discover new australian music

2021

Unearthed High is back for it's 14th year!

If you're outta the loop, it's triple j Unearthed's annual search for the country's best high school talent. Past winners include George Alice, Kian, Japanese Wallpaper, Gretta Ray, Arno Faraji and more, with Adelaide punk duo Teenage Joans taking out last year's comp.

The 2021 champ will join that mega impressive list and also score a pretty huge prize. You'll be flown to Sydney to record, mix or master your next big hit at the triple j studio. You'll also receive professional industry advice from a senior music manager and we'll hook you up with a mentoring sesh with one of your fave artists.

Who knows, we might even rock up at your school! It's important to note that we'll be abiding by travel restrictions, so we'll be making cool stuff happen ~virtually~ if we can't deliver IRL.

The Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative is also back. In addition to being eligible for the major prize, the best Unearthed High entry from an Indigenous artist will win ongoing mentorship from the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), as well as a songwriting workship at their school by the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program.

To be eligible, at least 50% of your members in high school have to be in high school and don't stress if your track is still "pending" when the comp ends. We'll still see it if you uploaded before midnight August 1st.

Good luck! Cross your fingers, get to work on your track and suss out the T's and C's.

2020

That's right, Unearthed High is back for it's (lucky) 13th year.

We're kicking off a nationwide search for the country's best high school act. This year follows a kick-ass comp in 2019 that saw Radelaide pop artist George Alice take out the competition, seeing her join a hall of fame that includes KIAN, Arno Faraji, Gretta Ray and Japanese Wallpaper. 

If you're in high school and make music, listen up!

All you have to do to enter is upload your best track/s to your triple j Unearthed profile by midnight August 24th. You also need to tick the box that says you're an Unearthed High artist - we can not stress how important this is.

Wanna know what you'll win if you score the win? We'll help you record, produce and master your next big single, maybe even at triple j's very own studios! You'll also receive professional industry advice from a senior music manager and we'll hook you up for a little mono e mono mentoring sesh with one of your favourite artists. And look, we might even turn up at your school!

Naturally we'll be abiding by state and national travel restrictions so if we're not able to deliver any of this sweet as prize IRL, we'll find a way to make it happen ~ virtually ~.

The Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative, won by Aodhan in 2019, is also back. In addition to being eligible for the major prize, the best Unearthed High entry from an Indigenous artist will win ongoing mentorship from the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), as well as a songwriting workship at their school by the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program.

To be eligible, at least 50% of your members in high school have to be in high school and don't stress if your track is still "pending" when the comp ends. We'll still see it if you uploaded before midnight August 24th.

Good luck! Cross your fingers, get to work on your track and suss out the T's and C's.

2019

Unearthed High is open for 2019!

Throughout its 12-year run, the competition has brought you Australian faves like Hockey Dad, Gretta Ray, Montaigne and Japanese Wallpaper, and is following maybe its best year ever in 2018 - in which Castlemaine kid KIAN was crowned the winner.

This year, the search is on again, as of right now. If you're in High School and you're making music, we want to hear from you.

To enter, you need to have your best songs up on triplejunearthed.com by midnight on Monday July 29th, and you also need to tick the - and we cannot stress this enough - box that says you're an Unearthed High artist.

If you win, it's heaps good! We'll fly you to triple j to record, produce, or remaster a track in triple j's studios, pair you up with an Aussie artist and their management for some professional advice to get your career started, and ongoing mentorship from an artist manager from the Association Of Artist Managers.

The Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative is back for 2019 too, where we'll hook one Indigenous High School act from anywhere around the country up with a songwriting workshop at your school delivered by the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program, and ongoing support and mentorship from an artist manager from the Association Of Artist Managers.

To be eligible, at least half of your members have to be in High School and you have to have your best songs up on Unearthed by July 29th at midnight. We want you to upload your songs as early as you can -- but don't stress out if your tracks are "pending" on Unearthed when the comp closes. 

