I'm backkkk! Happy 2026!

Silly season has truly been silly, lots of food, lots of events, lots of gigs and rounding out the year at Beyond the Valley. Let's catch up!

Plus, I want to put you on to the act that has SZA talking, Maden Lane.

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Nashville pop artist Thomas Day has lived multiple versions of an artist’s dream.

After breaking through as a teenage heartthrob on America’s Got Talent, Thomas signed to a major label and was quickly positioned for pop perfection. But it wasn’t until he stepped away from polish and leaned into raw, imperfect recordings that his music truly connected; culminating in the breakout success of “She Got a Thing About Her.”

In this episode of Listen Up with Ash McGregor, Thomas reflects on the pressure of early success, and why embracing imperfection changed everything. He plays unfiltered audio recordings live in the studio, and takes us through the just-do-don't-think style of music creation he lives by.

This is a conversation about how unlearning expectations, trusting instinct, and discovering that authenticity is what makes music last.

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This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.

SIX60 are New Zealand’s biggest band, and their rise is anything but conventional.Formed while studying in Dunedin, the group slowly built a grassroots following before becoming a stadium-selling force across Aotearoa. Along the way, they’ve rewritten the rules of success for Australasian bands, including a period during COVID when they were one of the only bands in the world able to tour, selling out shows while the rest of the industry stood still.In this episode of Listen Up with Ash McGregor, SIX60 reflect on the moments that shaped them: how close they came to breaking up, what nearly derailed the band, and the decisions that ultimately changed their trajectory. We talk about longevity, pressure, and what it takes to stay connected to each other after years at the top.They also tease their forthcoming album, revealing why this next chapter feels like a return to their roots.We sit down the day of their new single 'We Made It', fresh off playing the Sydney Opera House forecourt. Get to know the band that has quietly become one of the most important musical exports in the Southern Hemisphere.