Triple j unearthed high nod for old scholar’s band

A band that counts a Blackfriars old scholar among its members has landed itself a spot as one of five finalists in a high-profile national competition

Kevin Mach (BPS’21), who was Blackfriars’ Music Captain in 2021, is part of Adelaide four-piece Sunsick Daisy.

The band, with its single Someone Like You, is now in the running to be named Triple J Unearthed High champion.

Sunsick Daisy – described as a shoegaze/dream pop band – formed in 2021 as part of the Autumn Jams! Program, run by the City of Prospect, Music SA and Headspace Adelaide.

The Unearthed High nod was “totally unexpected” and caps off what Kevin says has been a “crazy” 12 months.

In that time, they have performed with the likes of Adelaide-based duo TOWNS and 2020 Unearthed High winners Teenage Joans.

“If you had told me a year ago that things were going to turn out like this, I would have been in disbelief,” Kevin says.

“It’s been crazy to see that people want to come out and see us.”

He says being part of the music program at Blackfriars helped prepare him for his post-school musical life.

“In terms of being able to work together and play with people, they’ve been the main things,” he says.

Kevin’s musical journey began in primary school, aged about nine, when he started playing the piano.

He came to Blackfriars as a general music student, but teacher Libby Hunter immediately saw his potential and suggested he move to the specialist music program.

_{Kevin Mach, third from left, during his final year at Blackfriars.}

Sunsick Daisy’s short-term focus is recording more songs and, with luck, touring the country.

The national Unearthed High competition, which has run for the past 14 years, has launched the musical careers of artists and bands including The Kid Laroi, Genesis Owusu, Hockey Dad and Montaigne.

Triple J Unearthed Music Director Dave Ruby Howe says this year’s Unearthed High acts include “ready-made stars that we’ll no doubt see on festival stages and hear on the radio in the very near future”.

“They’ve all got the ambition, abilities and – most importantly – the great songs to make that happen,” he says.

The Unearthed High winner is due to be announced later this week.