Sports

The Oklahoma based group Sports consists of Jacob Theriot, Christian Theriot and Cale Chronister. The trio first started playing music together in middle school, but were often playing covers of their favorite alternative rock tunes. It was only after Christian attempted to teach Jacob the guitar (which he ended up trading in for the bass) that the group officially started.

Their first EP, Naked All The Time, was recorded at Blackwatch Studio in Norman, Oklahoma, where Cale worked during intervals in the band’s and studio’s schedule. Because the EP was written over a long period, even at only eight songs, there were a vast number of influences for the music. The influence partly stemmed from Blackwatch itself, where Cale came into contact with artists such as BRONCHO, Samantha Crain and John Fullbright. For their debut release, the three band members sampled different techniques when recording (like playing with varied synth and keyboards) to attain a captivating sound. Naked All The Time was released in July 2015, and their follow up EP, People Can't Stop Chillin, was released in October 2016.

GROWING UP

Cale: I grew up mainly in Tulsa, OK. I wrote songs in secret on my sister’s karaoke machine, but besides that I spent most of my time playing basketball. My dad was a basketball coach. I wanted to be in the NBA.

Jacob: I grew up in Tulsa, OK. My childhood was more or less normal with hardships here and there; a lot of playin’ outside and watching tv. Creativity wasn’t instilled too much by my parents, but my sister was really into drawing and Christian was always hitting pots and pans so I was sort of around it. Didn’t really think too much about music until I was maybe 11 or 12 when Christian started playing in a band with Cale. Though I decided, being the little brother, that I had to be different and not play guitar, so I got a lil Fender bass combo package for my birthday. After that I started playing every single day with a friend at school who was beyond better than me and all we played was Sweet Child O’ Mine and Carry On My Wayward Son all the time while his dad sang and played drums. I like to think I was a better bassist then than I am now, it was all downhill from there.

Christian: I grew up in Tulsa OK. Took an interest in music specifically drums around 1st grade. None of my immediate family members played an instrument so it sort of came out of nowhere. Got a drum set for $100 from a neighbor and I can remember spending hours just hitting them. Eventually got a guitar and now I’m here. I never was interested in learning other bands songs, but was always into writing my own. I didn't think of myself as a creative person. Growing up a creative person was someone who could draw or paint well not strumming around on a guitar.

FORMAL / NOT FORMAL MUSIC EDUCATION

Jacob: I’ve never taken a paid lesson, but I’ve gotten plenty of pointers from many musicians. I’d say my friend’s dad in grade school is who I’d have to thank for any musical training early on. He more or less convinced me that I was good enough to keep going, then after that I didn’t really see myself doing anything else but music. I was in band at school for a few years, but marching band was the worst thing around and Cale was in yearbook, which sounded way more fun, so I quit and did that. So you could say I got some classical training from band, but I don’t think I remember too much. I might start really practicing my trumpet again, though. I wasn’t half bad. Could be tight.

Cale: My parents bought me a guitar when I was in second grade, but I wasn’t patient enough to learn how to play anything until I was like 13. Even then, I was just writing songs with power chords. I never cared to shred. I didn’t get interested in theory until after high school.

BAND FORMATION

Christian: I always was into the idea of being in a band. I found out a friend of mine was starting to play with some kids and invited me over one day. First time I really met Cale. That was about 14 years ago and have been going ever since. Looking back at it we all really loved the idea of playing together but the fact that we are still together seems like it was meant to be.

Cale: Once I learned how to play a few chords on guitar, I saved up and bought a drum set at Toys R Us so I could start a band. The only reason I met Christian was because I was looking for people I could start a band with. We were like 12 or 13. Christian was actually good at guitar. He really taught me how to play guitar. I always wanted to match him. Christian brought his little brother to band practice one day and I liked him. Thought he made us look cooler and he was really good. So we kicked our other friend out for Jacob. Meant2Be.

Jacob: Definitely more of a question for Cale and Christian. I joined FINALLY when they decided to kick out the other dude. I think we all remember that night differently, but I had never been happier.

GETTING INSPIRED WHILE OUT AND ABOUT – VOICE MEMOS & NOTES 


Cale: That usually happens in my car, and I’ll panic to unplug my phone from the aux and open up Voice Memos to record my idea before I forget it. If I’m out in public, I’ll excuse myself to do it. I never let it go.

Jacob: I do that all the time, but usually the idea is pretty much gone once I get back to my room to record it so I end up writing something else. But I guess it gets me started.

