In the fifteen years since Emma Louise wowed us with her debut single 'Jungle', she’s shown all sides of herself, singing her story with vulnerability and reflection.

Last year, Emma released the collaborative album Dumb with producer Flume. But it’s been 8 years since her last solo album, the daring and romantic Lilac Everything. 

This week, she returns with Sunshine for Happiness, an album that was actually recorded in 2019. Emma Louise joined Zan to talk more about the changes in her life between recording and release and to share her song selections in the theme of 'Before and After'.

Emma Louise's song choices:

• Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years
• Nick Drake – Pink Moon
• Bruno Mars – Versace on the Floor
• Dijon – The Dress
• Alice Coltrane – Govinda Jai Jai

00:51 Introduction to Emma Louise

05:27 The theme of Before and After

10:15 Paul Simon - 'Still Crazy After All These Years'

11:30 Mexico holiday and Nick Drake

14:35 Nick Drake - 'Pink Moon'

15:45 New album and longlining for things

21:55 How a pricey ride home led to discovering Bruno Mars

25:26 Bruno Mars - 'Versace on the Floor'

27:02 Sneak peak of Djion

29:33 Djion - 'The Dress'

30:45 Suffering, redemption and recognising the good times

37:15 Alice Coltrane – 'Govinda Jai Jai'

38:20 Wrap-up and next weeks guest

Show notes:

If you need someone to talk to, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Edited by Craig Schuftan.

35 years ago, we met a band called Smashing Pumpkins. Rising in the wave of American grunge, the Chicago band were led by the iconic voice of Billy Corgan and would rise and rise like all their contemporaries, over the coming years. 

If you know anything about music history, you know the story of the Pumpkins is a tumultuous one. But Billy has continued through it all. 

Back in 2012, Billy was in Australia to play Splendour in the Grass with the latest incarnation of Smashing Pumpkins. With a new album under their belt, he was in a buoyant mood and up for an epic conversation when he joined Zan to Take 5

Billy is always good chat, but if you've ever wondered about the music that made him, this conversation is a dream. So settle in, don your flanny, and discover the songs that make Billy Corgan feel good.

Billy Corgan's song choices:

• Yes - And You and I
• UFO - Love to Love
• Neil Young - Ambulance Blues
• David Bowie - Space Oddity
• Lou Reed - Berlin

00:23 Introduction to Billy Corgan

01:43 Creating music during difficult times

04:25 1972 and guitar supergroup Yes

05:50 Yes - 'And You and I'

07:38 When Billy discovered music

11:43 British Hard Rock inspirations

13:08 UFO - 'Love to Love'

14:30 Moving away from mainstream needs

15:23 Neil Young - 'Ambulance Blues'

16:40 Sad music making you feel better

18:50 The definitive anthem of alienation

19:24 David Bowie - 'Space Oddity'

20:40 Technology and disconnection 

28:10 Lou Reed - 'Berlin'

29:47 Next weeks guest

Alexei Toliopoulos is a lifelong cinephile. Known for his excellent podcasts including The Last Video Store, he’s a writer, comedian, filmmaker and loves talking about the movies that made us who we are today. The way he speaks about cinema invites everyone into the conversation. But what are the songs that soundtrack his life? And why?

Dig into a joyful convo that will have you curating a playlist of songs and movies, for your weekend.

Alexei Toliopoulos' song choices:

• Stewart Copeland - Don’t Box Me In 
• George Dalaras - Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou
• Mikis Theodorakis - Theme from Serpico 
• Buena Vista Social Club - Dos Gardenias
• Grace Jones  - La Vie En Rose

00:26 Alexei Toliopoulos introduction

01:38 When did Alexei fall in love with movies?

05:29 Francis Ford Coppola deep cuts

13:54 Stewart Copeland - 'Don’t Box Me In'

15:40 Coming of Age and George Dalaras 

21:40 George Dalaras - 'Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou'

24:05 Mikis and the hero of Greek music 

30:02 Mikis Theodorakis - 'Theme from Serpico'

31:15 Seeing the world through cinema 

36:41 Buena Vista Social Club - 'Dos Gardenias'

37:36 How cinema helped Alexei with communication

45:20 Grace Jones  - 'La Vie En Rose'

47:32 Show notes and next weeks guest!

