INTERVIEW: Teenage Joans release debut EP 'Piece Of Me'
Interview: Jett Tattersall
Indie rock duo Teenage Joans are one of the most buzzworthy acts in Australia right now. Formed in Adelaide in 2018 by Tahlia Borg and Cahli Blakers, last year they won Triple J Unearthed High with their single ‘Three Leaf Clover’.
Today they release their debut EP Taste Of Me as well as announcing their very first headline tour across Australia, which includes support slots with superstar Amy Shark.
We recently sat down with Tahlia and Cahli to chat about their music, career and upcoming live shows.
Before we get into Taste Of Me, which is glorious, can you talk me through the dawn of Teenage Joans?
Cahli: In 2018, I wrote and released a song under my name. And then I was asked to put it on Triple J Unearthed and support an Adelaide band The Hard Aches. I was like ‘I should get a band together for this.’ So I messaged our friend Nick, who works at a music community centre Northern Sound System and he got me on to Tahlia.
Tahlia: I was doing songwriting workshops and instrument lessons at Northern Sound System. Cahli sent me a friend request so I stalked her Instagram profile for a while and then she explained the situation in a message, that she was looking for a drummer. We had a session at my house, she was supposed to only stay for three hours but we hung out for the whole day.
Your music has been described as juicebox punk pop. I know punk pop and I know what juice boxes are, but can you elaborate on how the two come together?
Cahli: Basically we feel like we don't 100% fit into any specific genre because nowadays, every genre is accessible. every genre is mixing together. We describe as juicebox punk pop, because it’s pop punk, but a little bit more pop melodies and than punk. And the juice boxes are like the nature of the content. We try to write deep things and things that people find trouble explaining and dealing with and we try and make them a bit light hearted - what we call juicebox lyrics, That nostalgic feeling of having a juice box as a kid.
Your single 'Ice Cream’ is full of filthy guitars beats and a message about falling behind: ‘it’s no fun getting out run / I get a head start but I'm still placed last,’ Can you talk us through the inspiration of this track?
Cahli: We tried to write about feeling like you're putting in just as much effort as the people around you and maybe not seeing a payoff, whether it be at work or at school. Obviously everyone tries your best, but sometimes it feels like your best just isn't good enough.
That's kind of a through line for the whole EP, isn’t it? Everyone adores the coming of age story and you have a peach with ‘Something About Being 16’. And it's so interesting that you're using these songs to highlight that growing up is hard, but you just have to fight your way through it. There's so much more connection given you are straight out of high school. Do you feel that was missing when you were growing up, hearing these songs sung and written by young people, instead of songs written by men in their 30s?
Tahlia: Yeah, it's super important to have that essence. Because young women like me and Cahli, we can't really relate to older men in their 30s. A lot of people ask us who influences our music and obviously we have personal influences, but what it boils down to with our music is we just try to write what's not there. And what we would have wanted to hear and what we would want to listen to, if we were younger, or even now to be honest. We’re writing for us and then sharing it with everyone else.
One of your major bugbears has been being labelled a 'girl band'. Do you feel at all you are ever paraded around as a novelty: ‘look, look, we've got girls and they're playing alternative music!’
Cahli: Oh yeah, 100% I mean we're so lucky to have come at a time where the #MeToo movement has already happened and there are bands like Camp Cope, which are a huge influence for us. One of our songs, ’Girls Don't Cry’, is about being a woman in the music industry and just existing in the world really. One of the lyrics is 'he said we're his favourite girl band / Stop calling us that man / Just call us a band’
Tahlia: It’s just really irritating for us, and for all women, right? ‘They're a girl band’. Why can't we just be called a band? You're not called a male band. It's so weird.
Finally before I leave you, debut EP is out, your next project is some amazing live shows coming up. What track are you most looking forward to playing live?
Cahli: ‘Somebody about being 16’ is always fun. We have another new song called ‘Superglue’, which is very fun to play. We haven't recorded that or anything, but those two are my favourites.
Tahlia: ‘Wine’ is also one of my favourites, because there's like a really cool breakdown in that I love.
Cahli: We’re also really excited to play 'Ice Cream'. We haven't actually played it since it's been released, we're very excited. It’s just awesome to be able to go on tour with your best friend. It's awesome to be able to have that positive reinforcement from the other person and know that they believe in you, so it's something worth believing in.
Taste Of Me is out now. You can buy and stream here.
To keep up with all things Teenage Joans, you can follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Teenage Joans are touring across Australia from today. Tickets are available here.
Friday 28 May - Lions Arts Factory, Adelaide, SA *
Saturday 29 May - Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC (Early Session) *
Saturday 29 May - Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC (Late Session) *
Friday 4 June - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW (Early Session) *
Friday 4 June - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW (Late Session) *
Saturday 5 June - Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD *
Friday 11 June - Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle ^
Saturday 12 June - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney ^
Friday 18 June - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne ^
Saturday 19 June - Wrest Point Lawns, Hobart ^
Friday 25 June - Hota, Gold Coast ^
Saturday 26 June - Riverstage, Brisbane ^
Thursday 1 July - AEC Theatre, Adelaide ^
Saturday 3 July - RAC Arena, Perth ^
Saturday 17 July - The Brightside, Brisbane
Thursday 22 July - Cambridge Warehouse, Newcastle
Saturday 24 July - Crowbar, Sydney
Sunday 25 July - La La La’s, Wollongong
Friday 30 July - The Tote, Melbourne
Saturday 7 August - Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
* w/ The Bugs
^ w/ Amy Shark
