After 92 shows in 10 countries, Teenage Dads wrapped 2023 with an ARIA win. Ahead of Laneway, Jordy Finlay from the breakthrough four-piece chats hustling, anaphylactic attacks and getting into some beef with an Adelaide band…

Interview by Zara Richards // Photos by Charlie Hardy

You’re playing Laneway Festival this February, which the band’s previously called a ‘dream gig’. How are you feeling about ticking that off the bucket list?

Yeah, it’s pretty cool! Honestly, seeing your name on the poster is in some ways cooler than actually doing the gig because it could get rained out, or someone could get gastro and completely ruin the day. But having our name on the poster is mad! We haven’t done a lot of festivals before, so it’ll be exciting to be on a big stage in front of so many people.

Gastro before a gig would be very unfortunate. Has that actually happened?

The closest we had to that was when Angus [Christie], our bassist, had an anaphylactic attack on stage while we were in America last year and almost died. He was all good – almost. It was the day before we were coming home and the chef who made the meals before gigs didn’t realise something had been dipped in peanut oil or something like that. During the set, [Angus] was making all these mistakes, and I’m like, ‘Dude, what the fuck are you doing?’ I turned around at the end and his face was all purple! It was hectic. We rushed to the hospital straight away.

Hopefully, there’ll be no peanut incidents at Laneway! You had a huge end of last year, taking out the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist award at the ARIAs. What was it like hearing your name read out?

Honestly, I went deaf. All of the senses went out the window. It was really, really special. We only met Michael once, but we immediately understood the impact he had on the artists and industry around him. Oli and Lou from Lime Cordiale were having a bit of a sob when we won, which was cool. I think we had the biggest guest list as well, we invited all our mums and girlfriends to come... One of our managers said, ‘You’ve invited a lot of people to maybe watch you lose.’ And I was like, ‘Yep, I know!’ I didn’t think we were going to win because of the calibre of talent nominated. I was like, ‘If for some reason we win, then I’m going to write a complaint.’ It was crazy.

Let’s go back to the start of Teenage Dads. You guys have been jamming together since high school, right?

Connor [McLaughlin] came up to me while we were at school one day and wanted to start a band. We started doing covers of TV show theme songs – I think Law & Order was the first song we did together. And then we managed to rope in Angus and Vin [Kinna]. From there, we were like the tokenistic band to have on your 18th birthday. I think we just got to a point where we played [covers] enough times that we wanted to start writing together.

You’re all from the Mornington Peninsula. Do you think being regionally based pushed you harder to develop as a band?

When we started, the only available thing [in the Peninsula] was being the guy on an acoustic guitar in the corner of a café. And, you know, we’re not that kind of band. So, we ventured into the city and started playing some of those small band rooms. The grind is essential for any band. I don’t think it necessarily boils down to where you’re from. You can tell which bands have played 1000 gigs to no one and which bands are playing their first- ever gig to 1000 people.

An Adelaide gig at the Ed Castle (RIP) in 2018 was one of your first-ever interstate shows. Tell us more about that night.

Ha, that was also not a particularly fun gig! There was an incident with one of the support bands who, during their set time, decided they wanted to sound check. We’d already let them play extra, but it was our first time in Adelaide and didn’t want to have to cut our set short. I leant over to the sound guy and said, ‘Hey, can you let them know through the foldback speakers that the next song is the last one?’ He was like, ‘Yep, let’s do it!’ But he put on the entire PA system, not just the speakers facing the band, and said, ‘Hey guys, set’s over!’ It echoed through the whole room! A guy in the band started going off and was like, ‘Who the hell cut our set?!’ They bagged us out on their social media the next day and all that. The actual gig was great, but all that build-up...

When did it click for you that Australia was catching onto Teenage Dads?

[After] we toured with Spacey Jane in 2022. Earlier that year, we played this place in Sydney to about 30 people. And then, after we toured with Spacey, we did three sold- out shows at Lansdowne in Sydney to about 350 people each time. That was definitely a moment. We’d also put out our song ‘Teddy’, and I think it was a combination of those things that pointed us in the direction of Australian listeners.

You blend influences and genres like The Beach Boys and 2000s indie music with vintage synths, which results in such a catchy sound. Who contributes what to the band? And is your music becoming more cohesive over time?

We went through a Teenage Dad’s ‘Renaissance period’ during lockdown. The distance from being locked away from each other made us want to collaborate more. I think the mindset we have now is that it’s a very equal partnership and honestly, it sounds better when there are four of us. Writing together has been a lot of fun – especially working on this new music...

We like the sound of new music! What can you tell us?

I don’t know if I’m allowed to say... I think at Laneway we’re going to say something about a big collection of songs! We’ve been recording with our friend Chris Collins, who’s a producer up in Byron and a total legend. He did a lot of Royel Otis stuff and the new Pacific Avenue album. He’s a master. We just got back with a bunch of new material and I reckon it’s the best stuff we’ve ever done. I know everyone says that, but I actually mean it! It’s an exciting time to be in Teenage Dads that’s for sure.

Catch Teenage Dads at Laneway this February 9 alongside Dominic Fike, Stormzy and more. Tickets on sale now.

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