Ela Stiles released "I Like You" in May 2025
Melbourne/Naarm-based musician Ela Stiles made one of the albums of 2024, indulging a love of Ray of Light-era Madonna and the arena-sized synth-pop of Depeche Mode’s Violator on Not A Stranger, released in September via Felt Sense Recordings. Stiles’ latest single, “I Like You,” is an oxytocin-powered dance-pop tune that sounds like a lost Toddy Terry remix of Everything But the Girl.
“I Like You” is one of my 16 favourite Australian songs released in May. Others include the ambient and hypnotic breakbeat techno of Kate Miller’s“Sprint,” the disco house flair of Maggie Tra’s “Touch Your Soul,” and Ashkan Shafiei’s “Hunter,” which bears the influence of 60s and 70s Iranian funk.
Melbourne downtempo jangle pop trio Acopia debuted on London’s excellent Scenic Route label with “Talk About It,” and Naarm-based Fetle Wondimu released an EP of ambient electronic experiments under the name Nū, evoking forests and waterways while weaving in diasporic memories of Ethiopia.
Barkaa’s “Ngamaka,” featuring Leroy Johnson, is the Malyangapa and Barkindji artist’s rootsiest and most dance-oriented release to date. Allysha Joy and Finn Rees of 30/70 teamed up with Manchester producer Hidden Spheres for an album of searching, jazzy funk music under the name Joy Spheres Rees, and Vv Pete finally came through with her debut mixtape, featuring the percussive and floor-shaking “GOT IT.”
The best Australian music of May 2025
Featured this month:
Ela Stiles – “I Like You” – Watch video
Kate Miller – “Sprint” – Buy
Maggie Tra – “Touch Your Soul” – Buy
Ashkan Shafiei – “Hunter” – Buy
Acopia – “Talk About It” – Buy
Nū – “Angel” – Buy
Joy Spheres Rees – “Delta Spirit” – Buy
Barkaa – Ngamaka (feat. Leroy Johnson) – Watch video
e4444e – “Skink” – Buy
Guy Blackman – “Let Me Let You Let Me Down” – Buy
Cool Sounds – “Pompeii” – Buy
Moon Rituals – Aura – Buy
Daily Toll – Fleeting – Buy
Vv Pete (w/ UTILITY & Cassius Select) – “GOT IT” – Buy
CC: DISCO! – Yes Papi (Miami Daddy Theme) (DJ Kiti remix) – Buy
Boyfriend TV – “Counterweight” – Buy
