Dance Singles of 2015 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Six

20 - David Zowie - House Every Weekend
19 - Beni - Another You
18 - Disclosure - Bang That 
17 - Tiga - Bugatti {Feat. Pusha T}
16 - Yolanda Be Cool/D'Cup - Soul Sakossa (Money)
15 - Hayden James - Something About You
14 - Snakehips - All My Friends {Feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper}
13 - Disclosure - Omen {Feat. Sam Smith} 
12 - Peking Duk - Say My Name {Feat. Benjamin Joseph}
11 - Calvin Harris & The Disciples - How Deep is Your Love
10 - Rufus - You Were Right
9 - Hermitude - The Buzz {Feat. Mataya & Young Tapz}
8 - Years & Years - Shine
7 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble With Us
6 - Rudimental - Lay it all on Me {Feat. Ed Sheeran}
5 - Calvin Harris - Pray to God {Feat. Haim}
4 - DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge - You Know You Like It
3 - Major Lazer - Powerful {Feat. Ellie Goulding,Tarrus Riley}
2 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
1 - Major Lazer - Leon On {Feat. DJ Snake & MO} 

April is..., Groovin the Moo 2016 Lineup and the Feature Album returns on Monday

After having so much fun with Australian Music in January I have decided to shine the spotlight once again on Australian Music in April 2016. Kicking off the month with:

April Fools Day - Australian Hits from Today and Yesterday

Australian Weekly Feature Albums all April long (that's 4 in total)

Australian Features all month long, right here

Only being January (the end of now) and there are already two excellent Australian albums that both deserve an Album of the Year nod already so by April I expect a load of great Australian full length releases so I will have a mini Album of the Year (Australian themed) on ANZAC day.

Groovin the Moo will also be held over April (May if you're reading this three hours behind me typing it in WA) and the line up dropped during this BLOG's very busy week. So check out the full line up HERE but below, some of this years lineups highlights.

And finally for start of a new year (really 2016 starts in February for Australians, January is a blur of New Years Day, lazy hot days, too much Tennis and cricket and a whole load of sick days) a new Feature Album. Well it dropped yesterday on iTunes and is currently sitting at Number One on iTunes, beating out an artists (ironically) some of the tracks were written for. Yes Sia's brilliant new 7th studio record will be the Feature Album from Monday.

Her track Cheap Thrills (written for Rhi Rhi's Anto album, sitting at Number 2 on iTunes currently) is also sitting at Number 23 on the iTunes singles chart, Alive is at Number 40 & Unstoppable at Number 78. On my Fresh Friday countdown last night, her two tunes above Alive & Cheap Thrills both continued to shine and it looks like 2016 is the year Sia returns to the live stage with her already being announced on the Coachella line up in the USA.

So from Monday it's Sia mania all week long! This week has also been huge for Flume as he continues to be Number One on my Fresh Friday countdown and only yesterday he dropped another jam from his Skin record (release date TBA).

Fresh Friday Countdown #4 - Friday 29 January 2016

20 - Tame Impala - The Less I Know the Better
19 - Hilltop Hoods - Higher {Feat. James Chatburn}
18 - Disclosure - Magnets {Feat. Lorde}
17 - Sia - Alive
16 - AlunaGeorge - I'm in Control {Feat. Popcaan}
15 - Vance Joy - Fire & the Flood

14 - The Weeknd - In the Night
13 - ZHU x Skrillex x THEY. - Working For It
12 - The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face
11 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown {Feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz}
10 - Flume - Smoke & Retribution {Feat. Vince Staples & Kucka}

9 - Troye Sivian - YOUTH
8 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble with Us

7 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
6 - Sia - Cheap Thrills
5 - DJ Snake - Middle {Feat. Bipolar Sunshine}
4 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige IV}
3 - Kiiara - Gold
2 - Shakehips - All My Friends {Feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper}
1 - Flume - Never Be Like You {Feat. Kai}

Dance Tracks of 2015 | Highlights from 100-1

This Sunday another Summer Music List will be posted in the evening and this week I shine the spot light on the club, the home disco, the work lunch room around the wireless and anywhere else where you dance.

Dance music was alive and well and so killer in 2015, with collaborations, hot jams, slow jams, fast jams, workout tunes and just plain good music to get your sexy on to, here right here, right now are some highlights.

