As their band name suggests, Melbourne’s Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers formed while their four members were still in the thick of high school in Canberra. That somewhat fraught time of life certainly informed early tracks like 2020’s “Desk Chair,” which guitarist/singer Scarlett McKahey describes as “a tribute to teenage feelings.” Being an all-female alt-rock quartet also provided vital context to their lyrics, with 2022’s “Girl Sports”—produced by Alex Lahey, a more seasoned kindred spirit—riding its mocking refrain “…you’re pretty good for a girl band” all the way to the No. 55 slot in triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown. The band’s songwriting has continued to highlight the sheer intensity of emotion that comes with being young, with 2023’s “I Used to Be Fun” nailing the sense of feeling overwhelmed before quoting the evergreen blink-182 lyric “I guess this is growing up” and the same year’s “I Love You” repeating the title phrase as a powerful rallying cry. Teen Jesus play well with others too, having obvious fun on collabs with The Linda Lindas, Softcult, and The Grogans—all while sharpening their punky, hook-driven sound to the point where their anthems are resounding overseas too.