My Top Ten Songs for Triple J’s 2024 Hottest 100 – My thoughts, insights & musings

“Music is a science, it heals depression, it awakens, most people don’t know, they just take music for an entertainment, something to dance to, and enjoy yourself and you go to bed and forget it tomorrow, music must never be forgotten, its like a fountain that keeps on flowing.” – Peter Tosh

I always look forward to selecting my top ten songs for the Hottest 100 at the end of each year, it’s now one of my annual rituals. I haven’t voted in all the Hottest 100’s, but I reckon I’ve voted in at least 90% of them since they started back in 1988.

Anyway, voting for the Hottest 100 also now coincides with receiving the yearly wrap up from Spotify which I also now look forward to. So please excuse my indulgence as I reflect on my listening habits prior to getting into my top ten songs for the year.

I listened to music on Spotify for 57,991 minutes (or 40 days nonstop), which apparently puts me in the top 4% of listeners worldwide, during that time I played 3,388 songs from 1,059 artists.

My most popular song being The Conflict Of The Mind by AURORA which I streamed 85 times during the year. Coming in second was Three Little Birds by Bob Marley and the Wailers with Palestine Will Never Die (feat. Mia Khalil) by Lowkey, Reggae Mylitis by Peter Tosh and We Deserve To Dream by Xavier Rudd rounding out my top 5 tracks.

Of the artists, I listened to Peter Tosh the most, for 4,028 minutes to be exact, putting me in the top 0.05% of fans. AURORA, Lisa Mitchell, Xavier Rudd and Gurrumul rounding out the top 5 artists that I listened to.

In addition to all that I also listened to 6,790 minutes of podcasts with my top podcast being Philosophize This!, followed by UNSW Centre for Ideas and Academy of Ideas.

As far as gigs go, my musical highlight of the year was attending the Elefant Traks 25^th Anniversary Finale gigs at The Opera House in May and Melbourne Recital Centre in June. I wrote a tribute to Elefant Traks back in May, here is a link. Despite it being 40 degrees for most of the days I also enjoyed attending WOMADelaide in March as well as seeing L-Fresh the Lion perform at the OzAsia Festival in Elder Park in November.

Anyway, I have indulged myself long enough, without further ado here are my top ten tracks for 2024. They are included in this playlist 2024 – playlist by Tolism, it contains my top 50 tracks from the year.

The Herd – Soul of my Soul (feat. Sereen, Mo & Big Rigs)

As mentioned, my musical highlights this year was attending the Elefant Traks farewell shows in May and June. It was at the Farewell gig in Melbourne in June that we first got to listen to The Herd’s latest single, Soul of my Soul featuring Sereen, Mo and Big Rigs. This is the first new music released by The Herd in 12 years.

Soul of my Soul was inspired by Khaled Nabhan, a grandfather who mourned the death of his granddaughter Reem, who was killed by bombs Israel sent to the Al Nuseirat refugee camp in southern Gaza in November 2023. You can watch Nabhan’s message here.

The track confronts the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli military as well as the normalisation of this extreme state-based violence. The genocide breaks my heart and knowing it is being supported by our government is just another level of evil I just can’t comprehend.

Proceeds from the song go to Olive Kids, an Australian foundation dedicated to improving the lives of Palestinian children.

Lowkey – Palestine Will Never Die (feat. Mia Khalil)

This track from Lowkey was released on 1^st December 2023 meaning it makes the cut for the 2024 Hottest 100 by 1 day. Palestine Will Never Die (feat. Mia Khalil) was my number 1 song for the year until The Herd released their track.

The track also confronts the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli military as well as the normalisation of this extreme state-based violence.

We are all complicit in this genocide.

AURORA – The Conflict Of The Mind

This is the 6^th year in a row that AURORA has featured in my Top Ten songs for the year, and she is easily in my top ten favourite artists of all time (actually she sits at number 6).

AURORA released her fifth studio album, What Happened To The Heart? in June. She described the process of writing the album as cathartic, and the listening experience is much the same. Her feelings of anger and grief permeate the songs, always accompanied by a sense of hope for the future and a desire for change. The emotive honesty is what gives the album its power and makes it my number one album for the year.

A 2022 letter co-authored by indigenous activists titled ‘We Are The Earth’ was an important catalyst for the album. The letter called for a revolution in the form of a collective response to climate change, with the authors describing the planet as “the heart that pulsates within us.” The phrase so resonated with Aurora that it inspired the album title.

My favourite track from the album is The Conflict Of The Mind. The song deals with themes around mental health and opening up to those around you. AURORA said this about the track, “I tend to isolate myself when I’m in pain. And with time, I’ve learnt that I’ve deprived the people around me of the great honour of being there for someone you love. Deep in there, beneath all the darkness, there is beauty. Once you’ve truly opened up you’ll find a version of yourself you thought was gone. And it will be beautiful. “

She adds: “Talk to each other before it’s too late. All families have pain, and I believe talking to each other is an important part of healing. After the storm, comes peace.”

This is a great track and a brilliant album, so I recommend you get your ears around it.

We will be heading to Sydney in February 2025 to see AURORA perform at the Hordern Pavillion, cant wait!

Ziggy Ramo – Banamba

According to Ziggy, Banamba is “dedicated to all people who have fought to make a difference for our communities. It’s a celebration of those brave enough to stop oppressive forces”. He also said, “Banamba means change, from the Birri Gubba language. During a studio session in 2021, Guyala Bayles shared the word with me and from conversation the song took shape. Banamba acknowledges the cost of Blak resilience.”

Banamba was released in January and was the first single from Human?, Ziggy’s latest album which was released in July. There are some other sensational tracks on this album including Little Things (feat Paul Kelly), April 25th (Reprise), Stand for Something (Reprise) and Shame.

Ziggy says of the album, “Human? is a record that is a labour of love. It is unlike any music I have made before. It is an offering of my most sincere reflections, stripped raw.”

“It took me years to refine and articulate this body of work and I am beyond grateful to share it with you all. It is harder to hurt someone when you know their story. Inside these 9 songs are a collection of my humanity. A reminder of who we are, and what is at stake. Thank you for coming on this journey”.

Barkaa – Big Mood (feat. Kobie Dee)

Barkaa dropped her latest EP, Big Tidda, in August and its full of bangers.

BARKAA said this about the EP: “Big Tidda is a celebration of blak joy, the importance of blak love and just feeling yourself. I showcased my culture with Blak Matriarchy, but with Big Tidda, I am taking you for a walk through the streets where I grew up – the Housing Commission estates of Southwest Sydney. The message behind the record is to have fun.”

Picking a favourite track from the EP has been quite a challenge. I could have picked Preach, another defiant anthem from Barkaa reminding us that our voices can be vessels for change, or We Up which is a potent victorious anthem that gets you pumped, or Alinta which is about her daughter and is a personal, honest and heartfelt track. But at the end I settled on Big Mood (feat. Kobie Dee) for my top 10. Big Mood is another cocky big noting type track reminding us to know who we are, to bring our ‘big mood’ and big vibe and big energy and to not play humble too much otherwise we might get overlooked.

Barkaa has become one of my favourite artists and this is the third time she has featured in my Top Ten, in fact her previous songs, Division (2023) and King Brown (2021) were my number one tracks for those years.

Dobby – Matter of Time

Warrangu; River Story is Dobby’s latest album, released in June this year. The album celebrates culture but is also an urgent call to action and care for Country.

The album documents the cultural knowledge of the three rivers that form the surrounding tribal boundaries in Brewarrina, the Bogan River to the South, the Culgoa River to the North, and the Barwon River to the East; while shedding light on the over-irrigation and water theft in the region.

The waters in our rivers have been mismanaged on a catastrophic level with water theft on a grand scale occurring in the region for years, causing horrific and irreversible damage to the ecosystem. Warrangu; River Story provides the soundtrack for the community-grown demonstration against this.

Warrangu; River Story recently won the Best World Music album at the ARIA’s.

I had originally selected the track Ancestor from the album for my Top Ten. Dobby said this about the track, “Ancestor is my musical reconnection with spirit(s). I look inward to find myself within my mind, body and Cultural self, and I call upon the listener to do the same; find yourself, and only then can you truly understand the Country you live on.”

