18-Year-Old Producer Kuren Takes Out 2016 Triple J Unearthed NIMA Comp

Emergent Aussie musician Kuren — blossoming out of the bustling New South Wales township of Hillston — has been named as this year's winner of the annual triple j Unearthed NIMAs Competition, putting the spotlight on the nation's best and brightest up-and-coming Indigenous musicians.

Better known to his mum as Curtis Kennedy, the Wiradjuri creative recently relocated to Sydney to pursue music as a career, and it's a move that's been paying big dividends to the prodigious songwriter; he turned heads as part of the recent Unearthed High competition and was named as one of the digital station's 10 Artists To Watch for 2016.

That nascent notoriety has served him in good stead, steering him through the release of an acclaimed debut EP and picking up support spots for the likes of Allday, Sophie Lowe and Banks on the way to being named as this year's Unearthed NIMAs champion. Recent single and second-EP cut Home (ft. New York up-and-comer Ben Alessi) has only further added to the considerable buzz swirling around the young producer, but he's not letting the success go to his head, describing himself on social media as "humbled" by the NIMAs decision. "I honestly can't thank you all enough for the amazing support you've all been giving me on this record and tour," he wrote.

Kuren's currently out on tour, staring down the second half of his first-ever headline national run; his next stop is Carmens, in Miranda, tomorrow night (9 July), with additional shows lined up at The Met, Brisbane, on Friday 15 July, and Mondo, in Perth, where he ends his six-date run on Friday 22 July.

Give Home a spin below, and head to Kuren's Facebook page for more information about his upcoming movements and projects.