Teenage Dads

Australian indie rock band from Victoria
  • Indie rock
  • psychedelic pop
Years active2015–presentLabelsChuggMembers
  • Jordan Finlay
  • Connor McLaughlin
  • Vincent Kinna
  • Angus Christie
Past membersReece PellowWebsiteteenagedadsofficial.com

Teenage Dads are an Australian indie rock band formed in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria in 2015. The group consists of Jordan Finlay (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Connor McLaughlin (guitar), Vincent Kinna (drums) and Angus Christie (bass guitar). Since 2021, they have been signed to Chugg.

The band has released one studio album, Potpourri Lake (2018), and four EPs, most recently Midnight Driving (2023), which debuted at number 28 on the ARIA Charts. At the 2023 ARIA Awards, Teenage Dads won the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist Award.

History

Teenage Dads was formed by self-taught musicians Jordan Finlay and Connor McLaughlin in Mount Eliza, Victoria in 2015, with Angus Christie and Vincent Kinna joining the band later.[1][2] Meeting in their final years of high school, they played their first show in 2017.[3][4]

In September 2017, they released their five-track debut EP Wett Weather.[5] Their debut studio album, Potpourri Lake, was released on 26 October 2018.[6] It is described by the band as "mixed bag of sorts", with it "not sticking to genre clichés".[3] "Sunburnt", the third single from the album, was the first from the band to receive airplay on Triple J.[5][7] In May 2019, the band released their second EP, Red.[8]

The band signed with Chugg Music in April 2021.[9] Three singles were released in anticipation for the band's third EP – "Thank You for the Honey, Honey" (September 2020) and "Cheerleader" (July 2021)[10] – "Piano Girl" was released alongside the full record, Club Echo, in November.[11] They cited the Strokes and Phoenix as influences for the record, which thematically "centres around the last five years of our lives as a band".[12]

In 2022, the band distributed three singles promoting their upcoming project. "Exit Sign" was released in April, described by Ellie Robinson of NME as featuring "bright, jangly lead guitars and clicky drums with heartfelt, warmly sung vocal runs and a soulful, buzzing bassline".[13] "Teddy" and "Hey, Diego!" followed in August and November respectively.[14][15] In February 2023, the band announced the forthcoming release of Midnight Driving.[16] Upon release, the band said: "The EP is about perspective. How things look from one point of view, and how they can change over time from another outlook. The songs feel like diary entries, documented internally, like conversations you have with yourself when you go midnight driving. A constant, internal form of therapy almost."[17]

Band members

Current members

  • Jordan Finlay – lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar
  • Vincent Kinna – drums, backing vocals
  • Connor McLaughlin – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Angus Christie – bass guitar, backing vocals

Former members

  • Reece Pellow – lead guitar[1][18]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with details shown
Title Details
Potpourri Lake
  • Released: 26 October 2018[19]
  • Label: Teenage Dads
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

List of EPs, with details shown
Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[20]
Wett Weather
  • Released: 11 September 2017[18]
  • Label: Teenage Dads
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 —
Red
  • Released: 15 May 2019[21]
  • Label: Teenage Dads
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 —
Club Echo
  • Released: 5 November 2021[22]
  • Label: Chugg (CHUGG030)
  • Formats: LP, digital download, streaming
 —
Midnight Driving
  • Released: 3 March 2023[16]
  • Label: Chugg (CHUGG033)
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 28

Singles

List of singles, with release year and album shown
Title Year Album
"Devil's Jam" 2018
Potpourri Lake
"Fool"
"Sunburnt"
"Message in the Sand" 2019
Red
"Parking Ticket"
"Vile Crocodile" Non-album singles
"Pocket Money"
"Adrenaline Rush" 2020
"Thank You for the Honey, Honey"[23]
Club Echo
"Cheerleader"[23] 2021
"Piano Girl"[24]
"Exit Sign"[25] 2022
Midnight Driving
"Teddy"[26]
"Hey, Diego!"[26]
"Video Killed the Radio Star" (Like a Version)[27] 2023 Non-album single
"Midnight Driving"[28]
Midnight Driving
"Speedracer"[29] TBA
"I Like It"[30]
"Tale of a Man"[31]
"Weaponz"[32] 2024

Tours

  • Ready Teddy Go! Tour, 2022[33]
  • Exit Sign Tour, 2022[34]
  • Midnight Driving Tour, 2023[35]
  • Australia & New Zealand tour, 2023[36]
  • Majordomo Australia & New Zealand Tour, 2024[32]

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Midnight Driving Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist Won [37][38]

Rolling Stone Australia Awards

The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 Teenage Dads Best New Artist Nominated
2024 Midnight Driving Best Record Nominated [39]