But I have decided to include the track, Matter of Time. This song echoes the ancestral rhythms against the backdrop of Brewarrina’s sacred Baiame’s Ngunnhu. According to Dobby, “Through this song, I share an urgent truth: our environment and heritage hang in the balance, reminding us it’s only a matter of time until we act or lose it all to climate disaster.”

Omar Musa – RODTANG

Omar is one of my favourite artists, whether it is as an MC, an author or poet. I was privileged to see him and his wife, Mariel Roberts Musa, perform their show called ‘The Offering (A Plastic Ocean Oratorio)’ at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in October. They were awesome.

Omar released an album back in April this year called ‘The Fullness’. My favourite track from this album is RODTANG. This track is named after Muay Thai kickboxing world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon and is a banger, it’s a track that gets you up and going. I also love the track Too Hard To Say featuring Palestinian poet and human rights lawyer Sara Saleh, it is also a powerful song.

This is the fifth track from Omar Musa that has featured in my Top Ten for the Hottest 100, following Oh Child of Mine (2022), Since Ali Died (2018), LAK$A (2016) and The Razor’s Edge (2016).

Frank Turner – No Thank You For The Music

I cant remember how I came across this track but it was released back in January and it’s a cracker and has been on high rotation all year. I hadn’t heard of Frank Turner prior to hearing this track but now I’m a bit of a fan.

No Thank You For The Music is a track that is full of angst and rage and is a general fuck-you to creator haters who want to stand in their way by telling them that their work isn’t good enough. Frank said the track is “a song about defiance, rejection of mainstream culture, pride in the underground, and staying angry as you get older”.

I have now learned that No Thank You For The Music is a track from Franks 10^th studio album, Undefeated, which was released in May. Frank said this about the album, “After the pandemic, back in the independent world, with a new drummer, I feel proud, grateful and pleasantly surprised to be putting out a record that I love with all my heart, that I think might be one of my best. It’s a defiant, energetic record about growing old disgracefully and making peace with that. I’m still standing up, still have something to share with the world, and I’m excited to let you know about it.”

It’s a cracking album, check it out.

Thelma Plum – Freckles

Thelma released her second album, I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back in October and it has fast become one of my favourite albums of the year. The album explores themes of nostalgia, beauty, desolation, and coming of age, underscored by Thelma’s intimate storytelling.

According to Rolling Stone, ‘On her second album, I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back, Plum finds that sweet balance, by unspooling lyrics full of raw honesty, humanity laid bare, delivered in her unmistakable, vibrato-hewn voice and soundtracked with studio polish, strings, and delicious melodies.’[1]

My favourite track from the album is Freckles. When asked about this track Thelma said, “Freckles is a love song about someone who truly sees all parts of you. To be loved in that way by someone is, to me, so incredibly wonderful.”

Krishna Das – Morome Konduai (feat Jharna Burhagohain)

Up until I started writing this blog, Fear of Living by the Lemonheads was to be included in my Top Ten. But I have just found out that track was actually released in November last year, but it didn’t find its way onto Spotify until January. It’s a great track and inspired me to get back into listening to the classic Lemonheads albums It’s a Shame About Ray (1992) and Come On Feel (1993) from back in the day.

I also came across this track by Krishna Das back in January. I have no idea what the song is about, but I can’t listen to it and not smile. I just love the vibe and energy, and hence it is a great track to round out my top ten for 2024.

So that’s my Top Ten songs for 2024. Its always a challenge to land on 10 songs, this challenge is best exemplified by looking at the songs that didn’t make the cut. Here are songs 11-20 from 2025 that I would have loved to have included.

Sereen, Dobby, BVT, Kid Pharoah, Zeadala & L-Fresh the Lion – Until We’re All Free

Until We’re All Free brings together over 20 artists in response to the ongoing crisis of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. With a strong union of Palestinian, Arab, First Nations, and artists of colour, the song stands as a testament to the healing power of art that is deeply grounded in our shared realities.

Urging for a world where solidarity and community stand as the antidote to oppression, Until We’re All Free is a collective call for action and a powerful expression of voices that demand to be heard as they amplify the urgency for justice and freedom of the Palestinian people.