#12

#20

#41

#45

#54

#58

#62

#69

#75

#86

#97

Australian Album of 2015 | Highlights from 100-1

A HUGE congratulations to Hermitude for continuing their massive run through my 100 BEST songs of 2015 yesterday and taking out the Australian Album of 2015. Here are there cuts from yesterday's countdown and 4 in the top 100, is pretty amazing, that 4% of the countdown. Well done to the almighty duo from the Blue Mountains. If Dance is your thing like Hermitude well the Top 20 Dance tracks of 2015 will be posted here on Sunday evening, keep your eyes peeled.

#65

#43

#38

#10

Australian Music Month continues until Sunday, right HERE on Flashing off the Record...

Part Two - The 200 BEST songs of 2015 {100-1}

1 - Major Lazer - Lean On {Feat. MO & DJ Snake}

2 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble With Us

3 - Tame Impala - 'Cause I'm A Man

4 - Drake - Hotline Bling

5 - Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta

6 - SIA - Alive

7 - The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face

8 - Jarryd James - Do You Remember

9 - The Rubens - Hoops

10 - Hermitude - The Buzz {Feat. Mataya & Young Tapz}

11 - Vance Joy - Fire & The Flood

12 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive

13 - The Weeknd - The Hills

14 - Disclosure - Magnets {Feat. Lorde}

15 - Tame Impala - Let It Happen

16 - DJ Snake - Middle {Feat. Bipolar Sunshine}

17 - Rufus - You Were Right

18 - Major Lazer - Powerful {Feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley}

19 - Disclosure - Omen {Feat. Sam Smith}

20 - Jamie xx - I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times) {Feat. Young Thug & Popcaan}

21 - Florence + The Machine - What Kind Of Man

22 - Chet Faker - Bend

23 - Peking Duk - Say My Name {Feat. Benjamin Joseph}

24 - Bring Me The Horizon - Happy Song

25 - Rudimental - Lay it all on Me {Feat. Ed Sheeran}

26 - Overdoz. - Last Kiss {Feat. Pharrell}

27 - Courtney Barnett - Pedestrian At Best

28 - Jamie xx - Loud Places {Feat. Romy}

29 - Bring Me The Horizon - True Friends

30 - Foals - Mountain At My Gates

31 - Meg Mac - Never Be

32 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown {Feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz}

33 - Rufus - Like An Animal

34 - Illy - Swear Jar

35 - Florence + The Machine - Ship to Wreck

36 - Florence + The Machine - Delilah

37 -Tkay Maidza - M.O.B.

38 - Hermitude - Searchlight {Feat. Yeo}

39 - Flume - Some Minds {Feat. Andrew Wyatt}

40 - Birds of Tokyo - Anchor

41 - The Chemical Brothers - Go {Feat. Q-Tip}

42 - Lana Del Rey - High By The Beach

43 - Hermitude - Through The Roof {Feat. Young Tapz}

44 - Vallis Alps - Young

45 - ZHU & Skrillex & THEY. - Working For It

46 - Major Lazer - Be Together {Feat. Wild Belle}

47 - Daniel Johns - Aerial Love

48 - Kendrick Lamar - These Walls {Feat. Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat}

49 - Violent Soho - Like Soda

50 - Alpine - Foolish

51 - Jarryd James - Regardless {Feat. Julia Stone}

52 - ZHU - Automatic {Feat. AlunaGeorge}

53 - SIA - Bird Set Free

54 - Rudimental - Rumour Mill {Feat. Anne Marie & Will Heard}

55 - Boo Seeka - Deception Bay

56 - Jess Kent - Get Down

57 - Mumford & Sons - Ditmas

58 - What So Not - Gemini {Feat. George Maple}

59 - David Zowie - House Every Weekend

60 - Wolf Alice - You're A Germ

61 - Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep is Your Love

62 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige IV}

63 - Birds of Tokyo - I'd Go With You Anywhere

64 - Beck - Dreams

65 - Hermitude - Ukiyo

66 - Hayden James - Something About You

67 - Safia - Counting Sheep

68 - Asta - Dynamite {Feat. Allday}

69 - Golden Features - No One {Feat. Thelma Plum}

70 - Claptone - Puppet Theatre {Feat. Peter, Bjorn & John}

71 - DJ Snake & Alunageorge - You Know You Like

72 - Grimes - Flesh Without Blood

73 - E^ST - The Alley

74 - Amity Affliction - Shine On

75 - Diplo & Sleepy Tom - Be Right There

76 - Alison Wonderland - U Don't Know {Feat. Wayne Coyne}

77 - Duke Dumont - The Giver (Reprise)

