In recent times, Albion Park teenage musician Aodhan has released several original songs, shared the stage with some major acts, and even inked a management deal.
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"It's been pretty crazy, the past half a year or so," he said.
Releasing his first self-produced singles in 2019, the 15-year-old Dharawal singer/songwriter (real name Aidan Whitehall) won JJJ's Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative with his song When Your Eyes Speak.
As part of his prize, he won a mentoring day at school with ARIA Award winning singer/songwriter Josh Pyke.
Among his other achievements, the Albion Park High year 10 student shared the stage with Jessica Mauboy, Mojo Juju and Archie Roach at Deadly Hearts, a celebration of Australian indigenous music which took place on the Gold Coast in December.
The Footstomp Music and Kadence Group were impressed by his performance and strength of his songwriting, and signed him to their management roster.
"Aodhan is an effortlessly gifted songwriter and we are stoked to be on the team to closely watch this gift develop," Footstomp Music director Graham Ashton said.
Footstomp Music and Kadence Group's current management roster includes Tia Gostelow, Busby Marou and Colin Lillie.
Whitehall said while being indigenous wasn't really a direct influence on his music, he was "definitely proud" of his heritage.
Whitehall said he had another Deadly Hearts show in Adelaide later in the year, alongside the likes of Thelma Plum and Baker Boy.
He said it was "scary, but exciting" to have achieved so much in short order, and while still in his teens.
However, Whitehall said he was "writing heaps at the moment".
"I record everything and produce everything myself most of the time," he said.
"I've released three original tracks, and I took one of my Dad's songs. He's a musician as well.
"It's (his music) kind of a diverse palette. I really want to do more indie-pop/rock, and I also have this indie acoustic thing going on as well."
The teenager said he wanted to continue making music and touring outside of school.
"I've still got a couple of years left of school, so it's not going to be too easy to balance school and music," he said.
"I've got other important things to do apart from music.
"(After school) I was thinking maybe I'd stop touring after a while, just do production as a job, and still make my own music from home."
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
