We Speak Music
TEEN CREEPS start again on third album ‘TODAY IS THE DAY’, out now!
TEEN CREEPS have just released their third album ‘TODAY IS THE DAY’. The record marks a new start for the Belgian indie rock trio as singer Bert Vliegen processes a breakup and rediscovers love — including for his bandmates.
Four years after the sophomore album ‘FOREVER’, Belgian indie rockers TEEN CREEPS are back with a new album. Bert Vliegen (vocals and bass): “We actually started working on new songs during the first lockdown back in 2020. But we weren’t really finishing anything. I was going through a breakup at the time and I found it hard to write words. Seeing that I can only be truthful and sincere in my lyrics for TEEN CREEPS, I suffered from something of a writer’s block. That changed when we celebrated our 10 year anniversary as a band in 2023. We played a show in our hometown of Ghent, a lot of people came out and we simply had a blast. It made me realize how special our band is and how much I still love playing with these guys, even after all those years. I wrote the lyrics for ‘ANYWHERE about what the band means to me. It was the starting point for the new record.”
Getting back up
Bert’s breakup is the subject of several tracks on ‘TODAY IS THE DAY’. Yet he would not call this a break up record. “‘AUTOMATICALLY’ and ‘NO-SHOW’ are definitely about growing apart. But just as many songs deal with what comes after: standing tall and learning to be happy again. There’s light at the other side of the tunnel, no matter how hard it gets. That’s the message of ‘STAY HERE’ and the album title ‘TODAY IS THE DAY’. And yes, that’s also a little nod to Neil Young.”
Nod to the 90s
Musically, TEEN CREEPS exude confidence on ‘TODAY IS THE DAY’. The band has been breathing new life into 90s indie rock for over a decade now. Their sound is a marriage of energy and melancholy, reminiscent of DINOSAUR JR, SUPERCHUNK, SONIC YOUTH and other greats from the 1990s. “Those influences are part of our DNA. But we are not a retro band. We want to carry the torch of this kind of music, or at least keep the fire burning,” says guitarist Joram De Bock.
Less Is More
TEEN CREEPS don’t shy away from experiments on ‘TODAY IS THE DAY’. The sober and restrained playing in ‘AUTOMATICALLY’ makes for the most beautiful and sad song the band has ever put out. You can hear the subtle influence of lofi hero SPARKLEHORSE on ‘NO-SHOW’, while ‘STAY HERE’ is probably the most poppy and upbeat song in the band’s catalogue. Closer ‘SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS’ starts off with a nod to sludge rock and later shifts into folky territory.
The band’s willingness to explore new grounds is related to their extracurricular activities. Since the last album, Bert Vliegen joined WHISPERING SONS, Ramses Van den Eede started drumming in MOONEYE, and Joram De Bock also plays in FEVERCHILD. “That extra experience benefits TEEN CREEPS,” says Ramses (drums). “We play more in service of the song now. If that means holding back sometimes, that’s okay. The intensity is still there — we’ve just learned to pace ourselves.”
From Belgium to America
TEEN CREEPS is excited to play live again, both in Belgium and abroad. Back when ‘FOREVER’ came out, touring wasn’t possible due to the pandemic. Still, the album caught the attention of international music blogs like Clash Music and BrooklynVegan. The singles even made it onto American station KEXP and college radio. Joram: “We hope to get back on their radar. America is the birthplace of the type of music we play. Getting recognition over there is something special. But it’s not a goal in itself. The most important thing is that the three of us keep making music together. Or, as Bert puts it in ‘ANYWHERE’: ‘we’re not going anywhere.’”
‘TODAY IS THE DAY’ is out now through PIAS Recordings.
Swiss artist Fanny Alexandra returns with “Black Pearl Summer”, a new single that finds her exploring a more open side of her alternative sound. Released via Now Listen, the track combines coastal imagery with a story about growing through grief, pressure and the experiences that can shape a person over time.
Alexandra notes that the song is relatively summery by her own standards. She has said that her music is usually darker and that she has never been particularly drawn to the typical idea of summer, preferring cold air, jackets and rugged coastlines. That gives the release a clear sense of personality from the outset.
The song centres on Alexandra’s reflections on being 19 and spending years focused on survival rather than fully living. Those experiences are presented through the image of a black pearl, which becomes a way of considering how something worthwhile can emerge from a challenging period.
What makes the track particularly effective is the balance between its subject matter and its musical approach. The production gives the song room to breathe, while Alexandra keeps the focus firmly on the story she is telling. It means the track can be enjoyed as a seasonal release while still offering more to discover in the lyrics.
There is also a clear sense of change in the way Alexandra approaches her younger self. The song is not about returning to that period or trying to erase it. Instead, it considers what can be learned from experiences that once felt overwhelming.
“Black Pearl Summer” therefore offers newcomers a useful introduction to Alexandra’s work. It shows an artist comfortable writing about serious subjects, while also demonstrating a lighter musical side that may not be as familiar to listeners who know her darker material.
It is an interesting glimpse of what Alexandra can do when she lets a little more light into the picture.
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