If you’re chasing the best songs of Allday, you’re in for a decade-spanning ride through one of Australia’s most idiosyncratic hip-hop voices. Tom Gaynor, the Adelaide-raised rapper who records under the name Allday, has spent over ten years blending confessional songwriting with beats that swing from boom-bap warmth to synth-drenched pop, and honestly, that range is exactly why his catalogue rewards a proper deep dive rather than a quick scroll through a playlist. I’ve spent way too many long drives and even longer nights with headphones in, tracing how his sound morphed from scrappy bedroom rap to polished, hook-driven pop-rap, and this list is my attempt to map that evolution through the tracks that matter most.
What makes Allday worth revisiting isn’t just nostalgia. It’s the way his voice has stayed the same — wry, a little self-deprecating, always emotionally honest — even as the production around him has completely transformed. You can hear it if you browse the full catalogue over on the GlobalMusicVibe songs archive, where his work sits comfortably alongside other genre-blurring artists. Let’s get into the tracks.
Right Now
Released on 25 April 2014 as the lead single from his debut album Startup Cult, “Right Now” is the song that introduced Allday to mainstream Australian radio. The production leans on a warm, mid-tempo boom-bap groove that gives Gaynor’s laid-back cadence plenty of room to breathe, and the hook is disarmingly simple without ever feeling lazy. What strikes me most on repeat listens is how the mix keeps his vocal dry and upfront, almost conversational, which makes the storytelling land with real intimacy. The track eventually went gold in Australia, and it still holds up as a snapshot of a young rapper figuring out exactly how charming understatement can be.
You Always Know the DJ
This one captures Allday at his most infectious, fusing rap verses with a dance-adjacent chorus that practically demands a car stereo at full volume. The arrangement builds around a bouncy, club-ready rhythm section while Gaynor’s verses stay grounded and narrative-driven, creating a nice tension between the party production and the more personal lyricism underneath. It’s a great example of his early knack for straddling hip-hop and EDM without losing his voice in the process. On a good pair of earbuds, the low end really pops, so if you’re curious how your current set handles that kind of bass, it’s worth checking a resource like this earbuds comparison before your next commute playlist session.
Wolves (feat. Sunni Colón)
Dropped in December 2014, “Wolves” pairs Allday with American singer Sunni Colón for a moodier, more atmospheric cut than the radio-friendly singles surrounding it. The production trades bounce for a slow-burning tension, with Colón’s vocals threading through the chorus like a warning siren. Lyrically, it’s darker too, hinting at the pressures of a rapidly rising profile, and that vulnerability gives the song a weight that rewards close listening rather than background play. It’s one of those deep cuts that longtime fans tend to rank higher than casual listeners ever expect.
Claude Monet
Signed to OneTwo Records in December 2013, Allday released “Claude Monet” as an early statement of intent, and the title itself signals the kind of playful, referential wordplay that would become a signature move. The beat is stripped-back and percussive, letting his flow do most of the heavy lifting, while the hook name-checks the impressionist painter in a way that’s clever without being gimmicky. It’s a track that rewards knowing the context — this was Allday building his identity before Startup Cult even existed — and you can hear the confidence already forming.
Grammy
Released as part of the Soft Grunge Love Rap era, “Grammy” leans into a woozier, mixtape-style production that matches the loose, almost stream-of-consciousness energy Allday was chasing in 2015. Gaynor has said he wanted to put new material out quickly while his debut album’s follow-up was still taking shape, and that urgency comes through in the track’s raw, unpolished mix. The lyricism is self-aware and a little sardonic, poking at the idea of chasing industry accolades while still grinding in relative obscurity. It’s a fascinating transitional piece in his discography.
Monster Truck
After a delay tied to his new label Wind-Up Records, Allday released “Monster Truck” on 23 June 2016, produced by longtime collaborator Cam Bluff. The instrumental is thicker and more muscular than his earlier work, with a rolling bassline that gives the track real physical presence on a subwoofer. Gaynor’s delivery matches that heft, riding the beat with a swagger that feels earned rather than performative. It’s a strong example of how his second-album era started pushing toward bigger, more maximalist arrangements.
