Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers are an Australianrock band formed inCanberra in 2015. The group consists of vocalist Anna Ryan, guitarist Scarlett McKahey, drummer Neve van Boxsel, and bassist Jaida Stephenson.[4] Their debutextended play,Pretty Good for a Girl Band, was released in 2022 through Domestic La La and won Best Independent Punk Album or EP at the2023 AIR Awards.[5] Their debut full-length album,I Love You, was released in 2023 and peaked at number 6 on theARIA Albums Chart.[6] Their most recent album,Glory, was released in November 2025.[7]
The band was formed in July 2015 when all five original members – singer Anna Ryan, guitarist Scarlett McKahey, drummer Neve van Boxsel, keyboardist Pip Gazard, and bassist Jaida Stephenson – were 15 year-old students at theOrana Steiner School inWeston, a suburb of Canberra.[8] Some of the band members also came fromWollongong andMelbourne.[9] Van Boxsel had been playing drums since she was 10; Ryan had been singing for all their childhood;[3] and McKahey had started on cello at a young age.[10] The band was originally called Vinyl Fluid,[11] then Dandelion and the Enigmas;[12] their current name was coined by McKahey's uncle.[11]
In February 2020, the single "Desk Chair" was released, with Hayden Davies of the music publicationPilerats praising it for being "gritty and rough-around-the-edges in the most charming of ways."[14][15]
The band signed with Domestic La La in 2021. Their first single with the label, "Ahhhh!", was released in July of that year.[16] In theTriple J Hottest 200 of 2021, the song made it to number 117.[17] In May 2021, the band performed at a number of festivals in the United Kingdom.[18] The single "Miss Your Birthday", co-written byAlex Lahey, was released in November 2021.[19]
Their debut EPPretty Good for a Girl Band was released on May 2022.[9] The single "Girl Sports", was described by Ellie Robinson fromNME as a "notedly darker cut for the Canberra-native quartet" featuring "more grisly guitar runs, snappy, cymbal-heavy drums and cutthroat lead vocals."[20] The band embarked on a nationwide Australian tour supporting the EP in August 2022.[21]
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers opening for theDMA's in Wodonga, October 2023.
In March 2023, the band released the song "Lights Out".[22] "Never Saw It Coming" followed in June. Those two songs were previews of the band's first full-length album,I Love You, which was released in October 2023.[6] An expanded version of the album calledI Love You Too was released in September 2024.[23]
The band opened forFoo Fighters in Australia in Fall 2023.[24] Shortly before the release ofI Love You, guitarist Scarlett McKahey announced a hiatus from touring due topostural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome,[25] and Meg Holland filled in during live shows. McKahey later returned to touring and Holland remained as rhythm guitarist during live shows. The band was invited to serve as the opening act forPearl Jam during an American tour in Spring 2025.[26]
2025–present: Neve solo EP, Tour with Pearl Jam, andGlory
On 26 February 2025, Neve released her debut solo song titled "Bones",[27] along with "Someone Everyone Wants to Know" on 26 March as a precursor to her solo debut EPPlaygirl, released on 28 March. The EP also contained the songs "Playgirl" and "Coming Home".[28] The EP has a stripped back, raw, honest, and softer feel in comparison to the band's sound; she wrote, recorded, and produced the entire EP herself in her bedroom.[29]
Across May 2025, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers served as the opening act forPearl Jam on the continuation of their Dark Matter tour in the United States, playing in Nashville, Raleigh, and Pittsburgh.[30] Whilst in North America, the band performed headlining shows in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles.[31]
On 23 April 2025, the band released "Balcony" as a single with an accompanying music video.[32] A second studio album,Glory, was released on 7 November 2025.[7]
The band cites theriot grrrl movement as well asCherry Glazerr,Dream Wife, andWAAX as their biggest influences.[3] Anna Ryan, the bands lead vocalist, has said the intention in their lyrics are intended "to create music that is relatable and meaningful" to "women especially". The band's lyrics have often alluded to events that have impacted their lives – "Girl Sports" is specifically written about a comment made by Stephenson's male dentist to "stick to girl sports",[20] and their debut EP's title is derived from remarks made by some listeners' surprise at the band's ability.[33]
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally asAIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
^In August 2023, McKahey announced she would be stepping back from performing live due to her diagnosis withpostural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. She remained a band member, however, and returned to full-time touring a year later.[25]
^Holland fulfils lead guitar duties when McKahey is not performing with the band, and rhythm guitar duties when she is. In the latter instances, Ryan does not play guitar live.
^While technically their debut EP, the band has statedCreepshow has been "scrubbed out of existence" and has been removed from streaming services. They preferPretty Good for a Girl Band to be labeled as their debut.[38]
^"We're All Henry" was originally a part of theCreepshow EP, and is the only song not removed from streaming services.[38]
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