Teen Song Reviews: VIC

We tasked a group of Aussie teens to rifle through their record bins and pick a track they’ve been spinning lately. Meet the next gen of Victorian music reviewers and the killer songs soundtracking their lives from Issue #1 of Teen Spirit

You Am I - ‘Berlin Chair’

Sound as Ever (1993)
ROO ART RECORDS

There is nothing about ‘Berlin Chair’, or You Am I, that hasn't already been written, said, or uttered in the back of empty rooms. Yet, it’s one of those “classics” that has found itself in a kind of purgatory, not seared into any collective consciousness or rusted onto radio playlists, nor something best left in a time and place. Perhaps it's Rogers’ anti-romanticism, the stuttering rock rhythms and angular melodies underpinning a tale of toxic co-dependency that's just too damn unsentimental, too removed from the fantasies of marriage and divorce, to be sung at weddings or be a rose-tinted lullaby. Instead, ‘Berlin Chair’ is a song about real life, the complexity and contradiction of love, and the inescapability of it all.

Sounds like: Losing your best friend.

By Max R (17, VIC)

Old Mervs - ‘Heavy In The Morning’

I Love My Computer (2025)
DEW PROCESS & UNIVERSAL MUSIC AUSTRALIA

WA duo Old Mervs’ latest single ‘Heavy in the Morning’ delivers with classic, feel-good vibes. With lead guitar lines immediately reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘1979’ and Silversun Pickups’ ‘Lazy Eye’, the opening lyrics “You were right… it’s heavy in the morning,” cut straight to the point. David House’s melodic vocals and brisk strumming contradict this weight of responsibility that comes with growing older. In the driving chorus, the repetition of “We’re going…We’re going home” reveal an excitement for the return to the place that will always welcome you with open arms.

Sounds like: A road trip with your family with the music turned up to full volume.

By Chloe O (12, VIC)

ixaras - ‘CAUGHT UP’

WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN’T (2025)
ANTI-DISMAL

ixaras is an 18-year-old artist from Brisbane who is soon to become a household name. Her recent EP, WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN’T perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being a teenager and finding your way through an overwhelming time. Track 6 on the EP, ‘CAUGHT UP’, begins with an insane guitar intro and includes reflective lyrics that explores a feeling of nostalgia and looking back to the past. The bridge is undeniably the best part, with one of the best guitar riffs I’ve ever heard in my life. ixaras is definitely a need for those who enjoy discovering indie Australian artists, and this song is a great introduction to the rest of her music which is just as good.

Sounds like: Playing air guitar while dancing around your room

Heidi (16, VIC)

Laufey - ‘Forget-Me-Not’

A Matter of Time (2025)
VINGOLF RECORDINGS

Laufey’s vision of jazz and classical infused pop music has been demonstrated wonderfully in her most recent album, particularly in her song ‘Forget-Me-Not’. The song includes swelling moments mixed with smooth, subtle flutes and violins behind the meaningful lyrics that explore the experience of emigrating and losing culture. The inclusion of the Icelandic language makes this song much more meaningful and creates a nostalgic, purely magical vibe. It’s incomparable to other songs of this time as it feels more like a Disney dream than a common modern song. This track is truly a bewitching song that will make you feel like you’re floating.

Sounds like: Dancing by a gorgeous lake in a Disney classic.

By Ayvah L (17, VIC)

Los Campesinos! - ‘Avacado, Baby’

NO BLUES (2013)
HEART SWELLS

Los Campesinos!’s ‘Avocado, Baby’ is the upbeat, yet darkly relevant seventh track from their 2013 album NO BLUES. Carrying on the energy of prior songs on the album, it's filled to the brim with the hypnotizing drone of guitar riffs and heartbeat drums which mesh pleasingly with the voices of lead singers (and siblings) Gareth and Kim David. Despite the caffeinated frenzy of the music and the title playing on popular children’s book, Avocado Baby by John Burningham, the expertly crafted lyricism is a deep-cut commentary on life, celebrity culture, and politics; offering poetic lines such as “blossom in ribcage, until their backs break,” that'll keep you thinking for hours.

Sounds like: Talking to friends on the day between winter and spring.

Ollie L (17, VIC)

Taylor Swift - ‘evermore’

evermore (2013)
REPPUBLIC RECORDS

Taylor Swift’s ‘evermore’, featuring Bon Iver, presents a powerful portrayal of a person overcoming depression. The track begins with a slow, heavy piano that creates a suffocating and reflective mood, mirroring the weight of emotional struggle. Dark imagery in lyrics such as “barefoot in the wildest winter,” reinforces the feeling of isolation and hopelessness, making it seem as though the pain will last forever. As the song progresses and Bon Iver interrupts, there’s a subtle shift in tempo and tone. The introduction of lighter imagery like “cracks of light” suggests hope breaking through the darkness. By the end, the repeated idea of “evermore” is redefined, showing that the sadness is not permanent, ultimately capturing a journey from deep despair to healing and hope.

Sounds like: Scenes of sadness turning into lingering hope.

Aaliyah W (17, VIC)

READ MORE: Teen Song Reviews: Queensland