Check out Alexei's podcast and live show details, via his Instagram.

Thirty years ago the world met Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Their debut album Revival introduced us to two incredible storytellers, singers and guitarists, and in the three decades since they’ve swept us away in song.

It's long been on my bucket list to have them Take 5, and finally here it is. When thinking on a theme, I landed on time. Time, and their ruminations on time, have always swirled in their songs. They love old-time music, and take their time in getting your own songs right. How they responded to the theme, is one for the ages.

Settle in for a deep, insightful, and intoxicating conversation with two of music's best.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' song choices:

• Robert Johnson - Love in Vain 
• The Stanley Brothers - Rank Strangers
• Townes Van Zandt - Pancho and Lefty (Live at the Old Quarter)
• The Carter Family & Johnny Cash - Will the Circle Be Unbroken
• John Prine - Angel From Montgomery 

00:55 Gillian Welch and David Rawlings introduction

01:52 Three decades since the release of 'Revival'

08:44 Choosing Robert Johnson

12:32 Robert Johnson - 'Love in Vain'

13:22 O Brother Where Art Thou

18:07 Working with The Stanley Brothers

17:59 The Stanley Brothers - 'Rank Strangers'

26:13 Raw versions of songs

28:10 Townes Van Zandt - 'Pancho and Lefty (Live at the Old Quarter)'

32:35 Recording things as live

34:32 The Carter Family & Johnny Cash - 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken'

40:37 Gillian and David finding their harmony

44:33 Hope for something better

48:48 John Prine - 'Angel From Montgomery'

51:33 Show notes and next weeks guest!

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 had more responses to Ed Le Brocq’s Take 5 than any other, in ages.

Ed used to be Eddie Ayers, a legendary ABC Classic FM broadcaster who has shared his life of adventure with us over the past two decades. Ed is a cellist, viola, and violin player, and has gifted his talents to others; teaching school kids in Afghanistan, and playing for Uyghurs in the remote deserts of China.

We’ll get to those stories soon… but this might give you a sense of why I asked Ed to Take 5. Across four books, Ed has shared his stories of travel and self-discovery with us, and music has always been at his centre. From Joni Mitchell to shredding violas to Ry Cooder, this is an extraordinary conversation about the power of love, self-belief, adventure and of course, music. 

Ed Le Brocq's song choices:

• Joni Mitchell – A Case of You
• Maria Theresia von Paradis – Sicilienne
• Elton John – Your Song
• Paul Hindemith - Viola Sonata, Op. 25, No. 1: IV. Rasendes Zeitmass
• Ry Cooder and V. M. Bhatt – Isa Lei

00:33 Ed Le Brocq introduction

01:52 Having a restless spirit

04:55 Memories of the seventies and Joni Mitchell

07:21 Joni Mitchell - 'A Case of You'

07:55 Ed's love of the Cello

14:30 Travelling the world with music

17:59 Maria Theresia von Paradis – 'Sicilienne'

18:50 Interpreting music in your way

20:20 Listening to music as a musician

28:10 Elton John - 'Your Song'

29:10 Music as the universal language

32:30 Classic music with an edge

35:42 Paul Hindemith - 'Viola Sonata, Op. 25, No. 1: IV. Rasendes Zeitmass'

36:45 Classic FM audience and shredding

42:30 Depression and "the cover of grey silt"

44:08 Ry Cooder and V. M. Bhatt – 'Isa Lei'

44:06 Show notes and next weeks guests!

Show notes:

If you need someone to talk to, call Lifeline on 13 11 14

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 artist and keen collaborator, an actor, author and once even a Double J broadcaster.

He's made a living in more ways than one, and his approach to living has shifted over the years. A long time coming, I invited Tim to Take 5 and explore this idea of a living; what makes a good life, and what it means to be alive. 

And he didn't disappoint.