Sides (feat. NYNE)
Premiered on Triple J as the lead single from Speeding, “Sides” featuring Nyne dropped on 15 July 2016 and set the tone for Allday’s sophomore album. The track blends melodic rap verses with Nyne’s smooth vocal hook, and the production has a glassy, late-night sheen that suits the record’s wintery, introspective mood. Meanwhile, the lyrics dig into duality and self-doubt, themes that would recur throughout Speeding’s tracklist. It’s a genuinely underrated single in his catalogue, often overshadowed by flashier tracks from the same era.
Send Nudes
Released 24 August 2016, “Send Nudes” is unapologetically blunt in both title and content, and it climbed into the top ten on the iTunes hip-hop charts shortly after release. The production is punchy and minimal, built around a crisp drum pattern that keeps the focus squarely on Gaynor’s cheeky, conversational verses. It’s a song that leans into humor and modern dating absurdity without losing the emotional undercurrent that runs through most of his work. On headphones, the vocal mastering here is noticeably tighter than his earlier singles, a sign of his sound maturing technically.
Raceway
The fourth single of 2016, “Raceway” arrived on 15 December and eventually became one of three singles pulled from Speeding, alongside “Sides” and “In Motion.” The instrumental has a driving, motorik quality that matches the title’s imagery, all rolling hi-hats and a bassline that feels like it’s constantly accelerating. Gaynor’s flow rides that momentum well, alternating between rapid-fire verses and a more melodic, drawn-out hook. It’s a track that genuinely benefits from a car stereo listening context, given how much of its energy is built around forward motion.
In Motion (feat. Japanese Wallpaper)
Announced alongside Allday’s second studio album Speeding in March 2017, “In Motion” pairs him with fellow Australian producer Japanese Wallpaper for one of the most romantic, atmospheric tracks in his catalogue. The production is lush and synth-heavy, with shimmering pads that give the song a dreamy, almost weightless quality. In contrast to the punchier singles on this list, “In Motion” favors mood over momentum, and Gaynor’s verses lean into vulnerability rather than bravado. Speeding went on to debut at number six on the ARIA Albums Chart, and this collaboration remains one of its most replayed moments.
Wonder Drug
Taken from 2019’s Starry Night Over the Phone, “Wonder Drug” is a synth-pop leaning single that leans hard into Allday’s growing interest in dance and electronic textures. The BPM sits noticeably higher than his earlier hip-hop work, and the mix favors bright, glossy synths over traditional boom-bap drums. Lyrically, the song plays with addiction imagery as a metaphor for romantic obsession, which gives the shiny production an unexpectedly bittersweet undertone. It’s one of the clearest examples of his stylistic pivot toward pop songwriting.
Protection
Also pulled from Starry Night Over the Phone, “Protection” showcases a more restrained, mid-tempo groove that lets Gaynor’s vocal performance carry most of the emotional weight. The arrangement is comparatively sparse, built around a steady rhythm section that never overwhelms the vocal take. Reviewers at the time noted the album’s maturity of soul and sound, and “Protection” is a strong example of that — it’s tender without tipping into saccharine territory. On a quiet night, it’s one of his most affecting listens.
Lungs
Filmed in his hometown of Adelaide, the “Lungs” music video accompanied a single that Allday himself described as sonically similar to the music he started out making. The track sits deep in a rolling groove, and the melody unfolds gradually rather than announcing itself with a big hook. Gaynor’s delivery is relaxed and unhurried, matching the song’s oceanic, wind-swept visual palette. It’s a quieter entry on this list, but one that longtime fans consistently point to as a highlight of the Starry Night Over the Phone era.
Void
Opening his fourth studio album Drinking with My Smoking Friends, “Void” trades hip-hop entirely for effect-heavy acoustic guitar and a melancholic, Cure-inspired atmosphere. Gaynor sings rather than raps here, and while his vocal range is limited, the sincerity in his delivery carries the song’s simple, aching melody. The 2021 album ultimately peaked at number 13 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and “Void” set the tone for a genuinely reinvented sound. It’s proof that Allday was willing to risk alienating his rap-first audience in pursuit of something more personal.
