Trials (musician)
Trials | |
|---|---|
 Trials working on an SSL console at Wundenberg Studios in Adelaide (2022) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Daniel Hendle Rankine Adelaide, Australia |
| Origin | South Australia |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2000-present |
| Label | Universal Records | Island Records |
| Member of | A.B. Original |
| Formerly of | Funkoars |
| Website | producedbytrials.com.au |
Daniel Hendle Rankine, known professionally as Trials, is an Aboriginal Australian rapper, songwriter, record producer, artist, and writer. Hailing from Adelaide, South Australia, his first band was Funkoars in 1999. Trials' work includes collaborations, co-writes, and production of tracks with a range of artists and genres, including Gurrumul, Archie Roach, DZ Deathrays, and Paul Kelly. In particular, he has worked extensively with hip hop artist Briggs, forming half of the duo A.B. Original from around 2016. In 2020, Trials signed to Island Records Australia and Universal Music Australia. His first solo album, released in May 2026, is hendle.
Trials also teaches at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music at Adelaide University, paints, and is writing an autobiography.
Early life and education
[edit]Daniel Hendle Rankine[1] was born to a Welsh mother and Ngarrindjeri father.[2][3] His paternal ancestors are from Raukkan, an Aboriginal community at the end of the Murray River near Adelaide,[2] and his middle name is that of his paternal grandfather.[1]
His father was abusive, and his mother was forced to flee the home with her son.[1] His father served a prison sentence,[2] and his parents split up when he was three years old. Trials moved to the south of Wales with his mother, where he experienced racism at school.[4][1][2] His mother was a social worker, as was his stepfather, who is also Black.[2] He returned to Australia when he was 12,[5] and was shocked to find racist attitudes prevailing in Australia too.[2]
In the late 1990s, at the age of 16, Rankine was involved in a car accident along with his brothers near their home in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. went through the windscreen of the car and broke his arms. The driver of the other car was speeding and at fault, and gave Trials $5,000. Rankine used the money to buy Technics 1200s turntables, a computer and a microphone, which started him on his musical career path as Trials.[6]
Career
[edit]Making music
[edit]In 1999,[7] Trials began his musical career at 16 with Adam Baker (Sesta) and Matt Honson (Hons), collectively known as Funkoars.[8] DJ Daniel Yates (a.k.a. Reflux), was also a band member.[7] They released their debut album Who's Your Step Daddy in 2003.[9] The group has been on hiatus since 2016.
In the early 2000s, Trials met rapper Briggs at a Funkoars gig at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne.[10] During the recording of the Golden Era Mixtape (2011-2013), a label the pair were signed to individually at the time, Trials began working on demos with his Briggs that would eventually become the foundations of A.B. Original in 2016.[11] Briggs moved into Trials' house and they went on to form acclaimed hip-hop group A.B. Original.[12] A.B Original received an APRA Award in 2018 for Songwriter of the Year.[13]
Trials' work includes collaborations, co-writes, and production of tracks with a range of artists and genres, including Drapht, Gurrumul, Archie Roach, Hilltop Hoods, Pete Murray, Seth Sentry, Illy, DZ Deathrays, Paul Kelly, Thelma Plum, Mo'Ju, and Dune Rats.[14][15]
Trials released his first solo song, "I'm a f**king wreck" in 2020.[3] The song's lyrics are self-deprecating confessional thoughts.[16] The track is a collaboration with US rapper, Daniyel.[17] Daniyel and Trials first worked together collaborating on Daniyel's debut album.[18] In July 2020, Trials signed to Island Records Australia and Universal Music Australia to release his debut solo album.[13]
He has produced and composed music for film and television, including programs Cleverman, Looky Looky – Here Comes Cooky, Cargo (Netflix), and The Warriors.[14] His music has also appeared in advertisements for the MMA, NBL and NBA, as well as fighting and surfing documentaries.[5]
He contributed to Yurikurringa Ngadluku Paltirna: Listen to Our Songs!, a book of songs in the Kaurna language published in 2025 by the University of Adelaide and various partners.[19]
In May 2026, Trials released his debut solo album, hendle, comprising 10 tracks of "hip hop juxtaposed a bouncy beat",[15] which includes autobiographical elements. The songs tell of the abuse he experienced as a child, his relationship to religion ("or lack thereof"), and his path to sobriety.[1] His son, daughter, and wife all contributed to the album.[1] The album, which has an overarching theme of overcoming adversity and developing resilience,[1] was preceded by a string of double singles: "You could never hate me like i do / What's the colour of love?" released 12 February 2026, "Whistle while i walk / Pollywaffle" on 20 March 2026, and "Be an adult (have a breakdown) / ...then i got dressed" on 10 April 2026.[citation needed] "Pollywaffle" does not refer to the Poly Waffle, but rather to boring small talk.[1]
CASM