Tim Rogers' song choices:

• Magic Dirt – Ice
• Jake Thackray – The Bull
• Joni Mitchell – Just Like This Train
• NRBQ – I Want You Bad 
• Martha Wainwright & Linda Thompson – Or Nothing At All

00:39 Tim Rogers introduction 

01:30 Memories of watching Magic Dirt on Rage 

04:21 Magic Dirt — 'Ice'

07:45 Making a living as an artist & mowing lawns

10:31 Jake Thackray explainer

15:00 Jake Thackray— 'The Bull’

21:41 Tim’s later in life love of Joni Mitchell

26:07 Joni Mitchell — 'Just Like This Train'

32:08 Rewriting and revisiting your own songs

33:55 NRBQ explainer & Tim’s obsession

36:27 NRBQ — 'I Want You Bad'

39:05 You Am I ‘Hourly Daily’ anniversary and going pop

46:30 Linda Thompson explainer & inspiring songwriting

53:41 Martha Wainwright & Linda Thompson  — 'Or Nothing At All'

55:20 Conclusion + next week's guest!

Show Notes

To see Tim perform live, check out his tour dates here: https://tim-rogers.com.au/

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?, and hosting her own podcast The Lizzy Hoo Show.

Lizzy has made travel shows, and is even the voice of an airline. She's one of those people who says YES to life. 

She also has also got a razor sharp wit, and more than a few adventurous tales which is why I invited her to Take 5. 

I didn't realise it'd become a beautiful lesson in how to live.

Lizzy Hoo's song choices:

• Arctic Monkeys — 'Dancing Shoes'
• Journey — 'Don’t Stop Believin’
• The Lemons — 'Monad'
• Snoop Dogg — 'Who Am I (What’s My Name)?'
• Camille — 'Ta Douleur'

00:34 Lizzy Hoo introduction and Take 5 prep

02:40 Music's role in Lizzy's life 

04:53 North America adventures in a $500 car

09:23 Arctic Monkeys — 'Dancing Shoes'

10:45 The Hoo's as a family

13:30 Karaoke in Japan ski towns

16:40 Journey — 'Don’t Stop Believin’

18:13 Music and comedy in Lizzys world

19:50 Moving to Mongolia  

26:30 The Lemons — 'Monad'

29:13 Lizzy's many careers & falling into comedy

37:48 Snoop Dogg — 'Who Am I (What’s My Name)?'

39:50 Lizzy's life update and having broad shoulders

43:06 Turning travel into career 

48:10 Camille — 'Ta Douleur'

49:50 Conclusion + next week's guest!

Show Notes

To see Lizzy perform live on her national tour, check out her dates here: https://www.lizzyhoo.com/

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 herself as a pop-disco queen. When she’s not on stage or in a recording studio, Sophie is throwing a kitchen disco, hosting her Spinning Plates podcast, and publishing books.

Sophie’s latest album Perimenopop takes stock of where she is today. The lessons learned, the way love evolves, and the place she finds herself. It's through-line is liberation, so I asked her to choose her favourite songs of freedom.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's song choices:

• Sylvester — 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'
• Madonna — 'Express Yourself'
• George Michael — 'Freedom 90'
• Sigrid — 'Mine Right Now'
• Prince & the Revolution — 'Let's Go Crazy'

00:34 Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Musical Journey

02:15 Making new music 25 years after debut

04:55 Disco escapism and the queer community support

09:23 Sylvester – 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'

06:23 Indie rock beginnings and Groovejet 

15:40 Obsession with Madonna and pleasure

13:39 Madonna – 'Express Yourself'

19:08 Is it better for women in pop music now?

22:37 Loving completely and opening for George Michael 

26:32 George Michael – 'Freedom! '90'

27:18 Writing new album and mid life

29:09 Sigrid – 'Mine Right Now'

29:50 Going through Murder on the Dancefloor resurgence 

34:06 The drama of Prince 

35:25 Prince & the Revolution – 'Let's Go Crazy'

38:11 Conclusion, Susan Rogers Prince story + next week's guest!

Show Notes

Check out the Take 5 episode with Prince's sound engineer Susan Rogers!

From bucket list guests to Australian rock royalty and a disco queen, find out who Zan will be Taking 5 with in 2026.

Zan lets you know what's in store for 2026...

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 on Taskmaster.

But at the top of his game, he left Australia to start again in New York City.

For his Take 5, Aaron shared one song from a pivotal time in his comedy career.

• Arcade Fire – 'Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)'

This is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. 

You can hear the full episode here:

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/aaron-chen-take-5/105781008

Watch Take 5 on ABC iview: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe