2025 Sunshine Coast Music Wrap: The releases and artists that defined our year
2025 has been a powerful year for Sunshine Coast music.
Across every genre, venue and corner of the region, local artists continued to show up — writing, recording, releasing and performing music in an industry that asks a lot and gives very little back. From debut singles and first EPs to seasoned artists refining their sound, this year has been defined by consistency, resilience and an undeniable creative pulse.
At Locals in the Loop, our role has always been simple: to give every artist a fair, visible place to be seen and heard. Throughout 2025, we tracked every local release we could find — building what is now the most comprehensive snapshot of Sunshine Coast music output to date.
What this data shows isn’t just numbers. It shows commitment.
A Scene Built on Persistence
Behind every release is time, money, emotion and risk. Studio costs. Mixing and mastering. Artwork. Distribution. Promotion. And then the uphill battle of being heard in an algorithm-driven digital landscape that rarely favours independents.
Yet despite these challenges, Sunshine Coast artists continued to release music at an impressive rate in 2025 — across rock, pop, electronic, folk, hip hop, blues, metal and everything in between. Many artists released multiple tracks across the year, collaborated with others in the scene, and balanced recording schedules with live gigs, work and family life.
That alone deserves recognition.
Success Looks Different for Every Artist
Rather than crowning a single “most successful” artist, this wrap celebrates something more important: impact.
Impact is consistency.
Impact is growth.
Impact is putting work into the world even when it’s hard.
Streaming numbers don’t tell the full story — especially for local, independent artists navigating platforms that reward volume, budgets and virality over craft. What matters is that the Sunshine Coast continues to produce music that is honest, diverse and deeply connected to its community.
Our Commitment to Local Music
Locals in the Loop will continue to stand behind local artists — not just through playlists, features and gig guides, but by advocating for visibility, fairness and community-driven support.
Our 2025 Spotify playlist captures the full scope of releases from the region this year. It’s not a ranking. It’s a record. A moment in time. A celebration of the artists who backed themselves and shared their work with the world.
If we’ve missed any 2025 releases, we genuinely apologise — and invite artists to send them through so we can continue building the most accurate, inclusive archive possible.
Looking Ahead
As we head into a new year, one thing is clear: the Sunshine Coast music scene is alive, evolving and worth paying attention to.
Here’s to more releases.
More shows.
More collaboration.
And a community that continues to support its own.
Thank you to every artist who released music in 2025 — your work matters, and we’re proud to help amplify it.
2025 Sunny Coast HITS (Alphabetised)*
Listen Now: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ijmZjAKoElSm2xUFHRXVo?si=va4O1kmqS8CKHPYX_V_Vcg&pi=CrlX5IgeSAGyC
| 3 Year Project – goin’ nowhere fast | Che Burns – Tears Run Dry | Katie Milae – if you knew me, you’d know me | Pricey – Bastards Never Change |
| 3 year project – Going Nowhere Fast | Cheryy Nova – Bitter | Lattes for MILFS – Converse Shoe | Quasi Hearts – Your Name |
| 3 year Project – high road | Chloe Tsangaris – Elephant in the Room | Lattes for Milfs – FEMINPISSED | Raw Ordio – SING IT BACK (REMIX) |
| 3 year project – in your eyes | Christian Patey – Crystal Dust | Lilli Fairfax – Love Child | Raw Ordio – WHAT WE DO |