[edit]In June 2026, Trials started mentoring students at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) at Adelaide University.[20] He is the first Indigenous producer at CASM in 15 years.[15] During the period of his appointment, he will continue to contribute to the Kaurna Songbook, along with community projects in prisons and other places.[20]
Other activities
[edit]Trials also paints (as of May 2026[update], he had produced a series of 20 acrylic paintings), and has been writing an autobiography.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Trials has struggled with addiction in the past, but became sober and takes his responsibilities as a father seriously. He has a son and a daughter.[1]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [21] | ||
| Cargo (Original Soundtrack) |
|
— |
| Hendle |
|
24 |
EPs
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Mr Trials: For the Ladies[22] |
|
Awards and nominations
[edit]He has won four ARIA Awards and has been accredited with two double-platinum albums and ten gold albums for his work as a rapper, composer, songwriter, and producer.[16]
APRA Music Awards
[edit]The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Adam Briggs / Daniel Rankine | Songwriter of the Year | Won | [23] |
| 2019 | "Blaccout" (Adam Briggs / Daniel Rankine) | Song of the Year | Shortlisted | [24] |
ARIA Music Awards
[edit]The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Cargo | Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album | Nominated | [25] |
National Indigenous Music Awards
[edit]The National Indigenous Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music. The award ceremony commenced in 2004. Electric Fields have won one award from four nominations.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hendle | Album of the Year | Nominated | [26] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Newstead, Al (30 May 2026). "How Trials grew up, got sober and confronted his past on debut solo album Hendle". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Talk, Shorthand-Real. "Trials". Shorthand. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- 1 2 Davies, Hayden. "Aus hip-hop pioneer trials steps out with his debut solo single, i'm a fkn wreck". PILERATS. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ↑ DJ Sanchez, Sam (28 June 2016). "Indigenous Australian MC/Producer Trials Is Breaking Barriers Down Under - The Source". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- 1 2 Ward, Mat (30 June 2015). "Funkoars super-producer Trials instils Black pride | Green Left". www.greenleft.org.au. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ↑ Condon, Dan (5 July 2022). "The story of Trials". Double J. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- 1 2 Moskovitch, Greg (4 March 2014). "Funkoars: "There's A Little More Method To The Madness This Time"". Music Feeds. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ↑ Kingsmill, Kate (29 March 2012), "Funkoars won't pull punches", Sydney Morning Herald
- ↑ Burazin, Kayla (1 April 2015). "The Funkoars return in fine form on Below Average". Happy Mag. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ↑ Byron, Tim (24 November 2016). "A.B. Original: 'We wrote the hardest shit we could write, and it's being supported'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ↑ Crawford, Anwen (July 2016), "Smart black man with a plan", The Monthly
- ↑ Patel, Sachin (8 December 2016). "A.B. Original Take the Power Back". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- 1 2 Reid, Poppy (21 July 2020). "Trials signs to Island Records Aus, announces new music". The Music Network. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- 1 2 Gallagher, Alex (21 July 2020). "Trials working on debut EP after signing to Island Records". NME. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 Snelling, Helena (11 June 2026). "New gig for Adelaide artist behind some of Australia's biggest bands". InDaily. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
- 1 2 Streader, Kate (16 October 2020). "Trials makes his solo debut with new single, 'i'm a fucking wreck'". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ↑ Fuamoli, Sose (16 October 2020). "First Spin: trials teams up with U.S. rapper Daniyel to launch solo project". triple j. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ↑ Jenke, Tyler (15 October 2020). "Song You Need to Know: trials, 'i'm a fucking wreck'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ↑ "The Kaurna Songbook: Yurikurringa Ngadluku Paltirna (FREE PDF Download)". Kaurna Warra. Archived from the original on 22 November 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Hip hop icon Trials joins CASM to mentor Aboriginal artists". Adelaide University. 5 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
- ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ↑ "Mr. Trials - For The Ladies". Discogs. |
- ↑ "Songwriter of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ↑ "APRA Reveals 2019 Song of the Year Shortlist". Music Feeds. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ↑ ARIA Award previous winners. "History Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ↑ "Baker Boy Dominates 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards Nominations". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 July 2026. Retrieved 11 July 2026.