Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
The Dublin-based Polish DJ, vinyl selector and blogger and the curator of the yearly Madonnathon and monthly “Press Play” listening parties at The Big Romance, chooses their 10 most beloved tracks of the year. The “crème de la Shrem” of their annual Top 100 (Tidal).
10.
GIDEÖN & Rush Davis – The Two Houses (House Mix)
My queer anthem of the year. A deliciously groovy and poignant ode to the legendary and iconic ballroom houses of New York: House of LaBeija and House of Xtravaganza. Wrapped up as an irresistible house stunner, this track is pure joy, pride, and reverence on the dancefloor. Divine.
9.
Alison Goldfrapp – Reverberotic
Perhaps slightly nostalgically but ‘Reverberotic’ has completely hooked me. It feels like the closest Alison has come in her solo work to those lush, cinematic Goldfrapp-era synthscapes I fell in love with years ago. The full album version – especially that sleek, extended outro – is goosebump-inducing. A proper synth-pop moment.
8.
Rochelle Jordan – Ladida
My personal dancefloor belter of the year, taken from the impossibly cool Through The Wall – my 2025 album of the year by the fierce Rochelle Jordan. That saucy beat, that infectious hook – made me dance and sing la-di-daaa la-di-daa la-didadidadidaaaa for months. Also the live version performed for the ‘COLORS’ series is something else.
7.
Σtella – Omorfo Mou
It’s almost a decade since I first stumbled upon this Greek indie-pop singer and her latest LP Adagio may be her dreamiest one yet. ‘Omorfo Mou’ is a rare instance where she actually sings in Greek and it’s utterly mesmerising. Her Irish debut live performance at The Sugar Club in October was the highlight of my gig calendar of the year – a truly magical night.
6.
Amaarae – S.M.O.
From mild intrigue to full-blown obsession! I have been gradually falling in love with this absolute CHOON with every next listen, each time discovering another little gem, another little trick in its productional wizardry. Bright future ahead of this young and talented Ghanaian-American artist. Also it’s so refreshing to hear a solid 4.30 mainstream and chart friendly track in a sea of generic, disposable 2min-long tik tok ‘jingles’ disguised as ‘songs’.
5.
Lou Hayter & Black Science Orchestra – Wish You Were Mine
After Lou Hayter’s excellent Unfamiliar Skin landed firmly among my 2024 albums of the year, my expectations were high – and this collaboration with Black Science Orchestra did not disappoint. Smooth, refined, richly produced, and soaked in 80s boogie flavours, this track became a regular feature in my Thursday sets at Fidelity. Lush.
4.
Ami Taf Ra feat. Ryan Porter – Love
A magnificent, elaborate, multi-layered piece blending jazz, 70s soul, and classic Arabic arrangements. I discovered this LA-based Moroccan singer-songwriter this year thanks to my muso friend Piotrek, and this track completely floored me. Expansive, elegant, and opulent.
3.
Polo & Pan feat. Beth Ditto – Petite Étoile
My goddess, Beth Ditto. Her sultry, unmistakable voice pairs beautifully with Polo & Pan’s tropical, dreamy house production. This track lives comfortably at the top of my “slow bangers” folder – hypnotic, romantic, and effortlessly cool.
2.
Jessy Lanza – Slapped By My Life
I’ve been a devoted Jessy Lanza admirer and collector since her 2013 debut, and she remains one of the most consistently brilliant artists out there. Her 2025 comeback single is a modern rave belter with a heartbreakingly emotional core — easily one of her best tracks to date. I closed nearly every set with this since its September release, and I still can’t get enough of it.
1.
ROSALÍA, Björk & Yves Tumor – Berghain
This isn’t just my track of the year – it’s the event of the year. I will never forget sitting down for the global video premiere on YouTube: the goosebumps, the tears, the heart palpitations, the genuine disbelief and awe. What followed was hours of rewatching and frantic DMs with muso friends around the world, all of us trying to process the sheer brilliance and uniqueness of ‘Berghain’. In an era where pop seems to have hit its peak of mediocrity, predictability and reductiveness, a single of this magnitude from one of the biggest stars on the planet felt like a miraculous, exhilarating surprise. Moments like this are rare – and priceless. The fact the song has Björk, my all-time favourite artist, involved, is just a delectable cherry on top.
Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
