Now in its 11th year, triple j’s annual search for Australia’s best high school act is close to its finale. 

The network has now revealed the finalists from over 1,000submissions from talented teens who are set to follow in the footsteps of previous Unearthed High alumni who are now killing it at home and abroad (shout out to Arno Faraji, Montaigne, Baro, Gretta Ray, Japanese Wallpaper and Hockey Dad!).

The Finalists (with comments from triple j) Are…

Burnout – ‘Get Out’ (Trinity College Gawler & St. Patrick’s Technical College, SA)
Adelaide teens Billy, Nik and Kyle a.k.a. Burnout distil the essence of Unearthed High into their two minute rocket of a track ‘Get Out’. You can hear it in the energy and chaotic skate punk surge, this a group of friends having the best time ever.

Nancie Schipper – ‘Long Fall’ (Warrnambool College, VIC)
We’ve had an eye on this talented artist’s striking song writing since she entered last year’s competition. Now in her finalyear of school, Nancie’s making music that is assured and super warm. It feels like just the start of huge things for her.

KIAN – ‘Waiting’ (Castlemaine Secondary College, VIC)
Having stepped into the spotlight at 14 with a triumphant vocal feature on Baker Boy‘s ‘Cloud 9’, 16 year old KIAN is now writing his own story as a solo artist with sky high potential. His track ‘Waiting’ packs emotional punch, just like ur crush.

The Kid Laroi – ‘Disconnect’ (Australian Performing Arts Grammar School, NSW)
South Sydney hip hop sensation The Kid Laroi only uploaded ‘Disconnect’ to Unearthed High during the competition’s final hours, but it’s one heck of track. With all this confidence and cool you’d think that The Kid Laroi has been rapping for 14 years, but he’s only 14 years old.

yergurl – ‘Skateboard’ (Bendigo Senior Secondary College, VIC)
Listening to the uploads from yergurl it’s almost as if you’re getting a look at a constantly refreshing feed full of her influences. There are colours flashing in slow motion, nods to contemporary pop icons like Charli XCX and Lana Del Ray, dank memes and teenage hang-ups all stirred up together.

In addition to our Unearthed High finalists, we are proud to announce Juice C.A as our Indigenous initiative winner, who will receive ongoing mentoring from the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), as well as a songwriting workshop at their school with the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program.

Juice C.A – ‘Foolish’ (Centralian Senior College, NT)
With just one Unearthed upload to their name Juice C.A impressed the triple j judging panel with how together they already sound. Tipping their hat to Red Hot Chili Peppers while showing signs of the influence from modern RnB, psychedelic bush reggae and current scene setters Ocean Alley, Juice C.A are ripe with promise.

triple j Unearthed Music Director Dave Ruby Howe says “Now that we are 11 years deep into Unearthed High’s history it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear the high quality of artists making music while still in school. But here we are again,absolutely floored by this year’s crop of young artists. We’re beyond stoked with just how good the future of Australianmusic sounds.”