Gretta Ray Wins 2016 Triple J Unearthed High Competition

Melburnian singer-songwriter Gretta Ray has been crowned the 2016 winner of triple j's annual Unearthed High competition.

Although still an up-and-comer, Ray has already garnered significant experience on-stage not only as a solo performer but a recent addition to the touring band for fellow Unearthed High alumnus Japanese Wallpaper, aka Gab Strum.

Along with Strum, Ray joins Unearthed High hall-of-fame that includes former winners Lunatics On Pogosticks and BIGSOUND drawcards Mosquito Coast, having fended off challenges from fellow 2016 finalists Carl Renshaw, Lastlings, Ninajirachi and Tia Gostelow. 

"There are a bunch of one-word descriptors that could be interchangeably applied to Gretta Ray — smart, assured, catchy, unshakable are just a few," Unearthed music director Dave Ruby Howe said in a statement. "The truth is that they all go together when summing up Gretta Ray — this bold and exciting new talent who seems to win over everyone that comes into orbit of her music."

As part of her win, Ray will now be given the chance to fly to triple j studios and record, mix or master her music for airplay on both the main triple j station and its digital Unearthed sister network, in addition to nabbing a bit of one-on-one mentorship time with acclaimed singer-songwriter Meg Mac. 

Everyone at her school was clearly very happy for her, which is lovely, plus we are just massive fans of this dude on the far right, who does not seem quite sure as to how excited he is meant to be about this turn of events.

Give Drive a spin below, and head to the artist's Facebook page for more information.