Stolen Cars
Also from Drinking with My Smoking Friends, “Stolen Cars” opens with an eighties-tinged dance groove before Gaynor’s atmospheric vocals settle in over the top. The production blends nostalgic synth textures with elements of his earlier hip-hop sensibility, making it a genuine bridge between two very different chapters of his career. It became a standout single from the record, and the accompanying music video leaned into that retro, sun-bleached aesthetic. In contrast to “Void,” this track has a brighter, more danceable energy despite similarly wistful lyrics.
After All This Time
Released as the first single from Drinking with My Smoking Friends, “After All This Time” blends Cure-style guitar tones with a hint of John Mayer’s warmer, soulful phrasing. The lyrics are more repetitive than some of the album’s deeper cuts, which arguably helped it work as an introductory single — it’s immediate rather than dense. Still, there’s something charming about how unguarded Gaynor sounds here, especially compared to the wordier rap verses of his early career. It’s a song that grows on you rather than knocking you over on first listen.
Baby Spiders (feat. Mallrat)
Featured on Speeding, “Baby Spiders” pairs Allday with fellow Australian artist Mallrat for one of the album’s most vulnerable moments. Their vocal chemistry is genuinely striking, with Mallrat’s airy delivery softening the edges of Gaynor’s more grounded rap verses. Reviewers highlighted how the collaboration reveals a strain of vulnerability behind Allday’s usually carefree, wisecracking persona. It’s a gorgeous example of how well he writes for duet-style arrangements when the right collaborator is in the room.
Miss You Still (feat. Cub Sport)
From 2024’s The Necklace, “Miss You Still” interpolates the recognisable piano sample and iconic chorus from Ben Lee’s “Cigarettes Will Kill You,” with Cub Sport handling that borrowed hook while Allday builds his own narrative around a failed romance. The blend of nostalgia and new storytelling is genuinely clever songwriting, and Cub Sport’s vocal texture adds a fragile, aching quality to the production. It’s one of the most emotionally direct tracks on The Necklace, and it signals just how confidently Gaynor now mixes homage with original material.
Drip Drop
Also from The Necklace, “Drip Drop” sits within an album that Allday himself described as a superspeed tour through love, sex, and everything messier in between. The production here is tighter and more contemporary than his earlier work, reflecting his ongoing collaboration with longtime producer Simon Lam. It’s a track built for replay value, with a hook that sticks after just one or two listens. Following three years of relative quiet after Drinking with My Smoking Friends, songs like this proved his pop instincts hadn’t dulled at all.
Access
The lead single from The Necklace, released in February 2024, “Access” reintroduced Allday with a sharper, more radio-ready sound ahead of his fifth studio album’s release that August. The track balances rap cadences with a hook-driven chorus, striking a middle ground between his Speeding-era bars and his more melodic recent output. It’s a confident, well-mixed return that made it clear Gaynor was stepping back into the spotlight deliberately rather than drifting back in. If you’re building a driving or workout playlist, this is a genuinely great opener, and pairing it with a solid set of over-ears makes a real difference — this headphones comparison guide is a handy place to start if you’re shopping around.
Taken together, these twenty tracks trace Allday from scrappy Adelaide upstart to a genuinely versatile songwriter who’s equally comfortable rapping over boom-bap drums or singing over jangly guitars. That willingness to reinvent himself, album after album, is honestly rare in Australian hip-hop, and it’s exactly why his catalogue keeps rewarding new listeners more than a decade after “Right Now” first hit radio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Allday’s most popular song?
“Right Now” remains Allday’s most widely recognized single, having been certified gold in Australia and serving as the breakout hit from his 2014 debut album Startup Cult.
What genre is Allday’s music?
Allday’s catalogue spans Australian hip-hop, pop-rap, and indie pop, with his sound shifting significantly from boom-bap rap on early releases to guitar-driven, dream-pop textures on later albums like Drinking with My Smoking Friends.
Which Allday album should I start with?
Startup Cult is the natural entry point for anyone wanting his classic rap sound, while The Necklace offers a more contemporary snapshot of where his songwriting stands today.
Does Allday still make new music?
Yes, Allday released his fifth studio album, The Necklace, in August 2024, and he continues to tour and release new singles regularly.
Who are Allday’s most notable collaborators?
Allday has worked with artists including Mallrat, Japanese Wallpaper, Nyne, Cub Sport, The Veronicas, and Troye Sivan, reflecting his deep ties to the Australian indie and pop scenes.