MORNINGTON Peninsula four-piece indie rock band Teenage Dads has been jettisoned into the music media spotlight after winning the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist ARIA award last Wednesday.
Teenage Dads was formed by self-taught musicians Jordan Finlay and Connor McLaughlin in Mount Eliza in 2015, with Angus Christie and Vincent Kinna joining the band later.
They have been playing locally and toured Europe and America but have not yet hit the heights of commercial success. All that is set to change, with the band now recognised by one of the most prestigious industry awards for up-and-coming bands.
Angus Christie’s father Greg told The News on Friday he had not been able to speak to his son since the awards night because of the media frenzy around the band.
“It’s pretty exciting for them, they’ve really needed a break like this,” he said.
“They’re not exactly living the life of rock stars yet, and still have day jobs, but it’s a big step.”
Since signing to Chugg Music in 2021, Teenage Dads has released one studio album, Potpourri Lake (2018), and four extended plays. Their EP Midnight Driving debuted at number 28 on the ARIA Charts. It was supported by Teddy, which polled at number 63 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2022.
On Facebook, the band posted a thank you message to ARIA and to their fans: “Thank you Aria. We couldn’t do this without the support of our managers, label, agents and of course our family, friends and fans.”
First published in the Mornington News – 21 November 2023
