The Man Behind Sydney’s New Year’s Eve Midnight Moment: Jono Ma
When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, Sydney will ring in 2026 powered by a high-voltage 12-minute blast of Acid House, gospel, rave, electro and full orchestral track.
More than 100 musicians, artists and other creatives work on the City of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve 9pm and midnight shows.
Driving the music behind the midnight moment is Jono Ma – co-founder of Sonar Music and one of Australia’s most sought-after sonic architects – whose new composition will launch thousands of fireworks across Sydney Harbour.
From the soaring gospel of Mississippi’s Annie & the Caldwells to Underworld-esque rave energy, Jono’s NYE soundtrack is one of his most ambitious yet.
With an audience of millions, Jono says, “New Year’s Eve is the biggest party on the planet.
“The build-up has to be massive and the drops bombastic to match what’s going on in the sky. It’s surreal knowing the track will go from unheard to millions of ears in seconds.”
The piece hurtles from club-driven pulses to widescreen cinematic textures before erupting into full-blown euphoria, anchored by the powerhouse vocals of Annie and the Caldwells.
“It was pure serendipity that they were in Sydney when I needed a choir,” he says. “They’re incredible.”
Jono returned home to Sydney after living overseas earlier this year and can see the Harbour Bridge from his studio, adding, “It’s kind of been my muse – looking at it and picturing that epic moment at the end of the year.”
It’s also a pivotal milestone for Sonar Music, co-founded by Jono in 2010 with David McCormack (Bluey’s “Bandit” and Custard frontman), Matteo Zingales, Andrew Lancaster, and Antony Partos.
“This NYE project is an exciting creative moment for Sonar Music, showcasing our work on the world stage,” says Sonar’s Executive Producer, Sophie Haydon.
The studio is home to many of Australia's most awarded composers and sound designers, including Antony Partos – one of Australia’s most celebrated film and television composers.
His compositions are behind David Michôd’s latest feature Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney, following their acclaimed collaborations on Animal Kingdom and The Rover.
He also continues to shape beloved series including Disney+’s The Artful Dodger and previously walked the Oscars red carpet for Tanna.
Another Sonar star is Matteo Zingales, joined by IF Magazine’s Rising Talent Josie Mann – they scored StudioCanal’s Kangaroo, which is now the highest-grossing Australian film of 2025.
In the past 12 months alone, Sonar Music’s film credits include:
Christy starring Sydney Sweeney and produced by David Michôd (Antony Partos)
Kangaroo – StudioCanal’s family comedy and 2025 highest-grossing Australian film (Matteo Zingales & Josie Mann)
RUN – Binge/Warner Bros – launches on Binge 1 January (Jono Ma & Jackson Milas)
The Artful Dodger – Season 1 & 2 on Disney+ (Antony Partos)
Sunny Nights – a Stan Original (Matteo Zingales)
Kill Jackie starring Catherine Zeta-Jones (Matteo Zingales)
Sonar’s broader catalogue spans 250 TV series, 100 films, 300+ awards, global campaigns for Coca-Cola, Toyota, Qantas and Commonwealth Bank, and over 150 million Spotify streams.
About Jono Ma
Jono Ma is a multi-instrumentalist, award-winning composer, producer, DJ, mixer and co-founder of Sonar Music, based at Disney Studios Australia. As a founding member of the globally acclaimed Jagwar Ma, he has collaborated with some of the world’s most pioneering artists and performed at major festivals including Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza, Primavera, Splendour in the Grass and Laneway. His work spans film, television, advertising, large-scale immersive installations and global brand campaigns.
