Teen Mortgage: “As soon as you turn 18, you have to fight for your right to survive in the world by paying your way”

“I think it’s an overwhelming existence that we lead,” ponders Teen Mortgage vocalist/guitarist James Guile. “If you’re unable to get on the internet or deal with technology, you’re left behind in society.”

Reflecting on humanity’s dependence on technology on track S.W.A.S., Teen Mortgage question, ‘The future and the robots own the world / Now, why do I gotta live before I die?’ backed by a barrage of thrashing drums and squealing guitars.

Bringing together punk and surf rock, the Washington D.C. duo (completed by drummer Ed Barkauskas) seamlessly mesh together raunchy riffs and chugging basslines, while welcoming those who can’t stand the situation we have found ourselves in as a society.

“The name Teen Mortgage comes from an art piece featured in Banksy’s Dismaland,” James explains of the band’s roots. “The piece was called Pocket Money Loans, about money lending companies preying upon uneducated people and children, where the advertisements are geared towards children. And so, the next step up from that is a ‘teen mortgage’. Mortgage in Latin: ‘mort’ means death and ‘gage’ means pledge. So, it’s a teen death pledge.

“It’s like, as soon as you turn 18, you have to fight for your right to survive in the world by paying your way, even with shifted goalposts. As we’ve gotten older, they keep shifting goalposts. [The band] is about how absurd it is to survive.”

Fuelled by the frustration of ever-moving targets and supposed milestones set out for us, the anarchic pair use Teen Mortgage to analyse and rage against the sociopolitical farce that is life in 2024. A roiling anger that lurks within the pair, instigated by their love of punk.

James’ interest in the more rebellious side of music began when watching The Beatles’ 1963 Royal Variety Performance. While the Fab Four aren’t exactly punk, James recalls the moment when he watched John Lennon ask the crowd, ‘We need your help. Will the people in the cheaper seats, clap your hands. And the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewellery.’ And that sly, cheeky ‘fuck you’ was punk.

“I thought that was sick. I wanted to do a big ‘fuck you,’ like that – that’s what made me want to be in a band,” James laughs.

And though it wasn’t until years after watching that performance that James found Ed, they bring together the timelessness of punky garage rock while channelling that original disdain for the obscenely wealthy that motivated James to be a musician in the first place.

Having recently wrapped up a tour supporting none other than Smashing Pumpkins in arenas around the UK, Teen Mortgage's heightened emotions and righteous anger toward the status quo bursts through in their emphatic, verging on chaotic, live performances. “The songs are the cake,” offers Ed. “You’re paying to see us live, that’s what you’re paying to see – the live interpretation of that record.”

If you’re sick of the way things are, and feel like you’ve been on a very expensive treadmill to nowhere since you hit adulthood, then crank Teen Mortgage loud. Catharsis awaits. You are not alone.

Teen Mortgage are on tour with Death From Above 1979 in North America from September 24 – October 5

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