References

  1. ^ a b "Teenage Dads - The Figurative Teenage Dads". Eat Your Water. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Teenage Dads hitting all the right notes". Mornington Peninsula Magazine. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Exclusive: Stream Potpourri Lake, the debut album from likeable lads, Teenage Dads". Pilerats. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  4. ^ Brandle, Lars (7 September 2022). "Andrew Stone Talks Teenage Dads (EXCLUSIVE)". The Music Network. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b Sears, Kate (30 March 2019). "These cool Dads are hot stuff". Mornington Peninsula Magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Teenage Dads take us on a cosmic journey with 'Potpourri Lake'". Beat Magazine. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  7. ^ Webber, Harry (26 September 2018). "Watch Teenage Dads' Film Clip For 'Sunburnt' And Try Not To Smile". Life Without Andy. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  8. ^ Saunders, Marjie (24 April 2022). "Teenage Dads Up Beat Pop Rock at Hordern Pavilion". MoshCam. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  9. ^ Kelly, Vivienne (13 April 2021). "Chugg Music signs Melbourne band Teenage Dads". The Music Network. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  10. ^ Robinson, Ellie (30 July 2021). "Teenage Dads share summery new single 'Cheerleader'". NME. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  11. ^ Bleach, Thomas (5 November 2021). "INTERVIEW: Teenage Dads". ThomasBleach. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  12. ^ Robinson, Ellie (5 November 2021). "Teenage Dads share new EP 'Club Echo', "a coming-of-age record, but with a different perspective than a cliché '90s film"". NME. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  13. ^ Robinson, Ellie (1 April 2022). "Teenage Dads get melancholic on shimmery new single 'Exit Sign'". NME. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  14. ^ Bruce, Dave (15 August 2022). "Teenage Dads release frenzied new single 'Teddy' + Announce Headline Tour". Amnplify. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  15. ^ Robinson, Ellie (10 November 2022). "Listen to Teenage Dads' new single 'Hey, Diego'". NME. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  16. ^ a b "TEENAGE DADS — ANNOUNCE NEW EP: 'MIDNIGHT DRIVING'". Rock n Load Mag. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Track by Track: Teenage Dads Break Down New EP, 'Midnight Driving'". Rolling Stone Australia. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Wett Weather EP, by Teenage Dads". Bandcamp. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Potpourri Lake, by Teenage Dads". Bandcamp. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  20. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  21. ^ Red, 2019-05-15, retrieved 2022-12-10
  22. ^ Club Echo, 2021-11-05, retrieved 2022-12-10
  23. ^ a b Ellie Robinson (3 September 2021). "Teenage Dads drop 'Cheerleader' video, set release for 'Club Echo' EP". NME. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  24. ^ Ellie Robinson (3 November 2021). "Teenage Dads drop new single 'Piano Girl', outline 2022 Australian tour dates". NME. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  25. ^ Ellie Robinson (1 April 2022). "Teenage Dads get melancholic on shimmery new single 'Exit Sign'". NME. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  26. ^ a b Ellie Robinson (10 November 2022). "Listen to Teenage Dads' new single 'Hey, Diego'". NME. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  27. ^ Young, David James (3 February 2023). "Teenage Dads cover The Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star' for 'Like a Version', announce new EP". NME. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  28. ^ "TEENAGE DADS RELEASE NEW SINGLE: "MIDNIGHT DRIVING"". Urban Insta Magazine. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Teenage Dads Reference an Anime Classic as They Speed Into Their Future". Rolling Stone Australia. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  30. ^ "'I Like It' Teenage Dads latest indie rock single is a killer chiller". Happy Mag. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Teenage Dads' New Single Is a Touching Tale of Friendship". Rolling Stone Australia. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  32. ^ a b Varvaris, Mary (27 February 2024). "Teenage Dads Announce Their Largest-Ever Australian Tour". The Music. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Teenage Dads Extended 'Ready Teddy Go' Headline Tour". Girl. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  34. ^ Robinson, Ellie (3 November 2021). "Teenage Dads drop new single 'Piano Girl', outline 2022 Australian tour dates". NME. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Photo Diary: On Tour With Teenage Dads". Milky. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Teenage Dads announce 30-date Australian tour". Beat Magazine. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Nominees Announced for 2023 ARIA Awards". Music Feeds. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  38. ^ "ARIA Awards 2023: the Nominees & Winners as They're Announced". NME Australia. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  39. ^ "Troye Sivan, Kylie Minogue & Dom Dolla Among 2024 Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards Nominees". Rolling Stone Australia. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  • v
  • t
  • e
ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist
Album
Single
Release