Oklahoma-based duo Sports finally dropped their fifth studio album after a four year hiatus. The self-titled release sees the band composed of lifelong friends Cale Chronister and Christian Theriot hitting reset with a fresh team and a self-produced sound that’s resonating with both their longtime fans and newer ones who are not just discovering them.
“For us, ‘Sports’ is about stripping away the noise and finding the core of what we want to say, both sonically and emotionally.”
This latest offering, ‘Sports’, represents a significant artistic pivot for the band after they built a studio nearby their homes to be able to access and record when the moment struck. What resulted was shimmering synth-pop arrangements blended with dream-pop haze, synthesizer hooks and MIDI-driven grooves. Notably, tracks like “Drama King”, “Damaged” and “Never Let You Down” highlight their growth and penchant for creating melodies that stick. The approach has clearly worked as they’ve sold out many dates of their extensive headline tour that will take them across the globe, while marking their upcoming festival appearances like Outside Lands and London Calling.
Sports spoke with B-Sides host Pete Mar about their evolving sound, the challenges of self-production, and the album’s deeply personal lyrical themes, and more.
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