Tones and I – Dreaming

Dreaming was the first single from Tones and I’s latest album, Beautifully Ordinary.

Tones and I said this about the song, “Dreaming is the first song from my upcoming album. I maintain my integrity in my stories, which always come from a genuine place of love, loss and hope. I have found myself subconsciously writing about things I’ve never written about before. I let my music go where it wants to go, and I never try to force it in one direction to suit a trend or style. I hope you like this song and I can’t wait to share more music soon.”

7’6 & Eloquor – Fun N Games

In this track Eloquor confronts his inner demons with raw honesty, shedding light on the mental battles he faces. It’s a track that really resonates with me.

Rapaport – The Gardener

This is a fun song from Rapaports latest album, Roadkill.

Jimblah – Fit In Or Fuck Off

Jimblah has released several singles this year but Fit In Or Fuck Off is my favourite.

Emily Wurramara – Magic Woman Dancing

Emily released her album, NARA this year and it contains several sensational tracks, but my favourite would be Magic Woman Dancing.

Emily said this about the song, it “pretty much paints a picture of a soul seeking freedom and unburdening herself from societal constraints”. She added: “Through her silence, echoes of her strength and resilience resound. Though this woman has endured unimaginable pain, her outspoken nature and unwavering spirit shine through. People are captivated by her presence, following her every move to catch even a glimpse of her radiance.”

I’m looking forward to seeing Emily perform at Womad next year.

Tuka – Son Of A Queen

Son Of A Queen was released back in May and is Tuka’s solo offering since his acclaimed 2020 album, Nothing In Common But Us.

Tuka said this about the track, “In 2022, after my father’s passing and realising I had never fully integrated my masculinity, this song symbolises my journey towards discovering my ‘Divine masculine,’” Tuka explains, reflecting on the personal experiences that inspired the track. “Additionally, I gained a profound appreciation for my mother. The title challenges the derogatory phrase ‘son of a bitch’ by affirming that I am indeed a ‘Son of a Queen’.”

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Frogs

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds released their 18^th studio album, Wild God in August. Nick Cave would be in my top 5 favourite ever artists.

Nick said this about the song, “The sheer exuberance of a song like ‘Frogs’, it just puts a big fucking smile on my face.”

Jimmy Nice – Sink Your Teeth In

This is Jimmy’s first release since his album ‘MADIDEA: A Rap Motion Picture’ in 2020.

Wardruna – Hertan

Hertan is the proto-Scandinavian word for Heart and that is what this song explores, the duality of the heart with the rhythm, flow and pulse we can see, hear and feel in nature and in all forms of life – and the more abstract idea of the heart, The rudder on the ship of emotions, our decisions, and our true desires.

Hertan is the first single from Wardruna’s upcoming album, Birna, which will be released on 24^th January 2025.

2024 was an awesome year for new music and I expect that 2025 will be the same.

You can find my 50 favourite tracks for 2024 on this spotify playlist – 2024 – playlist by Tolism.

I’ve also created a playlist containing my top ten songs from each year of the 2020’s – you can find this playlist here – Top 10 Songs from each year of the 2020s – playlist by Tolism.

For what it’s worth, here are my 20 favourite albums released in 2024:

Aurora – What Happened To The Heart?
Omar Musa – The Fullness
Dobby – Warrangu; River Story
Rapaport – Roadkill
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Wild God
Eloquor & 7’6 – The Stronger The Wind The Stronger The Tree
Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back
Tones & I – Beautifully Ordinary
Ziggy Ramo – Human?
Emily Wurramara – NARA
Madelaine Peyroux – Let’s Walk
Yirinda – Yirinda
King Stingray – For The Dreams
John Butler – Still Searching
Frank Turner – Undefeated
The Offspring – SUPERCHARGED
Heilung – Lifa Iotungard (Live)
Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still
Dune Rats – If It Sucks, Turn It Up
3% – KILL THE DEAD

With special mention to Barkaa’s Big Tidda but it is an EP so didn’t make the list but if I did consider it an album it would have come in at number 3.

Here is a playlist that contains all of these sensational albums – My favourite Albums from 2024 – playlist by Tolism

2024 Hottest 100 Top Ten (in order)