Teeth & Tongue
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 in Melbourne, Australia |
| Founder | Jessica Claire Cornelius |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Fate | Disbanded |
| Successor | Jess Cornelius (solo career) |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia, North America, Europe |
Key people | Jessica Claire Cornelius (lead vocals, songwriter), James Harvey (drums), Marc Regueiro-McKelvie (guitar), Damian Sullivan (bass guitar, synthesiser) |
| Products | Four studio albums: Monobasic (2008), Tambourine (2011), Grids (2014), Give Up on Your Health (2016) |
Teeth & Tongue was an Australian indie rock ensemble established in 2007 by New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Jessica Claire Cornelius. The lineup featured musicians including James Harvey on drums, Marc Regueiro-McKelvie handling guitar duties, and Damian Sullivan playing bass guitar and synthesiser. Over their decade-long activity, Teeth & Tongue produced four studio albums: Monobasic (2008), Tambourine (2011), Grids (2014), and Give Up on Your Health (2016), before dissolving in early 2017. Cornelius initially adopted this name for her solo work but has performed under her own name since moving to Los Angeles in late 2017.
History
Originating in Melbourne in 2007, Teeth & Tongue was conceived by Jessica Cornelius (formerly of Moscow Schoolboy) as a platform to showcase her songwriting with collaborative input. Born circa 1980 in Ngāruawāhia, New Zealand, Cornelius relocated to Melbourne in 2000 and led several bands prior to launching Teeth & Tongue.
Their first album, Monobasic, released in November 2008 through Inertia Records/Crystal Chain Records, was co-produced by Cornelius alongside Casey Rice. The record featured contributions from various artists and gained critical praise, receiving airplay on Triple J and FBi Radio, as well as acclaim from Australian publications such as Rolling Stone Australia.
By late 2009, the ensemble—comprising Cornelius, Steve Masterson, Marc Reguiro-Mckelvie, and Patto Millman—was honored as Triple J's Home & Hosed Next Crop artist, reflecting their evolving sound characterized by moody tones paired with complex arrangements.
The sophomore album, Tambourine, debuted in April 2011 via Dot Dash Recordings/Remote Control Records and was co-produced by Cornelius and Simon Grounds. This release integrated drum machines alongside live percussion and layered backing vocals. It achieved Album of the Week status on multiple Australian radio outlets and was lauded for its polished production and artistic development. The track "Unfamiliar Skirts" received a Song of the Year nomination at The Age's EG Awards.
In March 2012, Teeth & Tongue undertook a solo North American tour including performances at SXSW and venues in New York City, garnering positive critiques that highlighted Cornelius’s unique vocal delivery and poignant songwriting. Later that year, the band returned stateside with a full lineup for the CMJ Music Marathon and was featured on USA Today’s recommended listening list. They also earned an EG Award nomination recognizing Outstanding Achievement. Cornelius took part in a live SBS RocKwiz tour and made two appearances on the associated television program.
In 2013, Cornelius contributed original compositions live at the National Gallery of Victoria’s "Wired for Melbourne Sound" exhibition alongside fellow artists.
The third studio effort, Grids, released in March 2014 through Remote Control Records and co-produced with A J Bradford, included performances by Cornelius, Reguiro-Mckelvie, Damian Sullivan, and drummer Peter Luscombe. It received Album of the Week accolades from several Australian radio stations and was praised for its daring vocal experimentation that fused piano ballads with electronic sounds. Singles such as "Good Man" and "Newborn" were met with critical acclaim accompanied by innovative music videos. The album secured three EG Award nominations: Best Band, Best Album, and Best Female Artist.
By 2014, Teeth & Tongue had expanded into a five-member group for live shows supporting Grids, with appearances at festivals like Meredith Music Festival and MONA Tasmania. Early in 2015, Cornelius participated in the Nes Artist Residency in Iceland where she composed new material inspiring the single "Cupcake," which was accompanied by a video filmed during the residency.
Their fourth album, Give Up on Your Health, released in September 2016, climbed to No. 2 on the ARIA Hitseekers Albums chart. It was featured as Album of the Week on both 3RRR and Double J radio stations and described as a refined work of sophisticated pop music. The project earned a J Award nomination for Double J Australian Artist of the Year alongside notable acts such as King Gizzard and Ngaiire. At the Age Music Victoria Awards in 2016, Teeth & Tongue received nominations for Best Song ("Dianne") and Best Female Artist recognizing Cornelius’s contributions. In August 2016, Rolling Stone included them among ‘Ten New Artists You Need to Know’.
Their concluding live performances in early 2017 were noted for energetic shows imbued with a darker tone. Shortly thereafter, the group disbanded as Cornelius shifted focus toward her solo endeavors.
Touring
Throughout their career, Teeth & Tongue has supported a variety of both Australian and international musicians, such as J Mascis, Vance Joy, EMA, The Drones, The Mountain Goats, Laura Marling, and Courtney Barnett during their Australian tours. In 2010, the band embarked on a European tour that included a performance at the Gea Festival in Tarragona, where they shared the stage with Lydia Lunch. Their festival appearances have been extensive, featuring major events like the Meredith Music Festival, Falls Festival, St Jerome's Laneway Festival, Boogie Festival, Perth Festival, Darwin Festival, Beechworth Festival, and Melbourne’s renowned White Night festivals.
2017–present: Jess Cornelius, solo
In September 2017, Jess Cornelius launched the single "Jealousy" as a solo artist and subsequently joined Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly on his tour across the United States. The next month saw the release of her five-track EP titled Nothing Is Lost. After moving to Los Angeles, Cornelius continued crafting new music, culminating in the February 2019 release of the single "No Difference".
Members
- Jess Cornelius – lead vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, drum machine (2007–17)
- Patrick "Patto" Millman – bass guitar (2008–10)
- Steve Masterson – drums (2009–10)
- Marc Regueiro-McKelvie – guitar (2009–17)
- Damian Sullivan – bass guitar, synthesiser (2013–17)
- James Harvey – drums (2014–17)
- Jade McInally – backing vocals, keyboards, percussion (2014–16)
- Cheyenne Harper – keyboards (2017)
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Monobasic |
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| Tambourine |
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| Grids |
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| Give Up on Your Health |
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Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "There Is a Lightness to My Bones" | Monobasic |
| 2009 | "Sad Sun" | Tambourine |
| 2012 | "The Party Is You" | Grids |
| 2013 | "Good Man" | |
| 2014 | "Newborn" | |
| 2015 | "Cup Cakes" | Give Up on Your Health |
| 2016 | "Dianne" | |
| "Turn, Turn, Turn" |
J Award
The J Awards are an annual Australian music accolade established in 2005 by the youth radio station Triple J, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
|- | J Awards of 2016 | themselves | Double J Artist of the Year |
Music Victoria Awards
Since 2005, the Music Victoria Awards have recognized outstanding achievements within Victoria’s music scene.
|- | rowspan="3"| Music Victoria Awards of 2014 | Grids | Best Album | |- | themselves | Best Band | |- | Jess Cornelius | Best Female Artist | |- | rowspan="2"| Music Victoria Awards of 2016 | "Dianne" | Best Song | |- | Jess Cornelius | Best Female Artist |