78 - Bully - Trying

79 - The Weeknd - In the Night

80 - CHVRCHES - Clearest Blue

81 - Mark Ronson - In Case Of Fire {Feat. Jeff Bhasker}

82 - Seth Sentry - Dumb

83 - Disclosure - Holding On {Feat. Gregory Porter}

84 - Hilltop Hoods - Higher {Feat. James Chatburn}

85 - Daniel Johns - Cool On Fire

86 - Missy Elliot - WTF (Where They From) {Feat. Pharrell Williams}

87 - A$AP Rocky - Everyday {Feat. Rod Stewart, Miguel & Mark Ronson}

88 - Jarryd James - Give Me Something

89 - Raury - Friends {Ft. Tom Morello}

90 - Basenji - Petals {Feat. Scienic}

91 - Cosmo's Midnight - Walk With Me {Feat. KUCKA}

92 - Snakehips - All My Friends {Feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper}

93 - Boy & Bear - Walk The Wire

94 - Tame Impala - Eventually

95 - Seth Sentry - Hell Boy

96 - The Internet - Girl {Feat. Kaytranada}

97 - Ngaiire - Once

98 - Nero - Two Minds

99 - The Weeknd - Tell Your Friends

100 - Mark Ronson - Feel Right {Feat. Mystikal}

Australian Album of the year for 2015 & the winner is......

Five records in, sold out shows in large Australian venues, recognition of overseas, a huge Top 20 single and an extreme amount of airplay for multiple singles from this brilliant 5th record, it clearly has been the year of the music from the Mountains.

Hermitude residing in Sydney's Blue Mountains are Australia's most dynamic duo of the past few years and leaders in the Australian music business.

Beating the other amazing nine nominations for the Australian Album of 2015 Hermitude have shown experience in the industry has finally paid off. Since their debut EP in 2002 it's been a monster ride for the group across multiple genres.

El Gusto and Luke Dubs have shown 2015 they ruled kings of the dance floor across this nation and abroad.

With tracks like The Buzz, Through the Roof, Searchlight and Ukiyo all across the radio and an album full of bangers this was too hard to go past for the Australian Album of 2015.

From start to finish this perfect record is going to be amazing to catch at this years Laneway Festival touring the nation.

The group received 7 ARIA nominations in 2015, a J Award Nomination and multiple rave reviews for this fine record. Australia and NSW should be proud of the duo from the almighty Blue Mountains as they are my Australian Album of 2015 and with 2016 shaping up to be a BIG year in Aussie music, what albums will be in the Album of 2016 race? I have a feeling a nomination is on the way and it may very well be Australia. Stay Tuned.

Well done Hermitude as Flashing off the Record continues Australian music month...

Fresh Friday Countdown #3 - Friday 22 January 2016

20 - The Weeknd - The Hills

19 - Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime

18 - Vance Joy - Fire & the Flood

17 - The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face
16 - ZHU x Skrillex x THEY. - Working For It
15 - Rufus - Innerbloom
14 - Drake - Hotline Bling
13 - Sia - Cheap Thrills
12 - Rudimental - Lay it All on Me {Feat. Ed Sheeran}

11 -Hilltop Hoods - Higher {Feat. James Chatburn}

10 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown {Feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz}
9 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble with Us
8 - The Weeknd - In the Night

7 - Troye Sivian - YOUTH

6 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
5 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige IV}
4 - Kiiara - Gold
3 - DJ Snake - Middle {Feat. Bipolar Sunshine}
2 - Shakehips - All My Friends {Feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper}
1 - Flume - Never Be Like You {Feat. Kai}

Australian Albums of 2015 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Five

20 - Tuka - Life Death Time Eternal
19 - Dead Letter Circus - Aesthesis
18 - Pond - Man, it Feels Like Space Again
17 - Last Dinosaurs - Wellness
16 - Northlane - Node
15 - Alpine - Yuck
14 - San Cisco - Gracetown
13 - Jarryd James - Thirty One
12 - Gang of Youths - The Positions
11 - Daniel Johns - Talk
10 - In Hearts Wake - Skydancer
9 - Boy & Bear - Limit of Love
8 - Alison Wonderland - Run
7 - The Rubens - Hoops
6 - Troye Sivan - Blue Neighbourhood
5 - Seth Sentry - Strange New Past
4 - Parkway Drive - Ire
3 - Hermitude - Dark Night Sweet Light
2 - Courtney Barnett - Sometime I Sit & Think, Sometimes I Just Sit 
1 - Tame Impala - Currents 

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #10 - San Cisco - Gracetown

10 days in the making, we are finally at our final nomination for the Australian Album of 2015. San Cisco's second full length release has been a wonderful pop album and an album brimming with hits!

