Sydney indie rockers The Rions win triple j Unearthed High 2021
Northern Beaches indie outfit The Rions have been crowned as the winners of this year’s triple j Unearthed High songwriting competition.
Comprised of Barrenjoey High School students Noah, Harley, Asher and Tom, the group took out this year’s competition with their entry ‘Night Light’, an exuberant track that draws influence from Ocean Alley and The Vanns.
Due to Sydney’s current COVID restrictions, the band was informed of their win via Zoom yesterday, with triple j Breakfast hosts Bryce and Ebony enlisting Lime Cordiale, Tones and I and Spacey Jane to gatecrash their band meeting and surprise them with the news.
As part of their prize, The Rions will visit triple j studios to record, mix and master their next single, and will be allocated with a senior music manager to receive professional industry advice.
The Rions will also be partnered with fellow Sydney outfit Lime Cordiale for a mentoring session, and have already been tapped to support 2019 Unearthed High winner George Alice next year on her national tour.
triple j Unearthed’s music director Dave Ruby Howe commended The Rions for taking out this year’s top spot, noting the overwhelming response to ‘Night Light’ from the station and listeners alike.
“As difficult as it is to turn more than 1400 entries into just five finalists, it’s a desperately hard decision to pick a winner to top the class of 2021,” Howe said.
“In the end, Sydney’s The Rions edged ahead of the competition by presenting an undeniable all-round package that impressed all of us at triple j Unearthed – not to mention the triple j textline which popped off with every play of their roaring single ‘Night Light’.
“With their mainstage-ready confidence and urgent indie hooks, this foursome is ready to launch and we reckon that the Unearthed High crown will be the rocket fuel to send them flying.”
This year’s other triple j Unearthed High finalists included Jacob Biermann, TIA, edith and KAYPS, who was also the recipient of 2021’s Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative.
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