From a year 9 Canberra sleepover to sharing a stage with Pearl Jam: The rise of Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers have been playing together ever since a year 9 sleepover in Canberra. (Supplied: She is Aphrodite)
For many high school students, a year 9 sleepover may end up resulting in not much more than a few prank calls and getting in trouble with a friend's parents.
But for one group of friends in Canberra, an offhand conversation while watching a movie started them on a path that has led them to win an ARIA and share a stage with iconic band Pearl Jam, both in the same week.
"So nearly 10 years ago now, we all went to the same school, so Orana Steiner School, and we've been friends since we were like eight years old, and in year 9, we had a sleepover and we watched the movie School of Rock," said Jaida Stephenson.
"And we like watching it and we were like, 'wow, that looks really easy', like starting a band, like it's a piece of cake.
"So we picked up our instruments the next day, and we sounded like crap, but we've improved a bit since then."
Before they knew it, the friends from the southern Canberra suburbs of Kambah and Weston, Jaida Stephenson, Anna Ryan, Scarlett McKahey and Neve van Boxsel, had formed what's become the band Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.
The group have since toured the country, and released their first studio album, I Love You, last year.
On Wednesday, the band won their first ARIA award for that album, picking up the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist gong.
The group won 'Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist' at this year's ARIA awards. (Supplied: Jess Gleeson)
Jaida said it was a moment none of them saw coming.
"It was an absolutely crazy feeling," they said.
"When they kind of opened the pamphlet and they said teen, I was like, surely not. And then, you know, trying to rack my brain if there was another teen band in the category or something.
"And then, yeah, they said the full name and we just started freaking out."
'It can't get Eddie Vedder than this'
The band's whirlwind week is set to finish with their last of three performances supporting legendary band Pearl Jam on their Australian tour in Sydney.
The American band was the first concert Jaida's mother Beck ever went to, and used to be a regular on the speakers in their Kambah home.
"Definitely someone we grew up with," Jaida said.
"Watching them over, like, every night live has just been pretty insane, I feel like that's kind of where you usually get your biggest inspiration from is watching bands you play with live, and just being like holy crap, they're amazing."
The group also performed at the ARIA awards, with Jaida Stephenson on bass (far right). (Supplied: Girl in the Bandana)
The bass guitarist described a particular moment on the tour that the band won't soon forget.
"We were getting some photos backstage, and then, um, Eddie just walks up and got a photo with us, and he was like, Hey, I'm gonna, like, introduce you guys live," Jaida said.
"And we were like woah okay, and then he, like, hopped up and introduced us, and everyone in the crowd started freaking out, obviously, because it's Eddie Vedder.
"So it can't get Eddie Vedder [any better] than this."
After their week of achievements, Jaida said the band will have to get together after the tour and figure out where to next.
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers are considering their next moves. (Supplied: Girl in the Bandana)
"Like five years ago, we made a five-year plan, and we've pretty much ticked off everything that's in that plan," they said.
"So I think we need to sit down and make a new plan. I don't know, Grammys, Glastonbury, maybe."
But there may be a surprise in the works for their local community on Canberra's south side.
"I don't know if it'll go into motion, but next year's our 10-year anniversary for our first show ever, which was at the Orana Spring Fair," Jaida said.
"And we're like, maybe we can do a surprise set or something."