ANZ's locals share their favourite tracks of 2025

What makes a ‘track’? In a music landscape increasingly catered towards streams and replayability, the idea of a single song reaching the heights of popularity is now in many ways even less attached to its artistic merit.

In dance and electronic music culture, this popularity has many factors that don’t apply to other genres. How long it’s been ‘teased’ by producers, its intepretation or reinterpretation of current musical movements, and so much more come into how artists and fans alike perceive their attachment to individual tracks.

For artists across Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand, their distance from the rest of the world has generally left them incredibly open to sounds thousands of kilometres away, and even more supportive of ones in their own backyard.

In the final instalment of our 2025 retrospective, Mixmag ANZ is contributing to the all-important ‘end of year list’ ecosystem, but with two small changes.

Firstly, these are the favourite tracks 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 tracks (in alphabetical order).

“Okay, bias cause this came out on my label, but I think this song is so brilliant and succinct, and was confirmed when I saw Mietze play it during a special show in their hometown vienna with an 8-piece band”

“This is such a beautiful track! I have so much love for RONA. and her artistry. I had the privilege of hosting the launch for her EP, ‘It’s All Here,’ this yea,r which was incredibly special. She spoke so reverently about the importance of country and how she infuses its sounds into her music, which was very inspiring.”

“As soon as someone on X posted a video of Oklou performing the earliest demo of this song in Berlin, (where she said, "it's so new, I have to read the lyrics" off of a sheet on stage) I told myself I wouldn't listen to it again until she released it. With the addition of Twigs in the now-released version, the two search for solid ground while still knee-deep in the undertow. Viscus has somewhat of a raw, breathless edge that gives the listener an insight into the minds of Oklou and FKA Twigs.

The swells of the synths between Twigs and Oklou's lyricism hint at a version of stability that feels possible but still far away. Lyrics such as "avoiding myself naked in the bath / just to touch my body in the dark / I want to find a place I feel alive" and "the body is a temple, am I worshipping too hard?" have stuck with me since my first listen. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, sure - but they make sure to never let you forget the distance between here and there.”

“Mark / Klon Dump is always on different point in the most obtuse ways possible, this time on some medieval opera minimal maximal shit. It really stands out in the see of fairly safe music I've heard this year.”

“Masalo’s Arcade Heartbeat is my favourite track of the year. What makes a song special to me isn’t necessarily production, but the feeling it creates. This one gives me goosebumps every single time. I first heard it at Gypie Beach in Albania in June 2024, during a 5-hour b2b from Kamma and Masalo. Surrounded by friends new and old, this track came on near the end of the se,t and the whole place went bananas. It’s one of those records where you hug your friends, jump up and down, and think about how good life is.”

“These lyrics send me into a pile of tears as always from Lean. I can’t believe how long it’s been in this life, listening to his depressive but beautiful voice. He has come so far and this release felt really authentic to who he is now. This song in particular captures that for me.”

“I play this almost every set as a sortof midway through breakdown, reset the energy and provide an intermission from straight 4x4 kicks. It always lands so well, such a massive track with so much fitting Techno sound design but with that big tough electro rhythm!”

“Came across this song the other week and can't get it out of my head. The cheesiness of it makes me like it so much i think. Can't wait to play this at some parties this summer.”

“I’ve been having this on repeat. This song makes me feel like a teenager again, and that's a really special thing to find.”

“Jacqui Hunt, most well known as the voice of seminal Australian band Single Gun Theory, has largely flown under the radar as a solo artist. To me, her voice has always been one of the most important voices in Australian Electronic Music history. I am wholeheartedly and unapologetically blowing both our horns by naming this as my track of the year.”

“She has the best voice and delivery in hip-hop at the moment, in my opinion. Her production choices are so simple and tasteful, and the huge bass synths and keys on this are so emotional and vivid. This song has helped me deal with a really intense year.”

“First time I heard this song I felt like I was hearing a golden era R&B classic. It's incredible and unconventional and just so gorgeously written and arranged. Natanya's voice is very special.”

“This goes without saying!! CHARGER CHARGER is all you heard pumping out my speakers the entire summer! French music had me in a whole grip this summer!”

“I love Baker Boy’s latest album. He incorporates a lot of elements from electronic dance music and hits you with the unexpectedly. The beat in this song goes especially hard. It’s been on repeat as my hype song since October.”

“I’m typically up for anything Gavsborg has a hand in, but the deepest vibrations of this bugged-out beauty have notched up the most plays. Bless the sky.”

“Extremely tough one, but I have to come back to this tune. Homesick for me killed it with this, his ‘Summer Nights Mix’ of ‘Tarzan’. Every time I listen to it i'm in a trance. That hypnotic synth with the unhinged, silly vocals and those toms for me is just one hell of a combo. Its ebb and flows of energy are just the perfect, perfect dancefloor stomper.”

“Coco Solid and Wheke Fortress have mentored, supported and launched a long long line of Indigenous and Takatāpui MVPFAFF+ artists over the last two decades. This track is an anthem for the Ballroom scene and the club scene down here - This is K Road in musical form.”

“This track is big and wobbly, a real build of energy, quirky and a total stank face moment. If I drop this, you know I'm having fun.”

“As soon as the world knew Vybz Kartel was released, we were waiting on the first song!! and then I know it was released! It showcases his lyricism, his confidence and a reminder of why they call him world boss!! I’m a massive fan of Vybz Kartel and I always will be!!”

“I first heard this at this year’s Outsider, played by Motion Ward head JS in an incredible two-hour set. Immediately, I was hooked.

This is finger guns for the soul. I’ve listened to this many times each week & I don’t plan to stop.”