It reached Number 2 on the ARIA charts upon it's release and featured the 2014 hit Run, along with Too Much Time Together, Magic, Snow and Super Slow.

San Cisco have come along way since their debut album in 2012. Gracetown was released in March and continued to featured as a Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer soundtrack to mine and many others lives.

The young four piece from Fremantle have a very bright future ahead of them and I look forward to seeing what their third studio record will bring. Will San Cisco's Gracetown be this years Australian Album of 2015? Find out on the other side of the weekend, on Tuesday AM, all will be revealed.

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #9 - Boy & Bear - Limit of Love

Boy & Bear released their third record inn mid October and instantly it was another fan favourite.

Next month they will play some of their biggest shows in Sydney they will play the 5,000 plus Hordern Pavillion. Tickets are still available to see this album and their past hits played out live HERE.

Boy & Bear formed in 2009 and have gone from strength to strength and in 2015 they excelled with this brilliant record being released and extensive radio play and exposure.

Peking at Number One like their second release Harlequin Dream Boy & Bear are 2 from 3 for Number Albums with their debut Moonfire coming in at Number 2.

Boy & Bear join a brilliant list of Australian Albums, all up for this years Album of The Year, winner announced mid Tuesday morning for Australia Day 2016.

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #8 - Alpine - Yuck

Forming in 2009, Melbourne's album released a sublime second record loaded with radio friendly pop gems. There were two unforgettably good pop gem singles from the album Foolish and Damn Baby were on high rotation on the radio and iPods across the country.

Alpine's Yuck album also had superb tracks like Shot Fox which are perfect for the ultimate Summer soundtrack.

I am so excited to see where Alpine go from here and after seeing them live on the back of their first album (A is for Alpine) I am desperate to see their latest live song with the addition of these brilliant songs with equally brilliant music videos to boot.

Alpine are the 8th and third last Australian Album of The Year Nomination, next Tuesday is looking like a tight, diverse race and come back mid morning on Australia for the Australian Album of 2015.

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #7 - Jarryd James - Thirty One

Breakthrough Australian singer songwriter Jarryd James was all over the radio and charts in 2015 with Do You Remember. Indie radio didn't stop there with Give Me Something, Regardless (with Julia Stone) and Sure Love continuing to get loads of spins.

Not only the radio, Jarryd James made waves live with a double header tour with Meg Mac and supported Angus & Julia Stone in early 2015 on their tour.

Jarryd James took out the ARIA Award in 2015 for Best Pop Release with Do You Remember and the album peaked at Number 2 locally and number 28 in New Zealand.

Do You Remember clocked up double platinum sales (over 140,000 units) and peaked at number 2 in Australia whilst reaching number 78 in Germany.

Thirty One was released in September and is the 7th Australian Album of the Year Nomination for 2015. Three more Nominations to come ahead of next Tuesday's Australian Album of the Year Announcement.

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #6 - Tame Impala - Currents

Tame Impala are easily one of Australia's most successful bands, now with their third album and long list of singles and ever growing list of awards 2015 was all about Tame Impala.

Currents featured fan favourites Let it Happen and Cause I'm a Man. This record was a serious line in the sand that Tame Impala are here to stay.

At the 2015 ARIA Awards Tame Impala took home 5 trophies from 6 nominations, not bad right?

Let it Happen is a clear favourite for this year's Hottest 100 and a Soulwax remix earned the band a long period of airplay across radio and indie clubs alike.

This album is so tight and so full of amazing songs i's hard to pick a favourite, although Cause I'm a Man really spoke to me. It was a mellow and amazing jam that just hit me the first time it hit the airwaves.

After falling in love with the band back in 2008 with Desire Be, Desire Go, if I knew back then how huge they would be now, I would have taken out a double mortgage and invested some cash in them.

