Triple j has revealed the five high school-aged acts which have been named as finalists in this year’s Unearthed High competition, following in the footsteps of acts like Montaigne, Japanese Wallpaper and Gretta Ray.
The five finalists from the ‘Class Of 2017’ have been hand-picked from over 1,000 bands, solo acts, producers and MCs from around Australia, after uploading their music to the triple j Unearthed website — and they’re a pretty eclectic bunch.
So, without further ado, here they are in no particular order:
Arno Faraji – ‘Destiny’s’ (Shenton College, Perth WA)
What triple j says: “Arno Faraji is one of the most exciting young hip hop artists in the country, with his keen, future-leaning productions only matched by his whip smart raps and oozing charisma.”
Ninajirachi – ‘Pure Luck {Ft. Freya Staer}’ (Gosford High School, Gosford NSW)
What triple j says: “Backing up her 2016 Unearthed High finalist appearance, Nina returns with another high-quality production earning wide spread praise and a spot on the 2017 Listen Out lineup. And all that on the cusp of turning 18!”
Stevie Jean – ‘Hell In Every Religion’ (Darwin High School, Darwin NT)
What triple j says: “Stevie Jean’s voice is unstoppable. The 17-year-old marries that immense voice with songwriting that is ignited with raw emotional power. It’ll have you in a sweat by the time its four minutes are up, demanding you to experience it again.”
SŸDE – ‘Orbit {Ft. Ashe}’ (Caulfield Grammar, Melbourne VIC)
What triple j says: “Juggling school and a burgeoning music career, this Melbourne duo’s super clean, chilled-house track ‘Orbit {Ft. Ashe}’ has struck a chord globally, amassing more than eight million plays on streaming services and lighting a path to big things ahead.”
Taj Ralph – ‘Beat The Keeper’ (Mosman High School, Sydney NSW)
What triple j says: “Already receiving nods from industry heavyweights like Horrorshow and Amy Shark, this 16-year-old solo artist’s music is rich in sound and ideas but you can still hear his roots as a busker shine through.”
“It’s exhilarating to discover the amazing creations coming out of bedrooms and garages around Australia and this year’s crop of artists has been as bountiful as ever,” says triple j Unearthed Music Director Dave Ruby Howe.
“Picking just five finalists is super difficult but we couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to the most outstanding acts from 2017’s Unearthed High, who’ll be leading the next generation of Australian music.”
The eventual winner of Unearthed High for 2017 will be flown to the triple j studios to record, mix or master their tunes, which will then be played across triple j and triple j Unearthed.
Last year’s winner was, of course, Gretta Ray. Watch a run-through of this year’s finalists, below.
