervals, released by Bathtub Music in August
Stream/buy here
Now Always Fades – “Mindflower”
From the album Into the Doldrums, released by Northern Underground Records in May
Stream/buy here
Ella Ion – “Blue Black Crows”
Single released by Our Golden Friend in August
Stream/buy here
Hewitt & Volpato – “Trout Fishing”
From the Creek Soul EP, released by Shades of Sound Recordings in September
Stream/buy here
Command D & Zara – “Gravity Reset”
From the Gravity Reset EP, released by Butter Sessions in July
Stream/buy here
Guy Contact & Solar Suite – “Zephyr”
From the Perfect Harmony EP, released by Wax’o Paradiso in March
Stream/buy here
BAYANG (tha Bushranger) & Nerdie – “Singapura”
From the album WAR WITH CHINA, released by CONTENT.NET.AU in September
Stream/buy here
Jeremy Dower – “Peak Leisure”
From the album Personal Computer Music, 1997-2022, released by Chapter Music in November
Stream/buy here
ŽIVA – “Idle Heart”
Single released independently in May
Stream/buy here
Maggie Tra – “People Pleaser”
From the album Cyclo Theory, released in October
Stream/buy here
Orange Moon – “Higher”
Single released independently in November
Watch here and follow Orange Moon here
This article has been updated a few times since it was first published on October 23, 2025.
