2014 triple j Unearthed High Finalists Announced

2014 sees triple j Unearthed High celebrate its seventh year of unearthing the very best high school music acts in Australia. The initiative was set up to encourage students to start writing and recording their own music and has seen past winners like Lunatics on PogosticksAsta, Stonefield and Hunting Grounds go on to release music and tour it around the country. 
 
We are consistently impressed with the level of young Australian talent uploading their original songs to triplejunearthed.com and, after listening to a tonne of impressive songs across a wide spread of genres, we’re proud to introduce you to the six best high school acts in 2014…
 
Japanese Wallpaper Breathe In {Ft. Wafia} (Leibler Yavneh College, Melbourne, VIC) 
Gab Strum aka Japanese Wallpaper makes silky electronic songs which have earned him endorsements from the likes of Chet Faker and Zach Braff. His debut single even featured in Braff’s latest film Wish I Was Here between music from Bon Iver and Coldplay.
 
Hockey Dad I Need A Woman (Lake Illawarra High School, Illawarra, NSW) 
Zach Stephenson and Billy Fleming are surf-rock garage-pop duo Hockey Dad, and they sure know how to craft a song that’s scuzzy in all the right places. Their debut EP Dreamin’ was recorded with none other than Big Scary’s Tom Iansek.
 
Azura Smoke (Citipointe Christian College Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD) 
Lauren Coutts’ solo project Azura combines elements of indie and classical sounds with a touch of Daughter-like reverb to create smart electronic pop that’s full of beautiful, sophisticated layering.
 
Daybreak Retribution (Tranby College/Serpentine Jarrahdale Grammar School, Perth, WA) 
These four Perth boys spent the school holidays grinding out riffs in their guitarist’s shed and copping complaints from their neighbours. Daybreak have been together for less than a year but already the 15-16 year olds are making some devastatingly precise deathcore.
 
Baro Cinema {Ft. Emerson Alexander} (Beaconhills College, Village Campus Melbourne, VIC)
Futuristic hip hopper Baro’s HOWGOODISGOOD? mixtape features some blissful, jazzy, neo-soul production, with stacks of personality and laid back flows that showcase the 17 year olds impressive lyricism. Catch him later this year as he tours with Allday and Remi.
 
Lupa J Statues (Conservatorium High School, Sydney, NSW) 
As Lupa J, Imogen Jones makes understated, beautifully constructed music that’s written, recorded and produced at her home in Sydney. Melding classical violin with her love of electronica, she creates layered alt-pop tunes that are mature beyond her 16 years.
 
Over the next two weeks you can listen, review and share this year’s Unearthed High finalists, then tune into Breakfast with Matt & Alex on Friday 15 August as they reveal the 2014 winner of triple j Unearthed High.
 
The winner will receive airplay on triple j and triple j Unearthed, have a song professionally recorded by triple j, and play at a concert at their school alongside hip hop master Seth Sentry

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