The Best Songs of 2025 + Hiking Queen Charlotte Track | A Songwriter’s NZ Van Life Diaries - Ep 15

This week’s episode is soundtracked by the music that’s been getting me through 2025. I start with a big 17km day hike along part of the Queen Charlotte Track, then spend the rest of the week sharing my favourite albums and songs of the year while showing bits of my vineyard and van life here in New Zealand.

I talk about albums and artists that have been on repeat for me this year including Who’s the Clown? by Audrey Hobert, Lizzy McAlpine’s Older (and Wiser), Beyoncé’s Renaissance, Lorde’s Virgin, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, and the Wicked soundtrack. I also touch on artists like Chappell Roan, RAYE, Ariana Grande, Tate McRae, Cat Burns, Lily Allen, Dodie, and Sigrid

My 2025 Favourites playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19T...

Alongside that, I’m still getting stuck into vineyard work, some of which is pretty physically tough, and carving out time to work on new songs for my next project. I have a bit of a creative breakthrough this week too, one of those moments where things suddenly start to click and make more sense.

It’s a reflective, music-heavy episode, with a lot of thinking about creativity, inspiration, and what’s been soundtracking this chapter of my life.

This series is a behind-the-scenes diary of what it really looks like to be an independent artist living van life in New Zealand - exploring the country, meeting new people, and chasing creative freedom along the way.

If you’re into van life adventures, music vlogs, creative lifestyle content, or just following a young songwriter figuring it all out on the road - you’re in the right place.

🌍 Watch the full series:    • A Songwriter’s NZ Van Life Diaries | Music...  
🎧 Listen to my debut EP What Comes Next: https://listen.withjoe.co.uk/what-com...
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🕰️ Timestamps 🕰️
00:00 - Intro
00:07 - Saturday (Picton)
00:23 - Top Music of 2025 (Part 1)
00:43 - Saturday cont.
01:29 - Songwriting session
01:47 - Saturday cont.
02:08 - Sunday
02:34 - Top Music of 2025 (Part 2)
03:25 - Queen Charlotte Track Hike
04:43 - Top Music of 2025 (Part 3)
06:36 - Singing bangers in the car
07:53 - Top Music of 2025 (Part 4)
08:24 - Monday
09:22 - Tuesday (Music project realisation)
10:11 - Songwriting session
10:26 - Tuesday cont.
11:15 - Wednesday
11:17 - Top Music of 2025 (Part 5)
12:00 - Songwriting session
12:15 - Top Music of 2025 (Part 6)
13:37 - Thursday
13:39 - Top Music of 2025 (Part 7)
14:24 - Thursday cont.
14:53 - My relationship with social media right now
15:59 - A big ol’ boogie
16:38 - Friday
17:00 - Top Music of 2025 (Part 8)