The year 2025 has proven to be a remarkable period for Australian music, marked by a wealth of exceptional releases. Critics have highlighted a diverse range of sounds, from stunning debut records and confident second albums to the emergence of a surprise supergroup and the welcome return of major artists to the studio.
A Year of Standout Debuts and Confident Returns
The musical landscape was enriched by several outstanding first offerings. Folk Bitch Trio, a Melbourne-based group, finally delivered their long-awaited debut, Now Would Be a Good Time. Despite their youthful age—all members are in their early twenties—the trio crafts timeless folk music with sumptuous harmonies and lyrically sharp, Gen-Z poetry.
Another stellar debut came from producer Ninajirachi (Nina Wilson), whose album I Love My Computer won three ARIA awards. The record passionately explores a life intertwined with the digital realm, blending joyous EDM dynamics with darker themes from the information age.
Established names also made powerful statements. Tame Impala's Kevin Parker released his fifth album, Deadbeat, which delves into the melancholic side of fame and success. Meanwhile, Stella Donnelly returned with her third album, Love and Fortune, a candid and sonically adventurous exploration of grief and resilience that feels like a conversation with a close friend.
Supergroups, Breakthroughs, and Genre-Defying Sounds
One of the year's most exciting developments was the formation of the supergroup Bleak Squad, featuring Adalita (Magic Dirt), Mick Harvey (Bad Seeds), Mick Turner (Dirty Three), and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting). Their debut, Strange Love, showcases perfect chemistry and first-rate material, with Adalita delivering a career-best performance.
Baker Boy solidified his status with Djandjay, an album named after his grandmother. It sees the artist blending his irrepressible positivity with a newfound, blazing intensity to address the ongoing impacts of colonial occupation, refusing to be pigeonholed.
Other notable releases include the fiercely direct power-pop of Belair Lip Bombs' Again, the nostalgic folk-pop of Way Dynamic's Massive Shoe, and the emotionally complex pop of Mallrat on Light Hit My Face Like a Straight Right.
From Punk Fury to Soulful Electronica
The punk and rock scene delivered high-energy anthems. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers followed their scrappy debut with the polished and punchy Glory, while Press Club unleashed their thrilling fourth album, To All the Ones That I Love, full of searing vulnerability and catchy choruses. Wet Kiss, led by the formidable Brenna O, offered a louche take on glam rock on Thus Spoke the Broken Chanteuse.
In the electronic and alternative spaces, Shady Nasty captured suburban Sydney ennui on their brief but arresting debut Trek. Skeleten (Russell Fitzgibbon) crafted warm, down-tempo dance music to counter urban alienation on Mentalized. The sprawling nine-piece Mouseatouille created a soulful, textural world on DJ Set, and thatboykwame produced, wrote, and engineered his concise, heartbreak-themed second album, In a Matter of Time, entirely by himself.
This collection of albums demonstrates the incredible depth and variety within the Australian music industry. From folk intimacy to punk fury and electronic innovation, 2025's best records offer a soundtrack for every mood and moment, promising an exciting future for the nation's musical exports.
