If Triple J’s Hottest 100 looked ahead, these rising stars would be at the top

When Triple J dropped its Hottest 100: Australian Songs of All Time, the group chat went off. The Veronicas at #3? Unexpected. Some glaring omissions? Absolutely. It’s all part of the fun — the countdown sparks the kind of passionate debates that make Aussie music culture what it is.

But while we love a nostalgia trip, we couldn’t help noticing something missing: a nod to the future of Australian music. And trust us, the future is already making noise.

Image above: Mayari

The next wave is already here

At Collarts, we get a front-row seat to tomorrow’s sound. Every day, our students and alumni are producing, performing, and experimenting with music that feels fresh, fearless, and uniquely Australian.

Here are just a few Collarts artists worth turning up for:

• Mayari - electronic music to connect to spirit, influenced by Filipino culture

• Prizefight - throwing down leftfield bass bangers, Prizefight is a rising star of the underground dance scene

• Jaypan - Thai Electro Funk producer using synthesizers and drum machines to create "a theatre of emotion" and "tight, melodic, and playful electro beats"

• Zathaalgor - blends a cool and eclectic range of futuristic, starkly digital aesthetics

• Ijale - blends Afrocentric and western sounds, with Hip-Hop, Electronic, and Dance genres

• Hiraku - Japanese-English recording artist, music producer & illustrator

And our educators aren’t just teaching, they’re releasing their own incredible work:

• B.C. Slumber - specialises in electronic music and the implementation of vintage synthesisers and drum machines into contemporary production

• Warm Natural - veering between old school house vibes, jaunty lofi swingers, and reverb drenched progressive house lushness

Image above: Prizefight and Trustee

Australian music is alive, evolving and ready for what’s next. The Hottest 100 shines a light on where we’ve been. Collarts artists are showing where we’re going.

Keen to dive into the world of music?

Whether you’re mixing beats, writing hooks, or planning to tear up the stage, our Music degrees are hands-on, industry-led, and built for the real world.

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