| 3 year Project – on my own | Christian Patey – Don’t Follow The Internet | Lilli Fairfax – The Storm | Reuben de Melo – When the Show’s All Over (EP) |
| 3 year project – problems | Christian Patey – Fluorescent | Little Forest – Tangerine | Ruination – Outspoken |
| 3 year project – sell your soul | Christian Patey – Look to the shadows to see whats flying above | Little Forest – The Weatherman | SACHA. – Only Human |
| 3 year Project – take a look | Christian Patey – Love Drunk | Love Thrills – DONE | SACHA. – Peace of Mind |
| 3 Year Project – Waiting | Christian Patey – Sons And Daughters | Love Thrills – Magic | Shanleigh Rose – Home GIrl |
| 3 year project – Waiting – Alternative Version | Christian Patey – Unconditional Love | Lucy Gallant – Bad Boy | Shanleigh Rose – We’re Not Friends |
| 8Ball Aitken – Nightbird (Album) | Christian Patey & Pheobe Rose – Crystal Dust | Luke Vanzoelen – Butterflies | Simon Denny – Raining Roses |
| 8ball Aitken Ft. Taya Chani – Keep Believing | CHUCHO vs STONEWAX – In Whirling Splendour | Luke Vanzoelen – Harmonies | Sol River – River Dreams |
| 8ball Aitken Ft. Taya Chani – Miss you the Most | Col Finley – Something to Talk About | Luke Vanzoelen – Nieghbours in the Moonlight | Speira – Mess |
| Abby christo – Boy Bye | Cora – (boy)cott | Luke Vanzoelen – What’s the Space in You | Speira – Sweet Devotion |
| Abby Christo – Note to Self | Cora – Gotta Be Done | Luke Vanzoelen – Your Heart is Your Home | Steve Graham – Walking with Me |
| Adam James – Bare Hands | Day of Embers – Sead | Marshall Hamburger – Real Good | STONEWAX – HOUSE OF WAX (Album) |
| Adam James – Keep Swimming | Day of Embers – Sister Moon | Marshall Hamburger – Thought of You! | Sunny Coast Rude Boys – Big Night Out |
| Adam James – Keep Swimming (Live & Stripped Back) | Day of Embers – Stone in a Restless Sea | Max James – In The Sheets | Sunny Coast Rude Boys – Down Under |
| Alex Kosenko – Our Own Hands (Album) | Dellacoma – Searching for you in the darkness (Album) | Max James – Thank You | Sunny Coast Rude Boys – Rock the Casbah |
| Alexander Kid – food on the table | Demi Casha – The Journey | Mayah – BLAME | Sunny Coast Rude Boys – Sun Shiny Day |
| Alexander Kid – Never Good ft Jundhu | Denzel Kennedy – THE LUCKY ONES | Meg Carlin – Sidewalk | Sunny Coast Rude Boys Ft. Asher Beau – Moonlight |
| Alexander Kid – Not Complex | Dojo Rise – Run Baby Run | Mid Drift – Open Hand | Ted Watson – Simple Things (EP) |
| Alexander Kid – the only way | Drew Wilson – Happiness | Mid Drift – Washed | THANK U PLEASE – FABRIC |
| Alexander Kid – Waiting for Storms | Drew Wilson – I think its time you go | Mike Hole – Bitter Pill | THANK U PLEASE = ANTICS |
| Alys Ffion – Healing Era (Album) | Drew Wilson – Need to Tell | Mike Hole – Candelight | The Dreggs – The Art of Uncommon Practice (Album) |
| Andy V – One Step Forward | Drew Wilson – Not too Far | Mike Hole – Get On With It | The Dreggs – Triple J Live at the Wireless – The Enmore Theatrre (Album) |
| Arya + Kudos – Change | Drew Wilson – Ocean in between | Mike Hole – Now That We’re Talking | The Drop beers – PCP |
| 4NDO, Arya – Roam | Drew Wilson – One Sided | mou – a few thoughts (EP) | The Finley’s – Give Ya That Country Song |
| Austin Mackay – Time to Learn | Drew Wilson – Slow Motion | mou – blank sheet | The Finley’s – Rock to my Roll |
| Banksya – I’ll Be There | Elke Louie – Killing Time | mou – digital dust Vol. 1 (EP) | The Finleys – The Hairdresser |
| Banksya – WAYSIDE | Ella Fence – Short Term Parking | mou – its not your brain its just the drugs (album) | The Lipsticks – Juego |
| Beau River – Friends | Emily Rink – Follow On | mou – lay your head | The Nouveau – I’d Be Stressed |