Tame Impala Currents, a huge album, the ARIA album of 2015, gold selling in Australia, reaching Number 4 on the US Billboard 200 and receiving huge critical acclaim, but will it be the Australian Album of 2015, you'll have to wait till Australia Day next Tuesday.

Australian Singles of 2015 - Summer Music Lists Special - Part Four

20 - Hayden James - Something About You
19 - Alison Wonderland - U Don't Know {Feat. Wayne Coyne}
18 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige V}
17 - Flume - Some Minds {Feat. Andrew Wyatt} 
16 - Rufus - Like an Animal
15 - Hilltop Hoods - Live & Let Go {Feat. Maverick Sabre & Brother Ali }
14 - Meg Mac - Never Be
13 - Troye Sivan - WILD
12 - Peking Duk - Say My Name {Feat. Benjamin Joseph}
11 - Birds of Tokyo - I'd Go with You Anywhere
10 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble With Us
9 - Sia - Alive
8 - Rufus - You Were Right
7 - Birds of Tokyo - Anchor
6 - Hermitude - The Buzz {Feat. Mataya & Young Tapz}
5 - Vance Joy - Georgia
4 - Sia - Elastic Heart {Feat. Diplo & the Weeknd) 
3 - The Rubens - Hoops
2 - Vance Joy - Fire & the Flood
1 - Jarryd James - Do You Remember

Fresh Friday Countdown #2 - Friday 15 January 2016

20 - Diplo & Sleepy Tom - Be Right There

19 - The Weeknd - The Hills

18 - The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face

17 - ZHU x Skrillex x THEY. - Working For It

16 - Sia - Alive

15 - Sia - Reaper

14 - Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime
13 - Drake - Hotline Bling

12 - Disclosure - Magnets {Feat. Lorde}

11 - Vance Joy - Fire & the Flood
10 - The Weeknd - In the Night
9 - Rudimental - Lay it All on Me {Feat. Ed Sheeran}
8 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige IV}

7 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown {Feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz}

6 - Hilltop Hoods - Higher {Feat. James Chatburn}

5 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
4 - Troye Sivian - YOUTH

3 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble with Us

2 - DJ Snake - Middle {Feat. Bipolar Sunshine}
1 - Shakehips - All My Friends {Feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper}

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #5 - The Rubens - Hoops

WOW! Is all I can say about the second album from the Rubens, true talent means that second album is not difficult but even better than the first and that is what the Rubens achieved on their second release Hoops.

The title track from the album has become there biggest to date. Reaching number 25 on the national ARIA charts and also a hit on commercial radio, Hoops was huge. The lead single from the album Hallelujah was released in May and smashed it's way across the radio around the nation.

The Rubens second album was solid with great album tracks like the Night is on My Side and the brilliant Switchblade this was a terrific release all up.

Selling out shows across the nation, growing their already loyal fan base The Rubens are a band who could in fact become one of Australia's great bands. Without Powderfinger and Silverchair the market in the indie/rock field can now be filled successfully by bands like the Rubens and Boy & Bear.

They have come along way from Triple J Unearthed, the Rubens are one of this years and the final for this week Australian Album of the Year Nominations. Another 5 nominations coming at you from Monday. On Sunday the Top 20 Australian Singles of 2015 will be online as part of my Summer Music List features.

Plenty more Australian music and lists, nominations to come as we are halfway through Australian Music Month.

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #4 - Alison Wonderland - Run

Aside of Madison Avenue's debut album the Polyester Embassy, full dance albums used to be hard work (particularly for Australian DJ's/Producers), singles and club hits were easy but a complete body of work, not easy.

Run by Alison Wonderland (like Hermitude's brilliant Dark Night Sweet Light) is a complete body of work littered with great tracks and killer singles.

Alison Wonderland in 2015 also brought by the Warehouse party with her national tour (which in most venues completely sold out).

Alison is now paving the way for more great Australia DJ/Producer types to have complete, amazing full bodies of work not seen since Flume's debut, Paul Mac's early work and the early years of the Presets.

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #3 - Daniel Johns | Talk

Daniel Johns finally excited fans with that long talked about solo album and after the first taste Aerial Love, we knew this was definitely not going to be another Silverchair record.

The album peaked at Number 2 when it was released in May and he was nominated for an ARIA for Best Male Artists for this album.

