Spotlight: Sports (The Band)

There’s something effortlessly honest about the way Sports (The Band) approach their music, blending sharp songwriting with a laid back charm that feels both familiar and fresh. In this conversation, we dive into how the band came together, the creative process behind their sound, and the moments that have shaped their journey so far. From early influences to life on the road, this interview pulls back the curtain on the people and stories behind the music.

Your new self-titled album Sports marks your first fully self-produced record. What inspired the decision to take complete control of the production this time around?

We just needed a challenge. We’ve been doing this for 10 years now and it felt like we needed to try a new process to make it feel new.

You wrote and recorded the album in a studio you built yourselves in Tulsa. What was the experience like creating that space and how did it shape the sound of the record?

It was a really hot summer building that place out. It was just a room above an insurance office. It wasn’t very big, but we started by painting the walls, hanging lights on the ceiling for good vibes, placing acoustic treatment, and uncovering the windows to bring light in. And the final piece was some turf from the football field at our old high school. My dad is the athletic director there, so he hooked us up. We just used it as a giant rug.

After that, we just combined all our various keyboards, outboard gear, mics, etc., and we had a pretty well-functioning studio. I think us being surrounded by our own stuff, our own room, just made it really fun. It felt like moving into a new house and setting up your bedroom for the first time as a kid.

How did the writing process for Sports compare to your earlier releases like Naked All The Time?

A little different, and a little the same. Usually, I’d bring my own demos to the studio that we would work on together or Christian would bring some instrumental demos for me to write over. And we did some of that on this album, still. But what was different was that we also wrote songs together in the same room. Songs like Drama King, Nice 2 Meet Myself, Jelly, I Can’t Cry, came together with both of us in the room the whole time it was being made.

The album blends dreamy indie textures with bigger pop hooks and more dynamic transitions. Was expanding the sonic palette something you set out to do intentionally?

A little bit. We definitely wanted to evolve our sound and reach more towards the pop sphere. But we also don’t try to overthink what we’re gonna make before we make it. It’s best to just let your curiosity and amusement guide you.

The single “Drama King” offers a strong preview of the album’s direction. What’s the story behind that track and how did it come together?

That was one we started together in the studio. Christian was chugging those chords on guitar, and I started playing that juicy lil synth hook over it, and we realized we had something cool going. A vibe we didn’t have on the album yet. It just blossomed from there. I made sure to get lyrics down as fast as possible because I didn’t want to give myself the chance to overthink it.

Another standout track, “Jelly,” leans into bigger pop energy. What made that song an important part of the album’s overall narrative?

I think the energy of the song is really important for the record. It’s the fastest song on the album. It’s actually the fastest song we’ve ever made. But I like where it sits in the sequence, almost in the middle. You get time to warm up to it, and time to cool down from it.

With songs like “Nice 2 Meet Myself (Bang Bang Bang)” and “Keep Falling In Love,” the record feels both introspective and playful. How do you balance those emotional tones when writing?

I don’t tend to think about balancing things. I guess I just trust that my experiences over the period of making an album, which usually takes a year or so, will tell some sort of story. I just say what I know, or what sounds good and trust that it will get me somewhere.

You’re now heading out on a massive international tour. How excited are you to bring these new songs to the stage?

We’re really excited. We’re bringing a completely new setup on tour. It’ll be a little more electronic – based. It’s kind of the same idea as making the album. It feels like time to switch things up a bit.

You’ll also be making stops in Canada this April in Toronto and Montreal. What are you most looking forward to about performing for Canadian audiences?

I am looking forward to seeing our Canadian friends again and also having their help with finding the best poutine around.

Looking back on the journey from your 2015 debut Naked All The Time to this new self-titled album, how do you feel the band has evolved creatively?

We’ve gone through a lot of changes in the past decade, but I think we’re still chasing that same thing, which simply is the excitement of making a song that you love. And so far, we haven’t gotten bored with that feeling yet.

For someone discovering Sports for the first time through this album or tour, what song would you recommend they start with?

If You Want Me is a good introduction, I think. It feels new but also tethered to our older stuff.

What’s something fans might be surprised to learn about the creative process behind this record?

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Looking ahead, what’s next for Sports after this tour cycle?

Some more shows, some more music. We won’t take 4 years to release another album, I promise.

A closer look at the people and process behind Spotlight: Sports (The Band).

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