Since the release of their first EP Told You So back in 2012 Brisbane’s Cub Sport have been on a roller coaster of new and crazy experiences.
Winning Unearthed 2012 was just the beginning for this little four piece, jet-setting to the US for some next level live appearances on KEXP and CMJ as well as local tours with the likes of Ball Park Music and Loon Lake. They even had time to host a Karaoke Competition for one lucky fan.
Now in the wake of their debut LP This Is Our Vice we chatted with the Cub Sport frontman and songwriter Tim Nelson about packing the last few incredible years into a personal and identifiable indie-pop gem of a record.
We thought the interview might not even go ahead, Tim had fallen pretty sick and was trying to recoup before the next leg of their tour.
“The last 24 hours have been pretty rough – I even had a trip to the ER this morning” says Nelson on his condition, but it’s not all bad for the recovering songwriter.
“I’ve got heaps of stuff recorded on Foxtel including Broad City, It’s Always Sunny, Real Housewives of Melbourne and some Vice documentaries, so I’ve got plenty to fill my day”.
The album itself is so rich with emotional experience. Tim explained that the way the LP was written and recorded had a lot to do with preserving those sentiments.
“I wrote most of these songs in my bedroom as I was recording the original demos. I’d never recorded music myself before, so it was a really exciting process” Tim explained.
“It gave me the freedom to broaden the scope of the ‘Cub Sport sound’ and I feel like that writing environment also helped make it easier to be genuine and honest lyrically”.
Despite his bearing his soul Tim has no reservation sharing himself with the rest of the band. “Dan, Sam and Zoe are three of my best friends so it feels normal for us to be working on something so personal together”.
“My demos are pretty basic, so recording live instruments and additional parts in the studio with the band really adds a lot of life to the songs”.
With a whole lot more going on musically, everyone in the band seems to be furiously preparing to take the new album out of the studio and onto the stage.
“We’ve all had to stretch ourselves a little further but we’re really enjoying playing these new songs. Zoe has expanded her pedal board a lot so that she can recreate the exact guitar sounds off the album. Sam’s covering all of the bass and synth parts, so he’s pretty busy on stage!”
As Cub Sport prepare for a new national tour with the albums release Tim reflects on the bands crazy time touring the US.
[include_post id=”471010″]“It was surreal. I never dreamed that we’d have our music played on KEXP, let alone play a whole set live from CMJ. We’re really lucky to have had that opportunity”
Starting back on the Australian circuit the band is getting pretty keen to play their new tracks for old fans.
“We’re excited to play everywhere. We’re touring Australia with Saskwatch at the moment and it’s so nice to be playing shows again and to share these new songs”.
As a songwriter driven by incredible worldwide experiences it comes as a surprise that in the lead up to release of This Is Our Vice nothing has been more satisfying for Nelson than getting the final cut out to the public and seeing how Cub Sport have grown into getting it out there.
“As a band, we learned a huge amount from the whole process. It was really important for us to stay true to our vision every step of the way. At times it was challenging, but we’ve ended up with a record that we love and believe in”.
The band’s new LP This Is Our Vice is out now, visit www.cubsport.com for more info and to pick up a copy.