He also worked with ZHU on his Genesis series EP with a track Modern Conversation with a bit of additional help from Vancouver Sleep Clinic.

Daniel Johns (only 36) is a complete legend in Australian music with Silverchair being one of Australia's biggest and best exports of all time. This was the great next chapter in the musical journey of Daniel Johns, making Talk my third Australian Album of 2015 nomination. Come back tomorrow for nomination #4 as we also make it halfway through the list of nominations.

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #2 - Hermitude | Dark Night Sweet Light

Hailing from the Blue Mountains, NSW and a career spanning over 10 years Hermitude really had an amazing 2015.

With Dark Night Sweet Light reaching Number One locally and the Buzz featuring Mataya and Young Tapz hitting the Top 20 and achieving Platinum sales status this was the breakthrough single the duo required.

Dance music in Australia is at a high new level right now, with acts leading festival line ups and Hermitude will be definitely ones to watch at this years Laneway Festival.

Tracks like Ukiyo. Through the Roof, Searchlight and Bermuda Bay were all highlights for me from this record and after seeing them live late in 2015 the boys from Hermitude are on top of their game.

Come back tomorrow for the third Australian Album of the Year Nomination for 2015.

Australian Album of the Year Nomination #1 - Courtney Barnett | Sometimes I Sit & Think & Sometimes I Just Sit

Let's kick it off with a HUGE Australia Album of the Year Nomination, it's Australian superstar from Melbourne, Victoria.

Winning Four ARIA Awards in 2015, gaining a Grammy nomination, a Gold selling debut album in Australia, various performances on US television and an international career going from strength to strength. It was definitely Courtney Barnett's year in 2015.

Sometimes I Sit & Think & Sometimes I Just Sit is not just one of the best titled albums in 2015 but one of the best complete works. From the singles and radio favourites "Elevator Operator", "Pedestrian at Best", "Dead Fox", "Depreston" & "Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go to the Party" it was hard to escape Barnett in 2015.

This album is truly unique and interesting, fun and honest and above all a great Australian record.

Well done to Courtney Barnett and tomorrow you will find out Courtney's first competition for Australian Album of 2015.

Sunday Spotlight: Excellence in Australian Music {2015} Playlist

This week, every week day I have shone the spotlight on an artist who has excelled in 2015 and has plans to own 2016. SIA is moments away from dropping her seventh album (yes I know how did she chalk up seven stunning records so quickly?) and this week she dropped another sample from This is Acting, produced by none other than Kanye West.

It's already had over one million views/listens on YouTube, this album is gonna be HUGE!

Next up was RUFUS who this week were announced as part of the massive Coachella line up. Joining fellow Aussie heavyweights Flume, Courtney Barnett and Nina Las Vegas! During the holiday period the trio were caught on camera doing a great liver version of their lead single from Bloom, out later this month.

VANCE JOY was your hump day Aussie artist and what a year he had, touring with Taylor Swift, selling two platinum singles and I am sure he will feature at least once on my Australian Singles of 2015 Summer Music List next Sunday.

CHET FAKER continued to slay it in 2015, with huge live shows, a stellar EP with Marcus Marr and he now is clearly no stranger overseas, Chet Faker is a fantastic Australian export and I believe 2016 will continue to be huge for Mr Faker.

Finally KEVIN PARKER and all his efforts in 2015, from his work with Tame Impala, production on Pond's 2015 record and his work with Mark Ronson. It was clearly a massive year for Kevin. 2016 will continue to be massive for Parker, Tame Impala and no doubt Pond will continue to release spaced out jams.

The ARIA awards went nuts for Currents as did the critics and music fans a like. How will Tame Impala fair in Part Two of my 200 songs of 2015? The Less I Know the Better already came in at #127, Yes I'm Changing hit number #170 so no doubt the gang from Perth will continue to smash it in my Top 100. For the full list of 200 to 101 CLICK HERE.

