This is part two of a six-part series on the year in indie Aussie music. 

It's safe to say there was plenty of top-quality upbeat pop and dance music coming from Australia in 2025! One of several artists to see a well-deserved rise in listeners was aleksiah, who released the EP Cry About It, then followed it up with two massive singles in Punch Drunk Love and Faker.

Gianni Capri released three excellent tracks that make us hope he's got an album on the cards for 2026, while RARIA brought us some pop magic with her album SILLY LITTLE LOVER GIRL.

aleksiah

Yuto. released a phenomenal number of dance bangers this year - we lost count at around 15! Also having big years in dance pop were Yes Boone (whose tracks included the super-catchy All I Really Want) and Renee Naccari, who gifted us the brilliant OB$ESSIVE.

Renee Naccari

We got plenty of pop with soul from Isy Cappo and, some uniquely creative tunes from GAZAL, while ItsRosieQuartz fed our appetite for girly pop, and we had Erica Padilla's EP somewhere near the end on repeat.

And if your fave pop artist wasn't mentioned here, keep an eye out for our upcoming pieces on the year in sad pop and in alt-pop!

GAZAL

HAVE A LISTEN!

We've made it easy for you to check out the year's top upbeat pop and dance tracks!

Find all our favourite upbeat pop tracks of the year on our POP OFF! playlist.

Check out all our fave dance tracks of the year on our FIRE UP! playlist.

Who knows, you might find some tracks to include when you vote in the HOMEGROWN HUNDRED (voting is open until Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - vote for your fave Aussie artists now!)