The Top 10 Australian Songs of 2021

2021 has been a hell of a year. It was another year of pandemic-induced uncertainty and frustration - lockdowns, protests, riots, political ridiculousness (Melbourne even had a freaking earthquake!).

But historically, a fractured social landscape can often lead to amazing art, and this year was no different. There has been some truly awesome music produced by artists in Australia this year, and it has been a pleasure and privilege to absorb it all and review so much of it on this blog.

Here are the songs that pulled me through 2021 - my picks for the 10 best local songs of the year…

10. ‘Disassociation’ by The Rions

The feature song on last week’s blog, and only released two weeks ago, ‘Disassociation’ leapt into my top-10 for 2021 from the very first listen.

The Rions, triple j’s Unearthed High winning band for 2021, are an immensely impressive group for a bunch of teenagers. And on ‘Disassociation’ they show that they might well be Australia’s next truly great indie rock band. The track is a polished, mature, anthemic belter – almost Gang of Youths-esque – that builds into one of the most layered and transcendent crescendos of the year.

9. ‘Crown’ by Anesu

Racism, police brutality, capitalism, the system – Anesu takes aim at the many entrenched, institutional barriers that work to keep minorities down, and hits more often than not with some scathing, dynamic bars.

Over a bubbling, Timbaland-like beat, Anesu switches up between singing and rapping and produces a fresh, biting, intensely personal RnB treatise on blackness, and the idea that your very existence can be a message of protest and defiance.   

8. ‘Light Year’ by Crooked Colours, feat. Masked Wolf and Jasiah

Masked Wolf is the Khabib Nurmagomedov of the Australian rap game: his bars can be beefy and relentless, but they’re also nimble and athletic – there’s beauty in the punches. His rhymes turn in on themselves and spiral out again, an immense blaze of skill, flow and control.

Crooked Colours builds a perfectly ominous thundering beat that threatens to engulf the listener, but always holds back just enough to keep it from swallowing everything.

7. ‘Something About Being Sixteen’ by Teenage Joans

The second triple j Unearthed High winner to appear on this list (the kids really are alright!) – this track from February is not as varnished as The Rions’ effort, but that only adds to Teenage Joans’ legitimacy as the voice of the disenfranchised youth.

Teenage Joans have an uncanny ability to channel all of the awkward realities and big feelings of being in high school – the vulnerability, insecurity, and defiance – into wildly relatable rock bangers. Wailing guitars and thumping drums, a blistering, rip-roaring bridge, and lyrics that will transport you back to sneaking sips of goon in the park. A punk band with an ear for pop.

6. ‘NOT SOBER’ by The Kid LAROI, feat. Polo G and Stunna Gambino

‘STAY’ was easily the biggest hit of 2021 by Australia’s rap prodigy du jour (and will, let’s face it, be the reason that Justin Bieber is finally pushed into the Hottest 100).

But ‘NOT SOBER’ was the track I couldn’t stop playing all year, especially during those long, cold lockdowns. Sometimes you just need to feel sorry for yourself, and this song is righteous self-pity set to flamethrower. (It also shows that LAROI doesn’t need Justin Bieber to deliver a killer hook).

5. ‘Amelia’ by Suzi

If you’re wondering why Suzi’s breakout hit resonated with so many people this year, look no further than the first line: “I’m scared the kids who picked on me in high school were right…” Hits you right in the gut.

‘Amelia’ is a deeply authentic, painfully real anthem for anyone who has ever felt like an outcast, like they weren’t good enough, like they’d never make it anywhere and every decision they ever made was the wrong one. This track is a glorious reassurance – it’s not you. It’ll be ok. Fuck them.

4. ‘COME OVER’ by Triple One

Triple One have always had raw talent, and the combination of their unique pieces made them a fresh, diverse addition to the Aussie hip hop scene. But this year, they finally realised their spectacular potential by unleashing the weapon that truly separates them from every other up-and-coming crew: the astonishing vocal talents of Lil Dijon.

On ‘COME OVER’, they let Lil Dijon cook, delivering an emotive and powerful hook that elevates everything around it. The verses, as usual, are clever, tight, deliriously punchy and occasionally pitch-black. Look out, because Triple One have levelled up.

3. ‘Heavy’ by Flight Facilities, feat. Your Smith

Flight Facilities, one of the most underrated and singularly talented electronic acts in Australian music history, have come full circle – they described ‘Heavy’ as a nod back to their origins, and it’s hard to miss the subtle but unmistakable similarities to their breakout hit, ‘Crave You’.

In stark contrast with its title, this is a wonderfully light and fluffy cloud of perfect pop-tronica. The soft rasp of Your Smith’s delicate vocal combines with gorgeous feathery synths to create a track that feels both comfortably nostalgic and newly exciting.

2. ‘Lie To Me Again’ by The Buoys

The best indie rock songs of the year. ‘Lie To Me Again’ is a potent and liberating rattler working through the claustrophobia and pain of a bad relationship. This track is the highlight from their phenomenal EP, Unsolicited Advice For Your DIY Disaster.

It’s a bruising, toweringly powerful rock song, boasting one of the best choruses of the year - it’s so exciting to imagine jumping up and down in a crowd, shouting every word of this song at the top your lungs. Insanely cathartic, remarkably catchy. The Buoys are an absolute force to be reckoned with.

1.    ‘October’ by Molly Millington

In a blog post a couple of months ago, I wrote: “Honestly, this might be the best song I’ve heard all year.” As we rapidly approach the end of 2021, that has turned out to be prescient.

A twinkling, joyously melancholic indie-pop elegy, ‘October’ is wonderfully evocative, unapologetically sentimental, and magnificently raw. You might make comparisons to Mallrat, Olivia Rodrigo, even Angie McMahon… but there’s nothing quite like this. It’s inimitable.

Bask in it. Let it sweep you up, and take all the bad shit of 2021 away.

The best song of the year.

And a few honorable mentions: ‘Winnie Crush’ by Merci, Mercy, ‘Take Me Avalon I’m Young’ by Pond, ‘Like Love’ by The Amity Affliction, ‘Sentimental’ by GRAACE, and ‘I Care About You’ by Zig Zag