Fresh Friday Countdown #1 - Friday 8 January

20 - Sia - Cheap Thrills

19 - Sia - Alive
18 - The Weeknd - The Hills

17 - Diplo & Sleepy Tom - Be Right There
16 - Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime
15 - Major Lazer - Be Together {Feat. Wild Belle}
14 - The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face

13 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige IV}
12 - Disclosure - Magnets {Feat. Lorde}
11 - Vance Joy - Fire & the Flood
10 - Rudimental - Lay it All on Me {Feat. Ed Sheeran}

9 - The Weeknd - In the Night

8 - Drake - Hotline Bling

7 - Troye Sivian - YOUTH

6 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown {Feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz}

5 - Hilltop Hoods - Higher {Feat. James Chatburn}

4 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive

3 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble with Us

2 - DJ Snake - Middle {Feat. Bipolar Sunshine}
1 - Shakehips - All My Friends {Feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper}

Excellence in Australian music {2015}: TAME IMPALA/KEVIN PARKER

The last day in my special on Australian Music - Excellence in Australian Music Part Five and I am leaving one of the biggest Aus Music stars to the end. Kevin Parker and his gang Tame Impala.

Of course Tame Impala released their biggest album to date in 2015, Currents (more on that later), Parker also produced his third Pond record (which he used to be the drummer for) Man, it Feels like Space Again.

Kevin also was vocally behind three tracks on last years Mark Ronson record Uptown Special. Daffodils was clearly my favourite however the other two cuts helped to shape the full body of work that was Uptown Special.

Currents sold Gold in Australia and at the end of the year was the 28th album on the end of year album charts. It featured my favourite Tame Impala song in years "Cause I'm a Man" and gave the world a dance/indie gem in "Let it Happen" which was a 7 minute plus jam.

Tame Impala won 5 ARIA awards at this year's ceremony (the most for a band/group) and they took away the major gong, Album of the Year. They were Triple J listeners Album of 2015, Richard Kingsmill's third album of 2015 and made many end of year critics lists for best albums of the past year.

Kevin Parker is a perfectionist and a true trailblazer and definitely ends this week of celebrating Australian Music with a bang, well done Kevin, well done Tame Impala and well done Pond.

Excellence in Australian music {2015}: CHET FAKER

After releasing the Work EP with Marcus Marr at the end of 2015, Chet Faker had completely fulfilled another big year. From the Work EP The Trouble With Us archived platinum sales and coming it at 99 in the end of year singles sales.

Talk is Cheap almost managed the end of year top 100 at number 76 with Built on Glass coming it at number 34 on the end of year album chart for 2015.

Chet also achieved a sold out tour and great reviews for the Sydney Opera House. His single Bend (which was a leftover track from the Built on Glass sessions) hit the Top 50.

Chet Faker is clearly on top of his game with international recognition and with over 830K likes on his official Facebook page, Chet aka Nicholas James Murphy is my fourth and second last in the series of excellence achieved in Australian Music in 2015.

Excellence in Australian music {2015}: VANCE JOY

Despite his debut album Dream Your Life Away being released in 2014, his two singles Fire & The Flood & Georgia (both released 2015) both have now sold platinum and become huge radio hits across 2015.

Vance Joy has indeed had a terrific 2015, with the re-Release of Dream Your Life Away, the single Great Summer being featured on the Paper Towns soundtrack and winning the ARIA Award for Best Male Artist, 2015 could have only been bigger if he supported Taylor Swift on her 1989 tour for North American dates/Australian tour. Which he did.

Vance Joy has become one of Australia's favourite singer/songwriters and Riptide is still a hugely popular song whenever it gets a play.

So it is no wonder my third excellence in Australian music for this hump day of back to work week is for Mr Joy AKA James Gabriel Keogh.

Excellence in Australian music {2015}: RUFUS

After firstly announcing SIA in my excellence in Australian Music it's time to announce a second and let's stay in my home city Rufus.

They have had three hits off their album Bloom which will be released on January 22nd, just before Sia's This is Acting.

So with the (over) 9 minute EPIC Innerbloom making it in at #132 on my Hottest 200 tracks of 2015, where will they place with Like an Animal & You Were Right in my second part announcing numbers 1 through to number 100.

This 3 piece out of Sydney already took out the 2015 ARIA for the Best Dance Release with their track You Were Right, ahead of Alison Wonderland, Peking Duk, Flight Facilities, Hayden James.

So the countdown is on for when there 11 track, second record Bloom hits the internet, the stores and your earphones. If the first three tracks have been anything to go off, a difficult second album this won't be.

Rufus they were brilliant in 2015 and I am 99.9% sure 2016 will be epic for these Sydney lads.

