Cub Sport recently released their new single, Chasin’ it showcases their subtle RnB flecked electro-pop that’s shot through with a revelatory honesty. Its the second track taken from their new album BATS, written after a long trip, during which frontman Tim Nelson first realised he was in love with bandmate Sam, “It was equal parts exciting and distressing” says Tim. “I’d hardly come out to myself and the idea of coming out to anyone else was terrifying. I feel like Chasin’ ties together all of the feelings I had during this time.” Watch the video below:
BATS is the first new material since band members Tim and Sam came out as gay and in a relationship in mid-2016. Standing alongside out-and-proud guitarist Zoe, the group use their platform to speak out against homophobia. The band develop and encourage a safe community on their social media channels and at their live performances, as well as donating a portion of live ticket and merch sales to organisations close to their hearts including an LGBTQI scholarship charity and an animal shelter.
Brisbane’s Cub Sport released their debut album This Is Our Vice in early 2016, their single Come On Mess Me Up caught the attention of The 1975‘s Matty Healy and scored Cub Sport an invitation to join them on their 2016 Australian arena tour. Tim from Cub Sport has kindly fielded our twenty questions below:
Hi, how are you today and what’s the weather like?
Hi! I’m doing well. It’s a warm, sunny day in Brisbane today!
Where did the name Cub Sport come from?
When we first launched the band we were called Cub Scouts which was kind of a play on the fact we all looked like babies. After being a band for a couple of years we received a legal letter from Scouts Australia saying we couldn’t use the word ‘scout’ in our name. After running through hundreds of options, we landed on Cub Sport.
How do most of your songs start life? A piano part? A chord? Or melody?
They usually start with a feeling that inspires either lyrics or a chord progression or sometimes both at the same time. It’s different for different songs. I usually record as I write, so I’m often playing around with a synth or guitar and recording vocals as I go.
Have you ever been starstruck?
I met Solange backstage at a festival in Australia a few years ago, I was shakin’ – she’s one of my biggest heroes!
The Royal Family: should they stay or should they go?
I don’t really know ‘em
Do you have any pets?
Yes I’ve got two beautiful dogs Missy and Evie. They’re golden retriever x poodle and they’re the sweetest things ever.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to be?
I was half way through a dentistry degree when I dropped out to give more time to music, so I would have probably ended up becoming a dentist if I wasn’t doing this. I feel like I sort of dodged a bullet there.
What’s your favourite book?
I’ve got a couple of Leonard Cohen’s books of lyrics and poetry which are pretty special to me.
What were you like at school?
I was pretty annoying to be honest. I was a closeted gay kid at a very religious school and I think my way of dealing with that was being a massive brat.
What’s the music scene like back home?
It’s awesome! There’s some really amazing stuff coming out of Australia at the moment. I’ve been really lucky to collaborate with some of my favourite local artists for writing and recording music as well as making music videos and doing photo shoots etc. It feels like everyone has each other’s backs which is super nice!
Best gig you’ve played so far?
We supported The 1975 last year on their Australian arena tour – it was absolutely insane!
What’s your favourite song?
Frank Ocean – Solo
Frank’s album Blonde came out just after Bolan and I got together and it sort of became the soundtrack to the start of our lives together. Solo hit me especially hard and there’s a song on our album BATS called ‘Solo III’ which paints a picture of all the emotions of that time. Bolan and I have actually given each other little Solo tattoos on the back of each other’s left arm.
What do you listen to in your tour van?
I have a playlist on our Spotify profile called BATS VIBE which is pretty much whatever music I’m into at the time and that’s usually what I put on in the tour van.
What were your favourite artists growing up?
I was always big into pop. Destiny’s Child and Britney were probably my favs!
Who would you want to play you in the film of your life?
I wasn’t sure about this so I tweeted asking for help. I was thinking Cameron Diaz which proved to be a popular option on twitter. A couple of other suggestions were Elle Fanning, Jack Kilmer and Troye Sivan. It’s an all-star cast!
Vinyl, CD, Download or stream?
I mainly stream and buy vinyls!
What’s the best cover version you have ever heard?
Frank Ocean’s cover of Aaliyah’s ‘At Your Best’ is really beautiful.
Tell us about your recent release?
We put out our second album BATS in September. It more-or-less maps out my journey of self-discovery and coming to terms with my sexuality. From the moment I admitted to myself that I was gay, to realising I was in love with my best friend/band mate Bolan (Sam), to finally acknowledging the situation a year later and to then coming out and being together. It’s a bit more chilled out and spacious than our previous releases and has some more R&B/soul vibes. I recorded pretty much all of it at home and we kept a lot of the production from the original demos for the final mixes so it feels very true to my vision.
Any hopes for 2018?
I hope the album keeps connecting with people and we can keep doing what we’re doing. We’re bringing BATS to the live stage around Australia, the US and Canada from February-May which we’re super excited for! We’ve got UK plans in the works currently, so stay tuned!
What would be your dream collaboration?
Kanye West!
Cub Sport’s new album BATS is out now.
Image by Jennifer Embelton
