Sibling rap trio DNM have won the Grand finale of Curtin’s inaugural Talent 4 Tomorrow, receiving a prize worth $10,000 on Wednesday last week.
The talent competition saw seventeen finalists battling it out from 12-2pm at Atkinson Forum in front of a huge audience despite the howling winds and intermittent showers.
The winds were strong enough to blow over some umbrellas. Photo: Andrew Williams.
In a collaboration between the Curtin Student Guild and the university; gazebos, tents, and food stalls were put up to gather students and keep them fed and dry. The food on offer from the Guild were the event staples of popcorn, fairy floss, and a sausage sizzle.
The Guild gave away hundreds of sausage sizzles on the day. Photo: Andrew Williams.
Event organiser and director of service delivery at Curtin University Megan Jenkinson says the collaboration shows they can work together and believes it’s just the start of events like this, which she hopes will become reoccurring. However, she admits her concern about the weather.
“I was really scared because of the weather and the rain. I was worried students wouldn’t come but they did and stuck around sitting on the grass in front of the stage,” she says.
The crowd voted for their favourite performers through a QR code with the top three receiving $250, $500, and $1000 for the People’s Choice prize. Ortinel G came third, Hana second, and Lojie first.
Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne then presented the three brothers, Dan, Nate and Matt Curran with the University Choice prize, $10,000 in paid performances.
Nate, Dan, and Matt Curran, AKA DNM. Photo: Andrew Williams.
Professor Hayne thinks it’s amazing to have so many talented students when Curtin doesn’t even have a music school.
“We had no idea whether there would be talent at Curtin, but look what happened, look at all of this talent!” she says.
Fifth year medical student Dan Curran was one of the first students Professor Hayne met at a yarning circle on her first day of work in 2021.
“Harlene has been a real supporter of Indigenous peoples, our education, and our journey through Curtin so it’s a full circle to receive this award from her,” says Dan.
The brothers performed an original song called ‘Non Stop High’, which can be found on spotify under Matt’s solo artist name Diggy Dialekt, and incorporated a didgeridoo drawing from their heritage as Yamatji men.
The trio say they began writing and free-styling rap and hip hop before they were teenagers, with their heritage playing an important role in how they shape their music.
“Our great pop was part of the stolen generation north of Geraldton, and we’re also Indigenous on our father’s side from the eastern states,” says Dan.
He continues, “So, we really value supporting Indigenous youth through music and STEM education and encouraging aboriginal youth to find the confidence to engage in higher education, music, or any passion they have.”
With Nate, an occupational therapy student, adding, “Since being at uni we have noticed societal barriers, and we are in a unique position to identify them and so some of our content is aimed towards that.”
The $10,000 prize DNM won will be in the form of paid performances opportunities at the university’s graduation ceremonies, which Talent 4 Tomorrow organiser Megan Jenkinson says have always been outsourced instead of using talent at Curtin.
“We have so many events at Curtin, and we outsource all out talent to people outside of Curtin, so we wanted to unearth Curtin’s own talent,” she says.