Excellence in Australian music {2015}: SIA

January 2016 is all about Australian music and when looking at excellence in Australian music, it's hard to look past Sia's contribution in 2015. The lead up to Sia's massive next release, her 7th This is Acting has been a perfect lead in. Alive is a great song, has a great video and has hung around on radio and video music channels for a number of months now. Bird Set Free, Cheap Thrills and One Million Bullets are also great pre-order "hype singles".

Not only has Sia successfully lead in a hyped January 29, 2016 This is Acting release date but her collaborations continue to excite and do damages on international charts.

Collaborations with dance king and long time collaborator David Guetta "Bang My Head" which was originally her track and then when Listen was re-released by Guetta got some Fetty Wap love and now the song has gone Top 10 in several European countries.

She also collaborated with Travie McCoy and disco legged Giorgio Moroder, where she was responsible vocally for the title track of his come back album featuring a killer vocalist line up.

Sia also scored a track on the highly successful Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack which went to number one in Australia and number one on the Billboard Year End chart for Soundtrack albums. Speaking of Soundtracks Sia also featured on the San Andres soundtrack with a haunting cover of "California Dreamin".

She wrote songs and featured on a Kanye track, wrote for Jessie J and her track on the Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack and wrote songs for Shakira and Carly Rae Jepsen's highly regarded album.

Where Sia will land in my second part of the Hottest Songs of 2015 is anyone's guess but I reckon it will be rather high. Last year (2014) she was my number one track with Chandelier and her album 1,000 Forms of Fear was my Album of 2014.

Sia's 2015 it's a roll call of great achievements and when looking at Excellence in Australian Music, it's hard to look past the brilliant and inspiring Sia Furler from Adelaide.

First Countdown for 2016 - Sunday 3 January

20 - Diplo & Sleepy Tom - Be Right There

19 - L D R U - Keeping Score {Feat. Paige IV}
18 - Sia - Cheap Thrills
17 - Major Lazer - Be Together {Feat. Wild Belle}
16 - Sia - Alive

15 - Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime

14 - The Weeknd - The Hills
13 - Disclosure - Magnets {Feat. Lorde}
12 - The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face

11 - Troye Sivian - YOUTH
10 - Vance Joy - Fire & the Flood
9 - Rudimental - Lay it All on Me {Feat. Ed Sheeran}

8 - Hilltop Hoods - Higher {Feat. James Chatburn}

7 - Drake - Hotline Bling

6 - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown {Feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz}

5 - The Weeknd - In the Night

4 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive

3 - Marcus Marr & Chet Faker - The Trouble with Us

2 - DJ Snake - Middle {Feat. Bipolar Sunshine}
1 - Shakehips - All My Friends {Feat. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper}

2016 | What to Expect

January is set to be large and (mostly) Australian. Australian music month commences on Monday with five days of Australians being inducted into my excellence in Australian music.

Like back in 2014 when I shone the light on Australians like Jagwar Ma, Birds of Tokyo & Karnivool, Vance Joy & Matt Corby, The Preatures, Elizabeth Rose + Flight Facilities & finally Cut Copy.

Then from Monday 11 January over ten working days you will find out the ten Australian Album of the Year nominated albums.

On Australia Day the Australian Album of the Year will be revealed and shortly after the second part in my Hottest 200 songs of 2015. Who will be Number One?

Now in an Australian/UK music moment, it's the current #1 song that is Australian (sort of) in origin. It's the amazing Chet Faker and Marcus Marr, from their EP Work which is killing it on the radio, commercially "The Trouble with Us" and Triple J "Learning for Your Love".

Congratulations Chet Faker it really has been an incredible few years for you.

Tomorrow you will find out if Chet Faker, Snakehips or DJ Snake takes out the first number 1 for 2016, it's the final Sunday Countdown before the Fresh Friday Countdown will commence Friday 8 January.

2016 is going to be an exciting new year in music, locally and internationally, so here is the one place to see regular posts and if you like Australian music, this month is for you.

New Years Day's Hottest Song - RIGHT NOW!

The HOTTEST song after the NYE Fireworks last night is, drum roll please...

Local Sydney dude Wave Racer has done a totally DOPE remix of this track, here is a preview.



DJ Snake's Summer party jam The Middle is biting at the heels of Snakehips so who will top the first Countdown for 2016? It's coming on Sunday Evening.

Happy New Year lovely readers and those off to Field Day today, be safe, enjoy the Album of 2015 boys Disclosure and make sure you check out the great talent of local JESS KENT. What a trooper.

Until next time, welcome to 2016 xo