A Conversation with Sports: an Interview with Cale Chronister and Christian Theriot

Full of pop beats followed by some ‘80s undertones, Cale Chronister and Christian Theriot bring you the amazing band that is Sports. Based out of Los Angeles, CA, and Norman, OK, the band has perfected their unique and stylish sound since their debut LP “Naked All The Time” (2015) followed by “People Can’t Stop Chillin’” (2016). Singles such as “Panama” and “Whatever You Want” perfectly portray what you get from the band’s infectious and funky songs. About their newest single, “Baby Baby” released on October 16th, songwriter and vocalist, Cale Chronister says it, “is about codependency. My emotions being dependent on someone else’s emotions. It’s about a vicious cycle of not being able to comfort someone who is crying, and their crying ending up making me more upset than they are.” He talks about how this song brings back memories from his childhood: “When I was a baby, I had colic and I cried all the time. The only thing my mom could do to stop it was play the song “Baby Baby” by Amy Grant super loud in the living room while she danced with me in her arms.”

Unpublished had the exciting opportunity to interview the band about their new single as well as what we can expect from their upcoming music. Check it out below!

[UNPUBLISHED:] What inspired you guys to make music?

[CHRISTIAN:] When I was six or seven, I would just be banging on Tupperware and pots and pans. My parents, then, bought me drums, and then I got into the guitar.
[CALE:] Just growing up in Oklahoma, with the type of family I had wasn't very musical at all. I had those cousins at Christmas gatherings or things like that and they'd bring their electric guitars and amps. They'd let me just kind of mess around with it and that was like the beginning for me. I just couldn't believe the sound. At Christmas gatherings, I would just be at the guitar and amp that would be in a different room. And I would say, my parents kind of noticed I was super interested in this.

[UNPUBLISHED:] How would you describe your creative process when writing a song?

[CALE:] It starts with me making a demo or a draft sort of thing, of a song. But it'll be pretty rough. It'll be a pretty complete idea, but have a lot of work to be done on it. Then I bring it to the table with Christian and our producer can continue to write on top of it.

We just end up massaging for what seems like a long time. I think I wrote the first demo two years ago. And we weren’t working on it constantly, more like on and off working.

[UNPUBLISHED:] For Cale, you talk about how “Baby Baby,” your new single, is dedicated to codependency, which is something that a lot of people struggle with when dealing with their emotions. When you were writing this song, did you have a certain idea in mind for how it might help or guide it’s listeners who struggle with this?
[CALE:] It isn’t so much a guide, but instead admitting my thought process. I didn't, realize it was about codependency until after the fact. I think my wife was listening to it and said it was a song about codependency. I was thinking of it that way, but I wasn't thinking of that word. But it's kind of just me thinking of it as a vicious cycle- like someone else, a significant other, or a close friend, or whatever. And how, in a codependent relationship when you’re upset, you can't be happy unless they're happy. You’re kind of upsetting each other because you don't get to be independently upset. In the narrative of me telling my story and how I feel, I don't know that I offer a solution really. I think the only solution is to be aware of it.

[UNPUBLISHED:] Will the two-part LP follow the signature sound of Sports? When I think of your music, I get a blend of ‘80s synth-pop sounds. Will this be what’s in store for us or will we get to see a different side to the band?

[CALE:] It's gonna sound pretty different. I mean, there'll be songs with the classic Sports sound, like “Baby Baby.” But there are definitely some others that are new to us. We're really excited about a little more rock and roll, which we just finished up today, about 15 minutes ago.

[UNPUBLISHED:] How would you guys describe your own sound?

[CALE:] I feel like other people are better at describing how we sound, especially after we work on songs for so long. I would say pop because It's not limiting you. It kind of covers everything.

[UNPUBLISHED:] Of all the songs you guys released so far, which one is your favorite and why?

[CALE:] Right now my favorite is “Baby Baby,” because it’s new and refreshing. But I think my all-time favorite song is probably “Panama.” I feel that that one was one of the most collaborative songs where we each added a layer and it really brought the song to life. And I mean, it’s been out for five years and has taken on a life of its own. And it’s become a favorite song to other people, too. Especially because it signifies summer which is really cool. But also, “People Can’t Stop Chilling.” I kind of sound like I'm bragging too much, but I can't believe I wrote that. It's so simple but so good. It reminds me, I wrote and recorded it on my grandma's piano who passed away when I was a kid, but she was the only other person in my family that played an instrument. She played piano and was apparently really good. I don't really remember super well. I remember her, but I was really young. But that piano ended up at my parents’ house and then I took it to my house. It’s an interesting song. It's very different.

[UNPUBLISHED:] Who are some artists, if any, that have inspired or influenced your music?

[CALE:] I mean, there's a lot. “BRONCHO” has inspired us-- not sonically but just as a band. “BRONCHO” is kind of like our big brother that helped us a lot. There's the stuff that we listened to in high school that kind of formed who we are, like MGMT and Empire of the Sun. As we got older, we started listening to classic music like David Bowie, you know, all the gods that existed before our time. We’ve also referenced The Clash a lot.

[UNPUBLISHED:] If you could choose any artist or musician to be featured on one of your songs who would it be?

[CALE:] Iggy Pop. He seems like a fun person to be around and he writes really cool lyrics on the spot.

Be sure to stream “Baby Baby” and check out the rest of Sports’ music here!