New York City’s Miss Teen America, a morbidly charming gothic rock quintet, has all the subtlety of a black-clad figure on the subway amidst a sea of business suits after a night out at The Bank circa 1997. Their origin story: a classic urban tale of determination, involving flyers plastered across the city with the intriguing proposition: Do You Want to Be In A Goth Band? This siren call was the brainchild of TJ (vocals, lyrics) and Vic (bass), and soon, the duo found their bandmates in Alex (guitar), Marcus (guitar), and Tom (drums).
Since their formation in early 2023, Miss Teen America has been painting the town black, infusing the city’s music scene with their unique blend of brooding gothic roots, punk rock zeal, a go-go beat straight out of Shindig, Hullabaloo and The Munsters, and a dash of pop catchiness. It’s like a dark chocolate bar with a whisper of chili – unexpected, but somehow it works.
Their debut single, “Take Me Back,” delves into the light and cheerful themes of bloodlust, divine love, religious trauma, and manhood. It’s the kind of song that makes you ponder the meaning of life, or at least the meaning of wearing black in the summer. With this track, Miss Teen America make a statement, complete with eyeliner and a sense of existential dread.
Listen to “Take Me Back” below:
