ANZ's locals share their favourite global releases of 2025

In an increasingly globalised world, the influence of electronic music became more evident than ever before in 2025. Some of the year’s biggest albums saw the world’s biggest popstars, rappers and beyond take huge inspiration from dance’s many sounds, for better or for worse.

So too did the world’s music culture become smaller where it counts. While other music publications might choose to focus on the biggest, we’re more interested in some of the most underrated.

With that in mind, Mixmag ANZ has chosen to contribute to the all-important ‘end of year list’ ecosystem, but with two small changes.

Firstly, these are the favourite global releases of local artists. The people they loved, who they think are worth spotlighting, and who got them through a year plagued with so much to learn from and try to rise above, spoken about in their own voice.

Secondly, this list and the ones that follow have no order. We’re here to celebrate it all, without rank.

Here are some of 2025’s best local releases (in alphabetical order).

“everyone's loving what's coming out of copenhagen, and i think this album is just so fun and interesting. Some of the sounds are so rigid, stock Ableton and others are so expansive and rich. also a big fan of the visual world that supported the album.”

“Diffrent is a multi-genre artist after my own heart! He has that UKG speed rave vibe that I love, but can also do a bit of a house thing. Definitely one to catch while he’s in Australia this month!”

“I struggle to write my praises for Oklou's debut album Choke Enough, because of how much of this year it has soundtracked for me. Not only was it my most anticipated record of the year, but it has surely become the one international release that continues to surprise me every time I listen to it.

From the synths on this record, which have more or less become a signature in Oklou's production, to the lyricism in songs like "Blade Bird" and the newly released Viscus (with FKA Twigs, also my song of the year), there’s a depth and world-building that feels almost devotional. It's a timeless record, with not a single skip. 10/10.”

“I just found this the other day, it's a nice mix of sounds and playful energy that would still work well on a more serious dancefloor, which is in general what I'm trying to achieve with the music I present.”

“This ep is the one Dekmantel Selectors Beach Bar, and once it was released, everything clicked. I finally had the tunes I had been looking for. The tunes exist between progressive and hard house, my absolute favourite. The production is insane, and he's somehow managed to make four summer anthems. Di After has been coming out with tune after tune for a while, it's great to see him get the nod from the label boss Job Jobse.”

“Nothing makes me happier than finding a whole new, fresh artist that I can hyper-fixate on. This release also touched my buttons in that every song is a completely different energy, but somehow all filled with such joy. I’ve played a couple of these tracks in every set since it came out, perfect mood lifters, dance starters.

Runner-up is Jim Legxacy’s release. Definitely my most played album this year.”

“It's no secret that Connor Wall is blowing up right now, and for all of the completely right reasons! Connor was born and raised in Melbourne, but has recently moved to Europe to take his music journey to the next level. This LP - on Rene Wise's 'Moving Pressure' dropped just as he landed overseas, so I counted it as an international release. It's a stunning display of Connors unmistakable and signature sound. His tracks are getting played absolutely everywhere! He's also doing a great job in representing our Australian scene abroad, something I believe really helps our local landscape and reputation.”

“Amaliah's Hypnosis EP is definitely my favourite release of the year. Not one of these songs on this release is a filler. Been playing at least one of these songs in every set I've done for like the last 6 months. ‘Hold Me Closer’ and ‘Watch This’ are my 2 favourite tracks off the EP!”

“Hard to pick, but I am going to go with what I've been playing the most consistently this year, and it's a toss-up between Running Hot's ‘Bad for the Body, Good for the Soul’ + Pancratio's ‘Automatic House’ on Faith Beat. Both are warm, driving, traditional yet forward thinking.”

“It’s a reissue, but still my favourite release of the year. One of 2 albums I’ve listened to almost daily for at least 6 months. Proper mood stabiliser. Sonic antidepressant.”

“Really beautiful pop songwriting, mixed with such textural, bubbly and futuristic production. Simultaneously feels new, super nostalgic, and hits that balance of a nostalgic Y2K-inspired aesthetic, while keeping it feeling fresh and current. Feels like a big crossover record, very indie feeling but also works for the club kids, I think this record was produced over 3 years, and it was really cool to see his style and aesthetic develop from previous releases with such attention to detail.”

“I am blessed to be friends with Izik and to witness his magic across oceans and across sound. I was honoured to be one of the first people to hear his song Ho'olehua, which is his first song written and sung in 'Olelo Hawai'i (Hawaiian language). It was the middle of June, the pink moon was in full bloom, and we were at the top of Mauna Kea. As he played his song, the sky parted, and I felt like I was being welcomed home to the Pacific. To experience that with Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) as a Pasifika person was ancestral and a moment I will cherish forever.”

“Dijon at his most abstract yet most confident as a pop songwriter, built from a really intentional tapestry of sounds from across eras that feels like an antidote to this decade's mindless nostalgia harvesting. His freedom with texture and voice has always been so powerful to me, and he's reached a new level with it on this one.”

“Nora Guthrie's 'Home Before Dark' will forever move me. Love these Japanese indie folk and awakening chamber music renditions for hero label EM Records.”

“F Kay hit 2025 early with easily the best release of the year for me. It's out on Miley Serious' label 99CTS RECORDS, and you know it's certified if it's on there. I have consistently played every track from this EP in every set throughout the year. It's a textbook example of how to do club music well - it's heavy but still with substance. I'm Going To Be Late is a guaranteed dancefloor weapon, The Grand Opening is the ultimate percussion workout, and The Constant Thump is how you do a grime x techno crossover to perfection.”

“Nothing. F*** global, support local.”

“Deep rolling percussion and earthy notes, this release is so full of texture and warm woody layers. I feel like every time I listen, I discover new sounds hidden in the tapestry. These are really hypnotising on a dance floor. I love those eyes-closed, grooving moments. From Tbilisi-based producer Ina Kacz on Polygonia's label Qeone.”

“Aside from my own mixtape VARVIE WORLD ! It has to be my fav Amapiano producer, Tyler ICU and Khalil Harrison -Uzwile batini, because Tyler ICU’s production is very similar to my close collaborator, UTILITY! The intense sounds of the drums synchronising with the vocalist, immediately enforcing you to groove, which is very Varvified!!!”

“I’ve been a longtime fan of Erika’s, but this was a whole other level. The production on this record works with her voice, which she’s increasingly used so subtly over time to an absolutely stunning degree.

There’s also just so many fkn hits on this thing. ‘Delusional’ is insane, ‘December’ is charming as hell, and ‘Two Thieves’ is an incredible jam. I’ll listen to this forever.”

“I’ll admit I was a little dubious about this record when I first heard it. ‘Moon Safari’ has been a huge part of my life, regularly getting played when I was a toddler, as a boy and rediscovered as an adult in a whole new way. It’s hard to do a take on something which I, in many ways, consider to be perfect. However, I keep coming back to this thing. Maybe it’s because I’m addicted to the original, but either way, Vegyn has done an incredible job of giving new life to something without disrespecting what it originally was. There’s something we can all learn there.”

“TIMEDANCE’s 10th birthday celebration brings together some of the most well-respected and forward-thinking producers across the globe. This release is a true testament to the label's history and the impact Batu has had in his own right. Each track sits in a particular part of my brain, dazzling me with its sounds or honestly making me laugh with how much I love it.

Minor Science’s contribution, ‘Mortals’, is one of the most insane and refreshing pieces of music I heard all year. Ridiculous.”