Teen Idle took a moment to answer our questions about her music and how she makes her music. Let’s see what she has to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
Teen Idle: I’ve had the name since high school. Even though I didn’t make the band until I was 21, I swore to myself that once I had my own band, it needed to be called Teen Idle. The name comes from the title of a Marina and the Diamonds song. I used to love her music in high school, but the funniest part about my band name is that I never had listened to her song “Teen Idle” or tried to. I just liked how the words looked and rolled off the tongue. As someone who was an idle teenager because I was extremely shy, the name is meaningful to me in that way too.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
Dang, I still feel like I’m in my early years (insert crying laughing emoji). I’ve officially had the band for 5 years now, which is both a long time and a very short time. I’m pretty proud of what I’ve managed to do with the band in that short time, especially since I only played my first ever gig in August of 2021.
I’ve been obsessed with music basically my entire life, ever since I knew what it was. As a kid growing up in Queens, NY, and being surrounded by older cousins who would sit with me and watch MTV music videos and download their music on my iPod for me, both to the chagrin of my parents, I feel like my taste was way too mature for my age. I was listening to 50 Cent, Eminem, Mariah Carey, and Missy Elliott in kindergarten. My school bus rides to 2nd grade are what I think really made me obsessed with music, because I’d go buy CDs from the F.Y.E. store in town, and listen to whatever new pop album just came out on my CD player on the way to school.
Once I moved to NJ, I started taking lessons at this very tiny music school near my house, literally called The Music Place, and forced my guitar teacher to teach me Green Day and Jonas Brothers songs. I remember for my first guitar recital ever, I played “Yankee Doodle” and could barely get any of the notes to ring out.
Later on, when I turned 15, I started taking lessons at this music school in Asbury Park called Lakehouse Music Academy, which had just opened up. My three younger sisters and I were some of the school’s first students. There, we played in a group class and got to play shows at local venues like the Stone Pony and the old Asbury Lanes. Being taught by teachers who were actively in their own bands and doing the thing I wanted to do gave me the encouragement to keep pursuing music. I was taught by some of the best musicians in the area, most of whom are in nationally touring bands now. Shoutout to Jimmy Farkas, Ray Suhy, Joe P., and Bryan Haring.
How would you describe your sound?
That’s a tough one! I’m inclined to say: like a movie told in song. I feel like the way I write is very cinematic. It’s like there’s a full plot unfolding, with an exposition, denouement, climax, and all. I’m sure this is because I’m a writer first and foremost, and even have a bachelor’s degree in English Literature to back that up. I’m really interested in how I can play with sound to tell a story, and I really do want it to feel like watching a movie but with sound. I unintentionally write very visceral songs; it’s just how it comes out. But that’s why my sound will keep changing and changing yet always keep similar motifs or threads — I’m trying to develop my storytelling craft and over time I’ll want to use new materials, change the genre, or what have you.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
Teen Idle really is an amalgamation of so, so many different influences, and I’m sure if I said some of them you wouldn’t believe me, but specifically for this record, I was very influenced by indie rock songwriters who strive to build a story through song in the same way I’m trying to do. At the time these were writers like Wolf Alice, Angel Olsen, SASAMI, and Japanese Breakfast. I’d say these are all still artists I actively listen to and whose work I love. I also really admire the way Beach House and The War on Drugs craft their sounds, and these two are also a huge influence.
The reason I started writing songs in the first place was because “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac blew my mind, so they are an undeniable and huge underlying influence for production, feeling, and structure.
What’s the last song you listened to?
It’s pretty funny you ask, because as I’m answering these questions, I’m actually listening to a playlist I made of songs that influenced my newest album. It helps solidify the vibe! So the last one I listened to was “Back to A” by Club 8.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
I’m usually bad at keeping up with new releases from bigger artists, but I’ve started listening to some podcasts like All Songs Considered. I think most of my recommendations come from friends, especially seeing what music people are posting about on their social media. I’m actually really good at keeping up with my local and the DIY music scene, so if my musician friends release something new, I’ll make a note for myself to listen and usually do so pretty quickly. So I think just word of mouth is a big one, unless I come across a rare record store and can look around there for an hour and talk to people who work there.
Who is your dream producer?
