So this is what it means to be all grown up…
Doodles in your daily planer, a pen leak in your zoom meeting, ruler drumsticks at grey desktops. When did life get so dull? You swear you used to be fun.
Australian band Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers know all about this rude awakening called adulthood, the daunting realisation that you’re on you’re own and all your friends live far away.There’s food in the fridge going out of date and you’ve got bills to pay, but who’s to say you’re no fun anymore?
Made up of Anna Ryan (guitar and vocals), Scarlett McKahey (guitar), Jaida Stephenson (bass) and Neve van Boxsel (drums) the band are setting the tone for new wave indie pop. Formed during a sleepover when they were all in their mid teens back in 2015 in which the teen friends were watching Richard Linklater’s School of Rock. Their song I Used To Be Fun is an allegory of growing up.
From their latest album I LOVE YOU, I Used To Be Fun utilises jagged vocals and shredded guitar riffs the band dissect the notion of ageing, stripping back the once comforting embrace of childhood for the island of independence only to realise , the choices and decisions we make now impact our own lives and shape our future. Embracing adulthood means embracing the uncertainties and complexities that come with it, as we learn to navigate the intricacies of relationships, career paths, and personal growth. It is a time of transformation, self-reflection, and personal growth, where we come to understand that being an adult is not merely about age, but about taking ownership of our lives, embracing our passions, and charting our own course in this vast and ever-evolving world.
Up for almost anything now
Everything’s too much
Got one foot out the door I guess this is growing up
No excuses or reasons for why I couldn’t come
Should I leave the lights on?“
With an electrifying display of musical prowess and unparalleled harmonies, this talented band captivates audiences with their unique blend of self-deprecating humor and heartfelt songwriting. Their evolved sound has expanded the boundaries of their music, showcasing a newfound confidence that resonates throughout their diverse repertoire.
Their duet with The Grogans on track ‘Salt’ a sound makes strength out of sand after a situation left a soul stranded, scrabbling for something to keep them in place, so beautiful and raw, Salt has depths flooded with both direction and desperation a powerful allegory of building yourself up again, a testament to resilience whilst the title track I ❤ You aches over fixation and unrequited love and the subsequent regret navigated in Never Saw It Coming. Band dynamics, personal relationships and camaraderie all feature strongly, demonstrating that through union, good humour and self awareness can overcome adversity’, that a voice that is heard becomes the most powerful weapon against the disbelievers, sometimes to heal our wounds is to show them.
This follows on from the vulnerable elements effortlessly explored their rambunctiously passionate and poignant debut EP Pretty Good For A Girl Band. It lays the foundations for who they are as a band and what they stand for, challenging any preconceived perceptions this band creates their own prophecy.
Escaping the boundaries of gender identity, they are simply the defining sound of the new era of the music industry, a witty two fingers to those that have denied them the voice to their own musical prowess, their auditory abilities simply because who they are does not fit with predetermined ideals.Despite these prejudicial conceptions the EP is not filled with bitter bangers instead using the opportunity to hold up a mirror to the naysayers, trailblazing the way for a constructive conversation that challenges these archaic beliefs that is holding the industry back.
One of my favourite tracks on this EP the infectious ‘Miss Your Birthday’. This anthem is not just about catchy beats and addictive melodies, it’s a powerful reminder of finding strength when you feel powerless. With their unbreakable bond, undeniable passion, and raw talent, this band is about to blow your mind! Despite the energetic elevation of the track it covers deep distress felt by those facing independence and isolation for the first time, evocative of the lockdowns of 2020 as well as the daunting planet of adulthood.
‘I need a break from living near the freeway
All the high beams keep me up too late
Don’t take this the wrong way it’s not to do with you but I’m running out of clothes and I need a clean bathroom
Need a break from living out a suitcase‘
Guitarist Scarlett McKahey explained that it was a haomge to homesickness, the fine edge between ‘wanting to be back at your Mum’s cosy house without abandoning your new ‘grown up’ life. “. Sometimes to go home does not mean to give in, it allows you to get back to your roots so you can grow again.
Navigating adulthood often feels like being trapped in an intricate escape room, where the clues are written in a language you struggle to decipher. Despite having a place to call your own, you find yourself living out of a suitcase in your childhood bedroom, longing for the comfort of your mother’s cooking. Your housemates, who often seem to be in a perpetual state of chaos, add to the overwhelming journey of adulthood. Although you may have convinced yourself that you’re ready to be a grown-up, deep down, you realize that you’re still a child trapped in a 20’s something’s body, trying to make sense of it all. It can be quite overwhelming at times, so sometimes you have to miss someone’s birthday, if only you could miss your own.
Since 2015 the band has built up quite a repertoire full of soul wrenching ballads, energetic anthems and choral inspired pop classics. Supporting Foo Fighters in Melbourne in December they are on to BIG things and should be on your playlist, especially if you’re not quite ready to grow up yet and you’re definitely still fun…
Evolve Music 