| Beau River – Somedays | Emily Rink – Temporary Friend | mou – Tallowood Sessions EP Vol 1 | The Nouveau – Petrichor |
| Beaudi Dwan – No Sense to Me | Emily Rink Ft. Harrison Storm – Call Me When You Get In | mou – the long way together (EP) | The Nouveau – Phone Addiction |
| Betty Taylor – Sucker Punch | Essi – Cowboy Crowd | Mufassa – Tallulah | The Phosphenes – Telephone |
| Billy Gudgeon – Shake His Hand | Frank and Louie – King Baby | Munkey Feet – Living Under Sunshine | The Phosphenes – Watching Films |
| Billy Howler – Keep My Fire Lit | Greg McInnes – Beautiful | Nana’s Pie – Be Just Fine | Tom Harrington – In Your Company |
| Bobby Alu – Happy & Sad | Greg McInnes – Home | Nana’s Pie – Push Restart (EP) | Tom Harrington – Seen the Sun |
| Bohemian Rogue – Trouble in Paradise | Greg McInnes – I Remember Well | Nuraini – Luna (EP) | Tom Harrington – Until You’re Gone |
| BOHEMIAN ROGUE – Tide | Jack Raymond & Demi Casha – Dancing in Glory | ofthewild – glacial planes | Tom Harrington – Valentine |
| Boy Roy – Moonstruck | Jaida Champney – Never Loved Me | ofthewild – granola | Tommy Sexton – Foreign Land (EP) |
| Boy Roy – Young & Learning | Jamison – Bored | ofthewild – Riverside | Tyla Rodrigues – By The Time It’s Over |
| Brant Ward – America (Acoustic) | JARR – ENTERPRISE | ofthewild – Your love | Vacant Valley – The Flame |
| Brant Ward – Live at Electric Monk (EP) | JARR – U US I | Ole Falcor – Rise Above | Vacant Valley – Two Left Feet |
| brayth Isaiah – Fluvoxamine | JARR – WAKE UP | Owls of Neptune – We Can Talk All Day | Vacant Valley – Vices |
| Buttermello – Low | Jazzella – My Idol | Owls of Neptune – All Or Nothing | Velvent Bloom – Velvet Bloom (Album) |
| Buttermello – Wish you Said So | JC & The Tree – Made to Roam | Owls of Neptune – At War with Myself | Veratie – Great Divide |
| Calan Mai – Good Life | JC & The Tree – Wide Open Plain | Owls of Neptune – Free from This | Veratie – Honey |
| Catching Salmon – Awake | Jesse Higgins – Tassie Tiger | Owls of Neptune – Freight Train | Veratie – Sirens |
| Catching Salmon – Burden | Jesse Taylor – Like Fire | Owls of Neptune – Good Enough | Veratie – The Door |
| Catching Salmon – Lonely Side | Jinja Blue – Ride the Wind | Owls of Neptune – Hold On | Wave Raiders – My Way |
| Catching Salmon – Miscommunication | Joel Leggett – Light in the Dark | Owls of Neptune – So Long | Wholesale Noise – Cry Reggae |
| ChAMBER LANe – Letting Go | JOLLEE – Stir it Up | Owls of Neptune – Throw Me A Line | Will Clift – Kill Some Time |
| ChAMBER LANe – Lost & Found | Jonathan Mark Hayden – Why, the question of our time. | Owls of Neptune – We’re Not Apart | Xani – Happy Endings |
| Chamberlane – High School Friends | Josh Deeble – Tomorrow (EP) | Phil and the Blanks – ADHD | Xani – Keep Moving |
| Chamberlane – Other Side | Justus Trio – Get Better | Phil and the Blanks – COUCH | Zac Threadgold – Songs for Dad (EP) |
| Chavez Cartel – Different Underneath | Justus Trio – Get Better (Acoustic) | Phil and the Blanks – GOOD BOY | Ziggy Alberts – Complicated |
| Che Burns – Devil Like You | Justus Trio – Sun Song (Doing Well) | Phil and the Blanks – WONKEY DONKEY | Ziggy Alberts – Cyclones |
| Che Burns – Strangers | Katie Milae – Golden Billabong | Pity Vincent – Tether (EP) | Ziggy Alberts – New Love (Album) |
| Hyena Smyle – The Payoff | ZIggy Alberts – Where does the Love Go? | ||
| Ziggy Alberts – You’re Like Christmas |
*A complete collection of every song ever featured in the Locals in the Loop Weekly Top 10 — highlighting predominantly local artists, with select tracks from previous years included to reflect touring artists and live shows.
If we missed your 2025 hit – let us know & we’ll add it straight away!