That's it! Good luck. If you've got more Q's, you'll find some A's in the T&Cs, and if you have a specific question about Unearthed or your song, peep our FAQs. 

2018

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Unearthed High is back for 2018. 

We can't wait to scour through the nation's classrooms in order to find the best high school music act. With alumni including, Gretta Ray, Stonefield, Japanese Wallpaper and last year's reighning champ, Arno Faraji - there's a pretty prestigeous list to join!

We're going to play the best entries on national radio and the winner will get flown to triple j to record, remix or master a track. They'll also be set up with a mentorship with an industry professional and triple j might even crash your school!

Class is in session now! To enter add an original track to triplejunearthed.com, select your school year and let us know what school you're repping. Eligable acts gotta have at least 50% of band members currently in high school. If you've got an artist page already, great! Just make sure you've checked 'Unearthed High' on your artist profile and tell us what school you go to in order to be considered. 

2017

Unearthed High is back!

triple j Unearthed's search for Australia's best High School aged music act returns for 2017, and we're stoked to fill up our lunchboxes with incredible Australian music once again. Our winner will join an esteemed list of alumni that includes Japanese Wallpaper, Asta, Stonefield, and last year's winner, Gretta Ray.

The best entries will be played on national radio, and if you're our winner, we'll fly you to triple j to record, remix or master a track. We'll play it on the radio too! You'll also get professional music industry advice, and triple j will come to your school!

Plus, this year, we’re very excited to add a special Indigenous initiative to Unearthed High. As well as being eligible for the major prize, the best Unearthed High entry from an Indigenous artist will also win ongoing mentoring from the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), as well as a songwriting workshop at their school by the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program.

Enrolments are now open! To enter, upload an original piece of music to triplejunearthed.com, select your school year and tell us which school you attend. To be eligible, all acts must have at least half the band members still in high school. If you already have an artist profile and track(s) uploaded to Unearthed, make sure you go into your artist profile and select your school year and enter your high school to be considered. If you’re Indigenous, please ensure to select the Indigenous option too.

2016

Unearthed High is back!

After a bumper year that saw Perth duo Mosquito Coast named the best high school act in the country for 2015, we’re opening the floodgates for this year’s Unearthed High intake.

The Class of 2016 have got some big shoes to fill: we’ve had the pleasure of naming excellent acts like Japanese Wallpaper, Asta, Stonefield, Snakadaktal and heaps of others our Unearthed High champs over the past nine years. Our backpacks are full, our lunches are packed, and we’re excited to see what this year’s Unearthed High entrants have in store.

The best entries will be played on national radio, and if you're our winner, we'll fly you to triple j to record, remix or master a track. We'll play it on the radio too! You'll also get professional music industry advice, and triple j will come to your school!

Plus, this year, we’re very excited to add a special Indigenous initiative to Unearthed High. As well as being eligible for the major prize, the best Unearthed High entry from an Indigenous artist will also win ongoing mentoring from the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), as well as a songwriting workshop at their school by the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program.

Enrolments are now open!  To enter, upload an original piece of music to triplejunearthed.com, select your school year and tell us which school you attend. To be eligible, all acts must have at least half the band members still in high school. If you already have an artist profile and track(s) uploaded to Unearthed, make sure you go into your artist profile and select your school year and enter your high school to be considered. If you’re Indigenous, please ensure to select the Indigenous option too.

GOOD LUCK!

Download the A4 poster here! 

Download the A3 poster here!

2015

2014

Unearthed High is back for the 7th year and once again we're looking to find Australia’s best high school music act. If you’re a songwriter, in a band, a producer or MC - we want to hear from you!

The winning act will be flown to triple j to have their song recorded by triple j’s music producers and played on triple j. We will also organise a free concert at their school, starring the winning band or artist and headlined by one of Australia’s biggest hip hop artists, Seth Sentry.

triple j is passionate about finding, supporting and providing opportunities to Australia’s bright young talent. Past Unearthed High winners, including Lunatics on Pogosticks, Asta and Stonefield, have gone on to enjoy incredible success since being unearthed. Last year’s winners Lunatics on Pogosticks, from Sydney’s Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, have played Falls Music and Arts Festival, released a brand new single, signed with a booking agent, toured with British India, The Jungle Giants and Grinspoon, and graduated high school all within a year of winning Unearthed High.

