When you load up Spotify, a great big chunk of the time you can’t think what to play, right? You default back to your old favourites, those albums and songs you played on repeat when you first discovered you could make them yours.
This isn’t about guilty pleasures; it’s about those songs you’ll still be listening to when you’re old and in your rocking chair. So, enter Teenage Kicks – a playlist series that sees bands running through the music they listened to in their formative years.
Next up, Jess from Coach Party.
Hannah Montana – Ordinary Girl
Right, so this might feel like a joke to some, but I couldn’t be more serious. I was a Disney Channel lover from as early as I can remember, which naturally went hand in hand with loving Hannah Montana. The show and her music (when I was probably around seven) made me absolutely fall in love with the idea of performing, singing, and writing songs. This show moulded my impressionable little brain in ways that turned me into the pop-loving girly I am today. NO REGRETS. Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana, I love you forever.
Justin Bieber – Favorite Girl
Justin Bieber was my ride or die for years. When he first rose to fame, and people thought it was cool to hate him, I would defend him at school, family dinners, online… I was truly sick with the Bieber Fever. It’s not shocking that I’m still in love with JB!! His first album, ‘My World’, completely dominated my life for a good year—it was all I listened to. I got to see him at the O2 back in 2010, and I cannot remember a single thing from it. Let’s call it an infatuation blackout. That album is still a classic, and you can find me defending the Biebs in any situation.
Asking Alexandria – Not the American Average
Emo phase incoming! A weird curveball after loving the Biebs so much. Asking Alexandria were my first steps into alt/emo music. I stretched my ears and wanted some terrible tattoos (which, fortunately, I didn’t get). This band really romanticised drinking bottles of Jack Daniel’s and ripped skinny jeans… and I totally bought into it. The first boy I ever kissed was after a couple of shots of JD — and yes, you’ll be amused to know I threw up very shortly afterwards. They toured relentlessly, and I would catch them as often as I could. Around this age, I was given my first bass guitar and tried to learn a few of their songs. Without this band, I wouldn’t have gotten into guitar music, so I’m very grateful for this part of the journey. Thanks for inspiring me, Asking Alexandria!
My Chemical Romance – Teenagers
Live, Laugh, Love My Chemical Romance. They were my religion, and ‘Teenagers’ is a song I’d still love to cover and add to our set. I particularly admire this band for their incredibly cool music videos — I would watch them over and over again. When I think of emo music, they’re at the centre of it. They were another key band that made me fall in love with guitar music and playing guitar. When they broke up, they announced it on my birthday… so you can imagine how that day went for me.
The 1975 – Menswear
When The 1975 released their self-titled album back in 2013, I was just turning 17 — I loved drinking, Tumblr, being a bit mischievous, and thinking I was the coolest girl in every room. This album empowered that energy, and I’m so grateful! I love music that makes me feel things, and this album made me feel so alive. I listened to it, especially Menswear, a lot when I got dumped (lol) by my first boyfriend. There are some great songs on there that remind you friendships are more important than relationships at that age. I’ve never seen them live, but I’d absolutely love to! Maybe we could even wangle a support slot one day…
Alvvays – Ones Who Love You
This band’s first album is perfect—top to bottom. I love them with my WHOLE HEART. I wish I’d written every song on that record. My favourite, Ones Who Love You, captures such a unique melancholy vibe that no one else has ever been able to replicate. I’ve seen them live 4 times now, and each time I’m just still with awe the entire time! I love Molly Rankin.
Marika Hackman – Boyfriend
This song really changed the game for me. I loved the whole album, but this track made it clear: all I wanted to do was play music and be a touring musician. Around this time, Steph (who plays guitar in Coach Party) and I started our first band, JEPH. All I wanted was to write a song as cool as Boyfriend.
Funny story: I was on a BBC 6 Music Zoom interview thing with Marika Hackman a few years ago, and I definitely had a full-circle moment. Marika now follows us on IG, so maybe you could say we’re friends…
Tame Impala – ‘Cause I’m a Man
Don’t hate me, but ‘Currents’ is my favourite Tame album — and I’m not ashamed to say it. Every song on there is brilliant, and this record showed me I could still be in an indie band and have a synth player. I started trying to figure out what synths Kevin Parker used, and all I really realised was that I couldn’t afford any of them!
Clairo – Bags
An angel. I love Clairo — she is, and always has been, the coolest chick! Her album Immunity was a standout for me because every song resonated so deeply. ‘Bags’ was the gateway into that album, and it’s an absolute banger. I love her new direction with ‘Sling’ and ‘Charm’, but ‘Immunity’ is still my favourite. I hope to catch her live soon.
DJO – Potion
Hi DJO, if you’re reading this — my name is Jess, and I love you. The coolest guy, and his latest album, ‘The Crux,’ is pretty phenomenal. I listen to ‘Potion’ at least once a day — it’s like a ritual at this point. I particularly love his live setup, which actually inspired us to want more musician friends on stage.
‘Twenty Twenty’ was the first DJO album I loved, and honestly, he hasn’t missed since. ‘Charlie’s Garden’ gives me such Beatles vibes that I had to show my Grandad (a die-hard Beatles fan). His music has been inspiring me for years now and definitely reminds me why I love playing — and watching — live music.
Taken from the September 2025 issue of Dork.
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