“I’m fine / Actually, never mind / Remembering why I was mad.” That’s how Lizzie Killian introduces “I Do,” the latest single from her Raleigh-based project Teens In Trouble. It strikes a familiar chord. Killian’s sound sits at the crossroads of pop-funk and fuzzed-out garage rock, and “I Do” stands as a solid example of her approach.
Teens In Trouble’s most recent full-length, 2024’s What’s Mine, features a guest appearance from Stefan Babcock, the frontman of PUP, on the opener “You Don’t Want To Mess With Me.” Last year, the band contributed several tracks to a split with Bat Boy. The new single, “I Do,” was recorded with Dave Schiffman, a familiar collaborator with PUP. Lizzie Killian co-wrote the track with Bat Boy’s Hannah Eagle, who also contributes backing vocals. For now it’s presented as a one-off, but more Teens In Trouble material is likely on the way.
In a press release, Killian describes the song as a friendship-breakup tune: “I thought I was over it until a mutual friend brought it up over brunch. As I began to explain what happened, I felt my temperature rise and realized that maybe I hadn’t actually moved on after all.” The video, directed by Aja Pop, features Killian stepping into a boxing ring as a symbolic clash. See it below.