To enter this year's competition, simply upload an original track, select your school year and tell us which high school you attend in your artist profile. To be eligible all acts must have at least half the band members still in high school. If you already have an artist profile and track(s) uploaded to site, make sure you go into your artist profile and select your school year and enter your high school to be considered.

2013

Unearthed High is back for the 6th year and amped to find Australia’s best high school music act. If you’re a songwriter, in a band, a producer or MC - we want to hear from you.

We will fly the winning act to triple j’s studio to have their song professionally recorded by triple j’s Music Producers. The song will then be played on triple j and triple j Unearthed. Plus we’ll put on a concert at their high school, for all their school mates, where the winning band will play alongside Perth four-piece San Cisco, a young band who also found success through Unearthed while they were still at High School.

To triple j is passionate about finding, supporting and providing opportunities to Australia’s bright young talent. Past winners Asta, Snakadaktal, Stonefield and Hunting Grounds have gone on to enjoy incredible success since winning Unearthed High. Last year’s winner Asta placed at #50 in the 2012 Hottest 100 with her song ‘My Heart is on Fire’, played at Pyramid Rock Festival in Tasmania and secured support sets with Angus Stone and Birds of Tokyo, all within a year of winning Unearthed High.

To enter simply upload an original track and tell us which high school you attend. To be eligible acts need to have at least half the band members still in high school. Entries have now closed.

2012

Unearthed High is back for the 5th year and amped to find Australia’s best high school music act. If you’re a songwriter, in a band, a producer or MC - we want to hear from you.

We will fly the winning act to triple j’s studio to have their song professionally recorded by triple j’s Music Producers. The song will then be played on triple j and triple j Unearthed. Plus we’ll put on a concert at their high school, for all their school mates, where the winning act will play alongside Sydney hip hip group Bliss N Eso.

To triple j is passionate about finding, supporting and providing opportunities to Australia’s bright young talent. Past winners Snakadaktal, Stonefield and Hunting Grounds have gone on to enjoy incredible success since winning Unearthed High.

To enter simply upload an original track and tell us which high school you attend. To be eligible acts need to have at least half the band members still in high school. Entries have now closed.

2011

IT'S BACK - We'll be looking for the BEST ACT from High School in Australia in 2011.

We'll fly you to Sydney, record your song, and play it to the world PLUS triple j will put on an awesome gig at your school.

2010 saw our winners Stonefield tour the country and get booked for possibly the biggest and most prestigious festival in the world, Glastonbury in England. And we'll soon be on the search for 2011's finest act to take the mantle.

Entries will open at the beginning of May and NOW is the time to START a band, or START writing music so you'll have plenty of time to rehearse and record.

You can be a solo artist or a band of any genre, the only rule is 50% of your act must still be attending high school.

Check out our great Unearthed High Features section to get you in the mood. And head back to the site to upload your music when entries open.

So pick up an instrument, give it a bash, strum, pluck, twiddle, tinker, or shake, and see what happens!

2010

Yowser! We are looking for the best band from High School in Australia in 2010.

We'll fly you to Sydney, record your song, and play it to the world PLUS triple j will put on an awesome gig at your school.

2010 saw our winners Stonefield tour the country and get booked for possibly the biggest and most prestigious festival in the world, Glastonbury in England.

Entries will open at the beginning of May and NOW is the time to START a band, or START writing music so you'll have plenty of time to rehearse and record.

You can be a solo artist or a band of any genre, the only rule is 50% of your act must still be attending high school.

Check out our great Unearthed High Features section to get you in the mood. And head back to the site to upload your music when entries open.

So pick up an instrument, give it a bash, strum, pluck, twiddle, tinker, or shake, and see what happens!