Art Pop’s latest single, “Teenage Scum,” is as raw, unfiltered, and emotionally charged as its title suggests. Recorded in a bedroom in their parents’ Austin home, the track is a defiant anthem of youth, crafted by brothers Max and Miles Grossenbacher. It’s messy in all the right ways — a cathartic blast of lo-fi indie rock that taps into feelings of loneliness, longing, and the crushing frustration of trying to be yourself in a world that keeps pushing back.
Coming ahead of their upcoming debut LP This Is Art Pop, “Teenage Scum” serves as the album’s perfect lead-off — both sonically and thematically. It’s not polished or pristine, and that’s exactly what makes it hit so hard. You can hear the DIY spirit in every second, and the honesty practically bleeds through the speakers.
Musically, “Teenage Scum” feels like a patchwork of the Grossenbacher brothers’ influences: the sardonic lyricism of Lou Reed, the sprawling emotional reach of Radiohead, the jittery grooves of LCD Soundsystem, and the lo-fi vulnerability of Car Seat Headrest. But even with those touchpoints, Art Pop brings their own identity to the table — one that’s steeped in a sense of personal urgency.
You can tell this track wasn’t made in a high-end studio. It was made in bedrooms, with headphones on, probably at 2AM, and it has that intimate, rough-around-the-edges charm that so many “perfect” recordings lack. The production might be minimal, but it’s intentional — this is emotional grit as a production choice. Guitars howl and clatter, drums feel like they’re right in front of you, and the vocals are laid bare in a way that makes the pain feel personal.
At its core, “Teenage Scum” is a song about reclaiming identity. It’s a middle finger to anyone who ever tried to make you feel small for being different. Max and Miles turn that pain into something powerful — a track that shouts back. It doesn’t try to be subtle. And it doesn’t need to be.
The lyrics capture that transitional state of being stuck between youth and adulthood, between anger and numbness. There’s a universality to it, but it never feels vague. It’s written from a very specific place — one you feel deeply even if you’ve never stood in their shoes.
What makes “Teenage Scum” even more impressive is how it came to life. With Miles away at college, the brothers finished producing the track by sending stems back and forth through Google Drive. It’s a testament to their commitment, connection, and creative synergy. Even with hundreds of miles between them, they never let distance dilute their vision.
This DIY spirit echoes throughout the track and the album it previews. Art Pop isn’t trying to be the next slick, streaming-optimized pop act. They’re making music because they have to — not because an algorithm says they should. And that’s what makes them so worth paying attention to.
“Teenage Scum” is more than a song — it’s a release, a personal reckoning wrapped in fuzzed-out guitars and bruised vocals. It captures that in-between space of growing up and growing apart, of fighting to hold onto your voice when the world’s volume is turned up too loud.
With This Is Art Pop on the horizon, Art Pop is clearly a band to watch. Max and Miles Grossenbacher aren’t just following in the footsteps of their influences — they’re building something authentic, heartfelt, and deeply needed in today’s music landscape.
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