John Congleton or Rostam.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Hmm, I really would have loved to have collaborated with some composer like Angelo Badalamenti who can sort of combine jazz and synth elements in movie scores, or any composers right now who are at that level. I feel like a lot of my new music has string and orchestral parts and could benefit from someone who could elevate the composition. I’d love to also work with Carrie Brownstein on maybe some sort of screenplay or short film, maybe even a music video. I’m just such a fan of her writing. Or, another answer you probably won’t expect, I’d love to work with a band like Khruangbin, because when I’m not writing pop-structured rock music I really tend to write in the improvisational, jam-esque way they play.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
It’s been an obsession I’ve had since I was a kid and I’ve been trying to chase that dream. The pursuit of that is what motivates me to keep going after it, as well as the unique joy and learning experiences that being a musician and songwriter can offer. It’s the thing I enjoy doing more than anything else and I know it’s what I was put on this Earth to do. Now that I’m finally involved in my local music scene, the friendships that have blossomed from that have also been a big motivating factor.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
Every song is a little bit different, but more often than not, I start by playing an instrumental riff on guitar or piano and start humming a melody over it. Then I turn the syllables that came to me while I was humming into lyrics that fit the vibe.I like to have most of the story done in one sitting, so the first set of lyrics usually come pretty quickly, and then I keep tweaking them until I’m totally happy. Lyrics are very important to me, down to the way they look visually when you read them.
After I have the basic structure of the song, I’ll start producing it in Logic, which is where I record everything. This is one of the most fun parts for me because the song really comes to life and I get to play with the sound palette.
How do you connect with your audience?
For me it’s about just being kind of raw and honest, unfiltered to a degree. I used to be more into shrouding the meaning of a song, because maybe I wasn’t comfortable revealing what it’s about, and some songs are very personal to the point where I don’t feel like giving away every little detail, but I believe in a certain degree of openness. I like to share parts of the writing and recording process to help give people an inside look, and I also really like posting non-music related things online just to show the side of me that’s funny and playful and not super studious.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenidlemusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7J2IEABIEEI93ZH3I1XPs3?si=8be6d91b42e34413
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaaDr2ERcJoG6NXD6so7-Lw
What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
Probably on Instagram! I also just recently set up a Teen Idle mailing list where I send out everything that’s happening in the Teen Idle world. So anyone who’s interested in joining can sign up at my website, teenidle.net.
What’s next for you?
Some more singles, music videos, other content, and some great shows, all leading up to my debut LP being released in the fall! Aside from that I’m continuously working on new music.
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
One of the music videos coming out is the first video I ever directed and I’m, very, very excited about it. In general I just can’t wait for people to hear what new Teen Idle sounds like
BIO: Teen Idle is the musical moniker of NJ-based songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sara Abdelbarry. In middle school, Sara was convinced she would become a cardiac surgeon – conveniently, her craft still gets to the heart, just with sound instead of a scalpel.
At age 9, Sara picked up the guitar, and she hasn’t stopped ever since. Inspired by the multitude of pop and rock artists she was glued to MTV watching in elementary school, Sara knew there was a special magic about music she had to experience for herself.
Growing up in an Egyptian-American family, Arabic music was always playing around the house during her childhood, whether on an 8-track or just from her parents and grandparents singing in the kitchen. In 2nd grade, Sara started buying CDs to entertain herself on her school bus rides to elementary school, piquing her interest in pop melodies – Gwen Stefani’s “Sweet Escape” and Kelly Clarkson’s early albums were some highlights.
At age 16, after getting music lessons from some of the most talented musicians on the Jersey Shore, Sara felt like she needed to write her own music. After discovering “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac, everything changed – the intricacy and intimacy of that song made Sara want to write ballads as emotional as theirs. Shortly after, she finished her first song.
Meshing the heartfelt nature of influences like Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham with the grittiness and abrasiveness of grunge and the lovelorn tendency of ’60s acts like The Ronettes, Teen Idle makes emotional rock music with a statement (and a cinematic tendency).
In 2020, Teen Idle’s first EP, Insomniac Dreams, was released on NYC indie label Green Witch Recordings. Premiering to acclaim early on, the album charted at #10 on the WRSU charts and remained in the station’s Top 30 for 5 weeks straight. Singles from the album also played on KEXP, KXLU, and DKFM. The album was also released on CD by Sunday Records, home of Slowdive’s earliest records. In late September, Sara is set to release her debut LP Nonfiction on indie label H1 Massive, distributed via The Orchard.
