For some teenage boys in Canberra, watching a 1990s music film at a sleepover marked the beginning of something special - an unorthodox rock band born from friendship and rebellion. In 2015, four 15-year-old friends formed Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers after deciding they wanted to challenge the norms, inspired by a Richard Linklater film that had them watching punk music videos.
Their name was initially meant as a joke, but it stuck. At school functions, adults assumed they were in their early twenties despite being just 16 or 17. As the band's popularity grew, so did the maturity of its members. Guitarist Scarlett McKahey recalled, "We'd have our little school backpacks, then go to a pub to play a show – when you look back now it was really strange." The group played punk rock with brio and were soon booking venues they weren't old enough to enter on their own.
Despite the initial excitement, the band members felt impostor syndrome as crowds grew. During their 2018 performance at Brisbane's Bigsound festival, lead singer Anna Ryan admitted, "I was like, what are they lining up for? Who is playing after us?" This lack of confidence stemmed from the fact that huge fans had come to see them play.
To counter these insecurities and prove themselves, the band members created a humorous response – an EP called Pretty Good for a Girl Band. The music included hits like "Girl Sports," inspired by a male dentist's sexist comment about women sticking to sports. The title was ironic, but ironically, people praised them as being good for a girl band.
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers gained momentum with their debut album I Love You in 2023. The group won best breakthrough artist at the Aria awards for Salt and Ahhhh!, showcasing catchy songs with polished production. As they toured with Foo Fighters on their Australian tour, the band members were thrilled to be playing alongside a legend.
However, when asked if they ever wish they had written "Reptilia" by the Strokes, guitarist Scarlett McKahey admitted that the song has one of the best guitar and bass solos ever recorded. Despite this admiration, the group took comfort in their own unique sound.
The band members' friendships have been a crucial element of their success. Drummer Neve van Boxsel spoke up for the first time during an interview when asked about their songs to live by, joking that she was driving and couldn't contribute. The conversation highlighted the band's playful camaraderie.
To sum it up, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers have become one of Australia's most exciting acts, proving themselves as talented musicians despite initial insecurities. Their debut album Glory showcases a grander, darker sound with catchy hooks, reflecting their passion for music. As they continue to grow as artists and friends, their dedication to sticking it to The Man remains unwavering.
Their name was initially meant as a joke, but it stuck. At school functions, adults assumed they were in their early twenties despite being just 16 or 17. As the band's popularity grew, so did the maturity of its members. Guitarist Scarlett McKahey recalled, "We'd have our little school backpacks, then go to a pub to play a show – when you look back now it was really strange." The group played punk rock with brio and were soon booking venues they weren't old enough to enter on their own.
Despite the initial excitement, the band members felt impostor syndrome as crowds grew. During their 2018 performance at Brisbane's Bigsound festival, lead singer Anna Ryan admitted, "I was like, what are they lining up for? Who is playing after us?" This lack of confidence stemmed from the fact that huge fans had come to see them play.
To counter these insecurities and prove themselves, the band members created a humorous response – an EP called Pretty Good for a Girl Band. The music included hits like "Girl Sports," inspired by a male dentist's sexist comment about women sticking to sports. The title was ironic, but ironically, people praised them as being good for a girl band.
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers gained momentum with their debut album I Love You in 2023. The group won best breakthrough artist at the Aria awards for Salt and Ahhhh!, showcasing catchy songs with polished production. As they toured with Foo Fighters on their Australian tour, the band members were thrilled to be playing alongside a legend.
However, when asked if they ever wish they had written "Reptilia" by the Strokes, guitarist Scarlett McKahey admitted that the song has one of the best guitar and bass solos ever recorded. Despite this admiration, the group took comfort in their own unique sound.
The band members' friendships have been a crucial element of their success. Drummer Neve van Boxsel spoke up for the first time during an interview when asked about their songs to live by, joking that she was driving and couldn't contribute. The conversation highlighted the band's playful camaraderie.
To sum it up, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers have become one of Australia's most exciting acts, proving themselves as talented musicians despite initial insecurities. Their debut album Glory showcases a grander, darker sound with catchy hooks, reflecting their passion for music. As they continue to grow as artists and friends, their dedication to sticking it to The Man remains unwavering.
! I mean, who wouldn't want to start a rock band with your mates just because of a 90s film? Their journey from awkward teens playing in pubs to Aria award winners is so inspiring. And can we talk about how they've owned their "girl band" label and turned it into a badge of honor? 
I'm also loving how they're still all about that friendship vibe, with Neve cracking jokes even on camera 
. Their music is just getting better and better too - that debut album was fire 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to play alongside Foo Fighters? 
It's awesome to see them staying true to themselves and rocking out against the norms 
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i love how they created this EP called "Pretty Good for a Girl Band" as a joke, but ended up owning it 
and now they're one of the most exciting acts in Australia 
kudos to them for sticking together as friends and never giving up on their music 
. I mean, these four teens from Canberra just wanted to challenge the norms by watching punk music vids and forming a band, but what they created was something truly special – a unique sound that spoke to their generation's desire for freedom and self-expression.
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they're like real life heroes, but instead of saving the world, they're rocking out & proving ppl wrong! 
as a lurker, it's great 2 see bands who aren't afraid 2 take risks & be themselves. Scarlett McKahey's comments about "reptilia" had me dying lol, i'm like same girl, same problems 
They're actually pretty cool 
. Their attitude towards self-doubt is relatable, especially when they came up with that funny EP title 
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. I mean, who tries to fit into a predetermined mold just because society says so? Not these guys! They took the leap, formed their own band, and rocked on despite feeling like impostors 
. The EP "Pretty Good for a Girl Band" is like the ultimate lesson in self-love and not taking yourself too seriously 
. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good dose of sass and humor with their music? 
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. And that joke about their name being meant as a prank? Please, it was always meant to be more than that. They wanted attention, and boy did they get it... and now they're just parroting the same old indie rock clichés. Their whole " sticking it to The Man" vibe is just a cover for the fact that they're getting rich off our naivety 
. Mark my words, this band's biggest hit was just a marketing ploy to get us to buy their overpriced merch...
. I think their approach to creating an EP like Pretty Good for a Girl Band was genius - it showed that even when you're feeling imposter syndrome, you can use humor to prove people wrong 
. Here's to many more years of rockin' out with these talented Aussies 
. Their music is like a refreshing breath of air, blending catchy hooks with their own unique sound 
. The fact that Neve van Boxsel joked about not being able to contribute to song selection during an interview had me laughing out loud 
. It's clear that these four musicians have formed a bond that goes beyond just making music together - it's about creating a community that supports and uplifts each other 
.
. Their music may not be for everyone, but it's authentic and true to who they are as artists 
. As a fan, it's exhilarating to see them continue to grow and evolve as musicians, always pushing the boundaries of what's possible with their unique sound 
I mean, I love their music and all, but can we please focus on the fact that they're talented musicians who write catchy songs instead of perpetuating this silly stereotype. 
? The more I read about them, the more I wanna jam out to their sick tunes 