Triple J Unearthed

Unearthed is the name of a Triple J project to find and "dig up" (hence the name) hidden talent in Australia.

Unearthed has had three incarnations – they first visited each region of Australia where Triple J had a transmitter – 41 regions in all. It started with the more rural areas but eventually the capital cities were covered as well. The second lasted from 2002 to 2005 and visited each state only once. In 2006 the format changed to be a more internet driven competition. Instead of the rounds travelling across Australia, artists are now required to upload their music in mp3 format to be judged. In early 2008 Triple J launched the 'Unearthed High' competition. This run parallel to the existent internet based Unearthed competition, but only allowed high school aged bands to submit original work. Triple J Unearthed digital radio was launched on 5 October 2011. Many triple j Unearthed live music clips has featured on Rage and Fly TV.

First round (1995–2001)

Second round (2002–2004)

Third round (2006– )

On Wednesday August 9, 2006, the third round of Unearthed was launched with their own website, triplejunearthed.com. Now bands and musicians hoping to be Unearthed upload their music in mp3 format to the website, along with a photo and biography. All music can be listened to on the website through a flash jukebox or individual tracks can be downloaded. Registered users can also rate and review music and create their own playlists which they can email to friends. Triple J regularly runs competitions which usually take the form of selecting a band or musician which has listed themselves on the website, to play as a support act at major festivals. The first act Unearthed was "E.E.S.", a hip-hop crew from regional New South Wales who performed at the Strikeback Festival in Newcastle on 30 September 2006.

• For the nominees & winners of "Unearthed High" since 2008, see: Triple J Unearthed High.
• For the nominees & winners of "The Unearthed J Award" since 2007, see: The J Awards.

Competitions Winners:

Unearthed High (2008– )

During early 2008 Triple J launched the biggest unearthed competition ever, the 'Unearthed High' competition. This new competition, run parallel to the existent internet based Unearthed competition required high school aged bands to submit original work.

• Winners Of Unearthed High

2008 Finalists

• Artist: "[is]" / Track: "Cult Romance"
• Location: Sydney, New South Wales.

The inaugural winners, [is], were announced on 10 June from a shortlist of finalists with their song 'Cult Romance'. [is] in December 2008 announced a name change to Tom Ugly. According to frontman Tom this was "mostly due to the fact that you can't search [is]. It's completely unsearchable on the internet. Plus we like the name anyway, Tom Ugly. And it suits the format of the way we write."

2009 Finalists

• Artist: "Howl" / Track: "Blackout"
• Location: Ballarat, Victoria.

The 2009 competition was won by Howl, a 6 piece band with their song "Blackout". Howl came from Ballarat High School.

2010 Finalists

• Artist: "Iotah" / Track: "Foreign Lover"
• Location: Melbourne, Victoria.

The 2010 competition was won by Iotah, a band composed of four sisters, heavily influenced by old school rock – screeching vocals, electrifying riffs, keys and driving beats are streaming from the cracks of a shed in the hills. They come from Gisborne Secondary College. Iotah subsequently changed their name to Stonefield after discovering a local cabaret performer had been using the name iOTA for several years.^[2]

2011 Finalists

• Artist: "Snakadaktal" / Track: "Chimera"
• Location: Melbourne, Victoria.

The 2011 competition was won by Snakadaktal, a 5 piece band with their song "Chimera". The winner came for Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School.

2012 Finalists

• Artist: "ASTA" / Track: "My Heart Is On Fire"
• Location: Hobart, Tasmania.

The 2012 competition was won by the soloist ASTA, she and Cal Young produced the song "My Heart Is On Fire" in her boyfriends bedroom. The winner is from Rosny College in Hobart.

2013 Finalists

Artist	Track	Genre(s)	Unearthed Location	School(s)
Cypher	"Liar"	Electronic, Indie, Pop	Brisbane, QLD	Redlands College, Brisbane, QLD
Jaysway	"Mirror"	Electronic, Pop	Sydney, NSW	Mosman High School, Sydney, NSW
Lunatics On Pogosticks	"Picasso's Saddest Love"	Indie, Punk	Sydney, NSW	Newtown High, Sydney, NSW
Under Scarlet Skies	"Sanctuary"	Metal	Gippsland, VIC	Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon, Latrobe Valley, VIC
Vancouver Sleep Clinic	"Vapour"	Indie	Brisbane, QLD	Citipointe Christian College, Brisbane, QLD
When We Were Small	"Untied"	Indie, Rock	Melbourne, VIC	Swinburne Senior Secondary College, Melbourne, VIC

• Opened: 21 May 2013, Closed: 22 Jul 2013, Winner Announced: 01 Aug 2013.^[3] More than 900 entries.^[4]
• The 2013 competition was won by garage band Lunatics on Pogosticks with their song "Picasso's Saddest Love".

2014 Finalists

Artist	Track	Genre(s)	Unearthed Location	School(s)
Azura	"Smoke"	Electronic, Indie	Brisbane, QLD	Citipointe Christian College Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD
Baro	"Cinema" (Feat. Emerson Alexander)	Electronic, Hip Hop, Punk	Melbourne, VIC	Beaconhills College, Village Campus Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
Daybreak	"Retribution"	Metal	South West (WA), WA	Tranby College, Perth, WA Serpentine Jarrahdale Grammar School, Perth, WA
Gab Strum	"Breathe In" (Feat. Wafia)	Electronic, Indie	Melbourne, Victoria	Leibler Yavneh College, Melbourne, VIC
Hockey Dad	"I Need A Woman"	Punk, Rock	Illawarra, NSW	Lake Illawarra High School, Illawarra, NSW
Lupa J	"Statues"	Electronic, Indie, Pop	Sydney, NSW	Conservatorium High School, Sydney, NSW

• Opened: 22 May 2014, Closed: 21 Jul 2014, Winner Announced: 25 Jul 2014.^[5] More than 650 artists entered.^[6]
• The 2014 competition was won by Melbourne producer Gab Strum; now known as Japanese Wallpaper; who produces electronic indie sounds. The winning track was "Breathe In" Featuring Wafia, a layered track also appearing in the film Wish I Was Here along bands such as Bon Iver and Coldplay.

2015 Finalists

Artist	Track	Genre(s)	Unearthed Location	School(s)
Fifth Dawn	"Turbulence"	Metal, Rock	Sydney, NSW	Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School, Emu Plains, NSW
Genesis Owusu	"The Day After Valentine's"	Hip Hop	Canberra, ACT	St Mary MacKillop College, Canberra, ACT
Lupa J	"Armour"	Electronic, Indie, Pop	Sydney, NSW	Conservatorium High School, Sydney, NSW
Mosquito Coast	"Call My Name"	Indie, Rock	Perth, WA	Churchlands High School, Perth, WA Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Perth, WA
Spire	"Still Don't Understand"	Electronic, Hip Hop, Indie	South Coast (WA), WA	Denmark High School, Denmark, WA

• Opened: 22 Jun 2015, Closed: 03 Aug 2015, Winner Announced: 20 Aug 2015.^[7] 850 artists entered, with 1280 songs being entered.^[8]
• The 2015 competition was won by duo Mosquito Coast, with their song "Call My Name".

2016 Finalists Carl Renshaw, Gretta Ray, Lastlings, Ninajirachi and Tia Gostelow

2016 winner Gretta Ray, Princes Hill Secondary College, Melbourne^[9]

Triple J Unearthed Digital Radio (2011- )

On 5 October 2011 Triple J Unearthed was launched as a radio station available on digital radio and online.^[10]

Current Programs

• "New Music with Steph Hughes" ^[11]

External links

• triple j Unearthed

References