Squeezing into school uniforms this morning, triple j Brekkie boys Ben & Liam went undercover at Shenton College in Perth to surprise the 2017 Unearthed High winner.
To the delight of hundreds of screaming school kids and no doubt the nation, 17 year old Arno Faraji was announced as this year’s Unearthed High competition winner with his song ‘Destiny’s’.
Celebrating the 10th year of the competition, Arno joins previous winners Gretta Ray, Japanese Wallpaper, Asta and Mosquito Coast all making their mark at a very young age.
Arno Faraji has been playing music since his Dad bought him his first guitar at age 11 and has since dabbled in bass, trumpet and self-taught piano. Things got serious when he started experimenting with beat making and rapping in late 2016, with Arno taking inspiration from forward thinking hip hop artists like Sampa The Great, Chance The Rapper and Tkay Maidza.
Arno’s incredible natural talents as a producer and rapper are likely to see him leading the next generation of exciting Aussie artists.
triple j Unearthed Music Director Dave Ruby Howe says “When you first hit play on Arno Faraji’s track ‘Destiny’s’ you can immediately tell that it’s not your ordinary hip hop track. Yeah, Arno’s raps crackle with intelligence and electrifying attitude but it’s the self produced futuristic house beat that elevates the track to another level. Damn, if it doesn’t just creep down from your ears and propel your feet to dance. In Arno Faraji we’ve discovered an extraordinary teenager who’s only just beginning to tap the potential of his talent.”
Arno Faraji will now be flown to triple j to record, mix or master his music, which will be played on triple j and triple j Unearthed.