When then-triple j breakfast hosts Alex Dyson and Matt Okine decided to surprise Melbourne singer-songwriter Gretta Ray with news she'd won a competition through the station’s Unearthed initiative, they did not head to her place of work. Nor did they go to her place of residence. Instead, they ended up at Princes Hill Secondary College, where Ray was a student. A prodigious singer and budding songwriter, Ray could not have predicted the ensuing years of national and international touring, millions of streams and a steady ascent to the top of Australian pop's echelon. Now barely in her 20s, a debut studio album awaits - but not before a quick Bar Bands debrief on her choral background, conquering festivals, genre code switches and meeting her heroes.

Gretta Ray's debut album Begin to Look Around arrives August 27 via Ballarat/EMI Music Australia.

Special thanks to Mariam Dib.
Recorded by David James Young and Gretta Louise Ray.
Produced and edited by David James Young.

Follow Gretta on Instagram: @grettaray
Follow Gretta on Twitter: @grettaray
Follow Gretta on Facebook: @grettaraymusic

This podcast was recorded on Wirundjeri and Tharawal land, and was edited on Tharawal land.