triple J’s Unearthed High finalists

The competition has been running for nine years and has uncovered stars including Montaigne, Baro, Hockey Dad, Jesse Davidson and Lupa J.

Now it’s time for the next crop.

Introducing the best high school music acts in 2016…

Carl Renshaw – ‘End’ (Elizabeth College, Hobart TAS)
Seemingly possessed by the spirit of Kevin Parker, 16 year old Carl Renshaw handcrafts warped masterpieces from his bedroom, foreshadowing the rise of Australia’s next psych-rock genius.

Gretta Ray – ‘Drive’ (Princess Hill Secondary College, Melbourne VIC)
17 year old Gretta Ray delivers a one-two punch on the listener’s ears with a voice that’s like thick dripping honey, with remarkable lyrical maturity and intelligent turns of phrase.

Lastlings – ‘YOU’ (Marymount College, Gold Coast QLD)
Comprised of 16 year old singer Amy Dowdle and older brother Joshua, Lastlings have been impressing everyone with their soaring electronic hook-fests, including a support slot on Glass Animals’ 2016 Australian tour.

Ninajirachi – ‘Glass {Ft. Sequel}’ (Gosford High School, Gosford NSW)
The production guise of 16 year old Nina Wilson from the NSW Central Coast, Ninajirachi’s music whirs to life with waves of futuristic bass and the kind of sharp twists and turns that speak to Nina’s incredible potential.

Tia Gostelow – ‘State Of Art’ (St. Patrick’s College, Mackay QLD)
Since popping onto our radar 18 months ago as part of folk duo Tia & Jack, Tia Gostelow’s assured 2016 debut solo offering showcases the 17 year old’s arresting voice and serious songwriting chops.

In addition to nabbing a finalist spot in Unearthed High, Tia Gostelow also wins the competitions Indigenous initiative, which includes ongoing mentoring from the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), as well as a songwriting workshop at her school with the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program.

triple j Unearthed Music Director Dave Ruby Howe says “It’s been an incredibly positive experience launching an Indigenous component of our annual Unearthed High campaign in 2016. We’ve uncovered a whole heap of amazing talent ranging from language-driven hip hop from the Burdiya Mob, to stirring singer-songwriters like Rach Armstrong and Idgie. Ultimately, Tia Gostelow took out the top spot, with her single ‘State Of Art’, displaying Tia’s impressive songwriting skills and magnetising voice. She’s a young artist with a big future ahead.”

Tune in to triple j next week as Matt & Alex reveal the major prize winner for Unearthed High 2016. The winner will be flown to triple j to record, mix or master their music, which will be played on triple j and triple j Unearthed. They’ll also receive music industry advice and triple j will visit their school.

Until then, you can download all the 2016 Unearthed High entries on triplejunearthed.com for free, so start discovering, reviewing and sharing your new favourite band. 

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