Triple J Unearthed pick of the week
The Unearthed website is a heaving, ever-expanding ocean of local musicians and each and every day those of us working behind the scenes are pretty lucky to hear what these songwriters, new and seasoned alike, are creating and sharing with the world. Over six editions of our annual Unearthed High competition we’ve seen an increasing amount of stellar material coming from young Australian artists and you can add 16-year-old Central Coast school girl East to that talented crop.
East’s debut tune Old Age shows a set of musical gifts that belie the singer’s youth including a commanding, charismatic voice and wickedly slick pop sensibilities. Recorded with John Castle – she is not your average teenager, after all – Old Age sparkles with fizzy keyboards and a bouncy energy while East’s hooky delivery pulls impressive focus among the din. You never want to overstate the potential of artists as young as East and pile on undue pressure, but there’s a feeling while listening to Old Age that this is the start of something special.