WRITING PROCESS – INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP EFFORT 


Jacob: The writing process always has kinda been an individual thing. I don’t feel that we started conventionally like some other bands do, in a garage or something. We rarely (if ever) all got in a room and wrote something. I’m pretty sure I started recording random songs in Reason 3 (thanks to Christian) before even joining the band. So the process takes place individually, then if Cale has vocal ideas, the song lives on. But we’re getting to the point where we’re wanting to try some new techniques, making it a bit more collaborative along the way. That’s what you’ll hear on the next record.

Cale: Yeah we all write and record in our own bedrooms and then work together on them later. If it’s a demo I’ve made, there will already be vocals on it. But Jacob and Christian will send me instrumentals and I’ll write vocal parts on them.

LYRICS – WHERE, TIME PERIOD & PHYSICALLY, THEY WERE THOUGHT UP


 Cale: I try to write lyrics that fit what the song is already saying. Usually in another character. It’s not all literal to my life, but I think the emotions in it are. With ‘People Can’t Stop Chillin’ I’m the self-assured party guy that’s actually insecure and scared behind the curtains.

Both my parents got cancer right before we started making this record, and I think it shows how I dealt with it. Just trying to ignore the anxiety and compensate by hangin’ out. Pretending there wasn’t a problem.

LYRICS – INTENTIONALLY SITTING DOWN TO WRITE VS HAVING IDEAS IN YOUR HEAD AND THEN THEY SPILL OUT

Christian: For me it’s a combination of both. I get the feeling when I haven’t written anything in a bit that drives me to write. Which is great because it’s something I love to do and once I'm in it I remember why I do it. Nowadays I get hit with so much content that can be used as inspiration it sometimes can be overwhelming. That inspiration then can be stirred back up when I’m actually ready to write, but majority of the time it’s too late.

Jacob: I’d say it’s usually intentional. I kinda just write as I go and let it build on itself and then I start to develop an overall feel of what it is and go from there. I sometimes have preconceived ideas of what vibe I want to go for, but it usually changes if I write something different or better than what I was imagining in my dome.

Cale: Sometimes I’ve got some guys swimmin’ around for a while before I actually sit down with them and record. I write songs in my car a lot. But I write/record in my bedroom every day. So it gets out one way or another.

WRITING, SOMETHING THEY ENJOY?

Jacob: It depends on the day. Sometimes I’ll sit down at 7PM, look at the clock, and outta nowhere it’s 3AMand I’ve got somethin’ pretty cool. But also there are those days where I’ll sit down at and end up just wanting to take a nap within the first hour because I’ve got zero ideas. I rarely force myself to write. Usually I’ll just practice an instrument or read if that happens, or go hang with the boys (and/or my girl).

Cale: It’s easy when I’m having fun. I usually stop completely if I realize I’m not having a good time. I laugh a lot at what I’m doing and that’s when I know it’s good.

FAVORITE PART IN ALBUM CREATION PROCESS

Jacob: It was a pretty quick one. I’d say my favorite part is always getting into the studio with Chad and hearing the songs come to life in a whole new way. It’s an exciting process.

Cale: It’s the most fun when we are all in the studio with Chad feeding off each other. I like chillin’ with Chad’s dogs too. Shout out to Doug and Sophie.

ARTWORK – CONTRIBUTE IDEAS OR REMAIN HANDS OFF

Jacob: We were all in Los Angeles this past summer and realized we had a great opportunity to take a tight photo for the cover. We had been toying with the idea of it having a nighttime drive vibe, so we found some guy on Craigslist named Ray White with a real clean 90s Mercedes convertible and asked if we could take a photo with it. Then our manager talked to a photographer (Jason Castro Clifton) and we just went for it on a whim. I handled all of the post production (typography and editing) and there were quite a few revisions, but we got to a place where we’re all super happy with it.

ARTWORK – AESTHETICALLY COOL PACKAGE VS COVERSATION BETWEEN LYRICS AND ART

Jacob: I find it just as important as the music itself. If it doesn’t make sense or represent the sound, then what the heck is the point? I think albums are just as much a musical experience as a visual one. If you have the power to put imagery in someone’s head to represent what’s inside before they ever hear it, you gotta take advantage because that’s pretty cool.

MENTORS

Cale: I guess you could say our producer, Chad Copelin, has been a mentor for me. He and I have very similar tastes in music, and he’s super good at everything so I’m always learning from him. I lived in his studio as an intern before Sports ever recorded there. That’s basically how we started working with him. BRONCHO could be considered mentors as well. Ryan helps with lyrics and harmonies sometimes. Nathan Price played drums on both records.

Jacob: Not intentional mentors, but I’d say anyone I’m involved with musically has been a mentor in their own way. I’m a spongy guy.

Photography by Jason Castro Clifton | Interview by Heather Hawke