Trials (musician) facts for kids

Trials working on an SSL console at Wundenberg Studios in Adelaide, South Australia

Daniel Hendle Rankine (born 24 May 1983), known as Trials, is a talented rapper, songwriter, and music producer. He comes from Adelaide, South Australia, and is a proud Ngarrindjeri man. In 2020, he signed with Island Records Australia and Universal Music Australia to release his first solo album.

Trials' family comes from Raukkan, an Aboriginal community. It is located at the end of the Murray River, close to Adelaide.

He has won four ARIA Awards. His work as a rapper, composer, songwriter, and producer has earned him two double-platinum albums and ten gold albums.

Trials has worked with many different artists. These include Drapht, Gurrumul, Archie Roach, Hilltop Hoods, Pete Murray, Seth Sentry, Illy, DZ Deathrays, Paul Kelly, Thelma Plum, Mo'Ju, and Dune Rats.

Trials' Early Life

Trials was born to a Welsh mother and a Ngarrindjeri father.

When he was three years old, his parents separated. He then moved to the south of Wales with his mother. During his time there, he experienced racism as a Black child in a mostly white classroom.

He returned to Australia when he was 12 years old.

In the late 1990s, when Trials was 16, he was in a car accident. This happened with his brothers near their home in Adelaide. Trials went through the car's windscreen and broke his arms. The driver of the other car was at fault for speeding. This driver gave Trials $5,000. Trials used this money to buy Technics 1200s turntables, a computer, and a microphone. This is how he started his journey in music.

Trials' Music Career

Trials began his music career at age 16. He formed a hip-hop group called Funkoars with Adam Baker (Sesta) and Matt Honson (Hons). Even though they are still friends, the group stopped performing and making music in 2014.

Later, Trials started working on songs with his friend Briggs. These songs became the start of the group A.B. Original.

In 2020, Trials released his first solo song, 'I'm a f**king wreck'. The song is about his own thoughts and feelings. He worked with US rapper Daniyel on this track. They had first worked together on Daniyel's first album.

Trials has also created music for movies and TV shows. These include Cleverman, Looky Looky – Here Comes Cooky, Cargo (Netflix), and The Warriors.

His music has also been used in advertisements. You might have heard it in ads for MMA, the NBL, and the NBA. It has also been featured in fighting and surfing documentaries.

Funkoars Group

In 1999, Trials helped create the Adelaide hip-hop group Funkoars. He formed it with MCs Adam Baker and Matthew Honson. DJ Daniel Yates (Reflux) was also an early member.

Their first album, Who's Your Step Daddy, was released in 2003.

A.B. Original Group

In the early 2000s, Trials met rapper Briggs at a Funkoars concert in Melbourne. Soon after, Briggs moved into Trials' house. They then formed the well-known hip-hop group A.B. Original.

A.B. Original won an APRA Award in 2018. They were honored as Songwriter Of The Year.

Music Releases

EPs

Albums

Awards and Nominations

APRA Music Awards

The APRA Awards are given out every year since 1982. They celebrate the best composers and songwriters in Australia.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards that recognize great music in Australia. They started in 1987.

See Also

• A.B. Original
• Funkoars