Who said that you had to be 18 years or older to create incredible music? Not us, having explored the 11 most talented Aussie musicians aged 18 or younger, and certainly not the team at Triple J Unearthed.

Now running for its seventh year, Triple J’s Unearthed High initiative has announced its 2014 finalists after scouring their site in search of the best Aussie musicians who are still hitting the books in high school.

The 2014 Unearthed High winner will be announced on Triple J’s “Breakfast With Matt and Alex” on Friday 15th August, with the underage prize-winners receiving airplay on Triple J and Unearthed, a professionally recorded song, and get to play at a concert at their school alongside hip-hop hero, Seth Sentry.

Previous Unearthed High title-holders include 2013’s brat-punkers Lunatics On Pogosticks and the ethereal magic of Tassie youngster, Asta, in 2012, proving the competition is tough and produces serious champions, so who will it be this year?

We’ve profiled the six Unearthed High competition finalists for your convenience, so without further ado, dig the incredible creations of our fair nation’s youngest artists, who could be tomorrow’s biggest names.

Japanese Wallpaper

We’d be surprised if you hadn’t already heard the silky-smooth productions of this criminally talented artist. Japanese Wallpaper is the moniker under which Melbournian Gab Strum hypnotises hearts with. Strum is a 17-year old that currently attends Leibler Yavneh College in Melbourne. The comparisons to likes of ambient extraordinaires Tycho and Boards of Canada are emphatically warranted. Let’s just say the term “prodigy” is apt for this incredible musician. If nothing else, know that Zach Braff is a big fan – putting him on Wish I Was Here, arguably the year’s most anticipated soundtrack.

Baro

This futuristic artist is also 17 years old and currently attends Beaconhills College in Melbourne. Blending chilled-out lounge electronica with funk and jazz samples, this Melbourne emcee produces sensual, laid-back jams and is equipped with the vocal registry to confidently dip into RnB, too. His debut album asks HowGoodIsGood? ‘Very’, would be the answer. Your new favourite Aussie rapper? Possibly. The youngest and most talented Aussie MC? Definitely.

 Hockey Dad

This two-piece consists of Zach Stevenson and Billy Fleming, students of Lake Illawarra High School in Illawarra. The two dudes produce the most perfect summer soundtrack you could ever want. Blending the carefree cruising nature of surf rock with the jovial buoyancy of garage-pop, this duo have already released a killer EP, Dreamin’which was produced by Tom Iansek of Big Scary/#1 Dads, not a bad start, eh? The lads are on tour at the moment, so Melbournians and Brisbanites – get right around them!

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Lupa J

Introducing Imogen Jones, whom performs under the banner of Lupa J. This 16-year old singer-songwriter, from The Conservatorium High School in Sydney, has already proven herself a force to be reckoned with within the Aussie music scene. Lupa J has got it all, trained in the classical world of violin, the innovative artist is now honing her craft as a bedroom producer, melding the likes of folk and indie pop into layered electronic tunes.

 Azura

This is the spectacular project of 16-year old songstress Lauren Coutts. of Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane. Coutts dips her artistic brush in an array of sonic paints from indie rock to dream-pop, producing lush, forward-thinking electronic masterpieces. If you dig the intelligent pop of Lorde with the rad beats of Elizabeth Rose, you’re going to love Azura.

Daybreak

Hell yeah, Daybreak are exactly the kind of shake-up Aussie music needs. This heavy-hitting metal four-piece hail from Perth, consisting of Shaun Cox, Blake Pearce, Sam Warren, and Brodie Wilson; who attend Tranby College and Serpentine Jarrahdale Grammar School. Exploding out of the West Coast, the boys produce a sound that is mature, refined. and fearsome as hell! It’s honestly unbelievable that the lads’ age only spans between 15 to 16. Look out Soundwave, we’ve got a headliner in the making.

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