Teenage Joans released their new country-inspired single “Bandits” that’s guaranteed to rope you in. The Adelaide partners-in-crime have continued to make a name for themselves in the pop-punk scene since late 2018, blossoming as one of the genre’s most promising up-and-coming acts.
“Bandits” shares the story of a Bonnie and Clyde type romance that entails the undying devotion, loyalty and thrill of choosing to love someone no matter the cost. In an email interview with Melodic Magazine, the pair dives into the song’s unexpected country twist, how they’ve grown artistically since their debut and excitement for what’s to come.
You’ve just released your new single “Bandits.” What was the inspiration behind this track and how did it come together?
We were super inspired by a Bonnie and Clyde type tragedy romance in this track. It’s very loyal to the end vibes. We landed on the hook which very much had a country rock mood to it, so we definitely followed that in the lyrics. The song is a lot different from your previous work in terms of sound, blending a bit of country with your signature pop-punk flair.
What was it like getting to branch out of your comfort zone during the creative process for “Bandits”?
It’s so much fun to be honest. We’re excited to show the world what we’re capable of in this next record – you think you know the Teenage Joans sound, but really we’re just getting started! There’s a fun lyric visualizer that accompanied the song’s release and features you both in full cowboy outfits with guns blazing and horses roaming around.
What was the best part of getting to film content for “Bandits” and do you have any fun behind-the-scenes stories?
The best part was riding the horse bareback! It was such a cool thing to be able to do for a video. We always have heaps of fun on our video shoots.
In addition to “Bandits,” you guys released two other singles, “Sweet and Slow” and “My Heart’s Dead!” last year. How do these three singles reflect the direction that Teenage Joans is taking for this next era?
I mean, they play with some heavier production styles for sure, but I wouldn’t say they’re a perfect representation of what we’re gonna do in the next album at all – we just wanted to have a bit of fun in between the album releases, because we really like to take our time and lock in on a complete vision with our bigger bodies of work.
This next era also follows your 2023 debut, The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest. In what ways do you guys think you’ve grown as artists since the making of that record compared to what’s to come?
We’ve definitely matured heaps, both personally, sonically, lyrically. In many ways this feels like the truest version of us, even though it’s very different from Rot. Rot was really just the beginning, and this feels like the make or break, but we’re so excited to show the world how much we’ve actually grown in this new record. We’re touching on some themes we’ve never really talked about before, we touch on mental health issues, we have a song that might be a great inspiration anthem for people in the LGBTQ+ community. There’s definitely still talk of love, but it’s from a bit more of an adult lens now.
You’ve also got a UK tour coming up later this year in May. What are you most looking forward to when it comes to these headline shows?
We’re so excited to see fresh faces, and to really build a community in a new place. Our favourite part of being in this band is sharing stories and connecting with our audience, human connection is what makes the world go round! We can’t wait to see what energy UK brings to our live shows!
How would you describe Teenage Joans to someone who’s never heard your music before?
There’s something for everyone with Teenage Joans – we wear our hearts on our sleeves, we’re loud and vibrant, and we’re truly passionate about what we do. If you like pop music, or guitar music, especially a mix of both, then you’ll probably find a place with us!
Anything else exciting coming up that you’d like to share?
Nothing that we can fully confirm because we’re still working on it ourselves, but get excited for a new TJ album very soon!
Teenage Joans kicks off their UK headlining tour on May 3rd in Liverpool, making their way to Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol and London before closing out this run of shows in Brighton on May 16th. The duo will also serve as support for Hot Mulligan’s Australian tour on select dates this April. Tickets and information for all of Teenage Joans’ upcoming shows can be found here.
Keep up with Teenage Joans: Website // Instagram // TikTok // Spotify // X
