Foto-© Sebastian Madej
Schon seit einiger Zeit gehört Dublin zum Schmelztiegel der spannendsten Rock-Newcomer – so auch nun wieder, hat die Post-Punk Sensation SPRINTS um Sängerin, Gitarristin und Lead-Songschreiberin Karla Chubb in den letzten Monaten doch die geneigten Fans im Sturm erobert. Und sie werden noch mehr Fans gewinnen – denn am kommenden Freitag erscheint endlich das Debütalbum Letter To Self, das perfekt im Fahrtwasser von Acts wie Amyl And The Sniffers, IDLES, Dream Wife und Co mit ordentlicher Wucht die letzte Silvester-Raketen-Asche von euren Klamotten hinwegfegt.
Hinweggefegt hat uns das Quartett auch schon beim letztjährigen Reeperbahn Festival, als die Band im Molotow einen ihrer jetzt schon sagenumwobenen Live-Auftritte auf die Bühne brachte – und wir im Vorfeld der Show schon die vier zum Fototermin trafen. Hinterher gab es noch eine ausführliche Fragenliste per Mail, die Frontfrau Karla ebenso per Mail beantwortete – fertig ist unser Interview mit unserer ersten Lieblings-Newcomer-Band in 2024!
Bandinfos:
– Name: SPRINTS
– Founding year: 2019
– Location: Dublin, Ireland
– Release: Debut Album Out January 5th
Questionaire:
As Letter To Self is your debut album and as this is our first interview with you, maybe let’s start where you started: What was the first rock band that really made an impression on you personally and why?
I think for most of us in the band it was probably a lot of the early classic rock bands like Zepplin, Guns N Roses, Hendrix and The Beatles. That was pretty much the standard music you saw people want to pick up and learn how to play. Then as you became an angsty teenager it was stuff like Nirvana, Hole, Pixies. Pixies are probably the band that has influenced a lot of our playing.
How and when did you meet and when did you decide to form SPRINTS?
Jack, Colm and Sam had been friends for years, and attended the same school. Jack and Colm have played music together since they were about 10? I (Karla) met Jack and Colm then when I was in my 20’s. We jammed in a few bands for a few years but when we asked Sam to step in on bass one random rehearsal we knew it was different and I think that’s when SPRINTS formed.
How did you come up with the band name, what meaning does it have for you and is there a story behind it?
I literally made it up on the bus one day to rehearsal at Jack’s house. We had gone through a lot of terrible names up until that point but we always knew we wanted something that was one word, short and expressed the fast paced energy of the music. SPRINTS was one of the few names we didn’t hate after a few weeks and our friends seemed to like it too. So it stuck.
From forming the band to signing a record deal – when did it really get serious for you and how did you experience those steps, looking back what were the important choices you made?
I don’t know if there was an exact lightbulb moment, but a series of moments that has given us the confidence to believe we could take this seriously and potentially “make it”. From getting playlisted on Spotify or on Radio, to selling out shows or booking amazing live shows like Glastonbury, I think all these small moments over the years have added up and made us look around and go, this could really be something. The most important choices we’ve made I think is picking the team around us and putting our music, and musical family, first. Everything we do is decided and debated together, we know who we are and what we stand for and we’ll always put that first together.
Listening to your record – which I really love – there are a lot of influences that come to mind, beginning with Amyl and the Sniffers, to IDLES, over Savages and IDLES. Which bands would you count as influences for your sound and how much influence did Dublin as an emerging rock city have on you?
Every band you just listed is exactly the influences we had in mind. IDLES have definitely shaped a lot of our guitar sound, similarly Savages probably has a lot of influence on the rhythm section and vocal delivery. PJ Harvey and Amy Taylor are definitely big inspirations for me as frontwomen and just their artistic energy. In terms of Dublin and Ireland as a whole, there is such a wealth of talent here right now. From Cruel Sister to Gurriers, there’s such an explosion of noise rock, it’s really inspiring. I think the city has definitely shaped our sound and themes.
Can you describe a bit the production process of Letter To Self, how, when and where it came into life, what was the best/what the worst moment during production and what is the most told anecdote of that time?
Letter To Self came together through a lot of pain, honesty, late nights and lots and lots of wine. It was recorded with Daniel Fox in Studio Black Box, which is located in the west of France, in Segre. It was a very isolated experience, but that’s exactly what we wanted. All of the songs, except for one, were written specifically for the album, they all served a purpose or told another part of the story. The production was all about taking that honest, pain and the rawness of our live show and brining it to life on record as best we could.
For the production you went to France – why did you choose that location for the recording and what influence did this have?
The studio came recommended by Daniel Fox, and had a history of some really cool artists like The Last Shadow Puppets. We loved the idea of traveling for the album because it allowed us to focus on nothing else but the music. Segre is quite an isolated and rural area so there were no distractions. Just wine and music, 24/7.
Daniel Fox, who is the bassist of Gilla Band, did produce the record – why did you choose him or how did it come to that and which influence did he have to the songs?
We’ve worked with Daniel Fox on pretty much everything we’ve put out as SPRINTS. He’s really helped us shape our sound, include textures and depth so he was always going to work on our debut album. He helped shape a lot of the songs and even played some tambourine and guitar on a few of them.
Going more into the songs of the record, Ticking features surprisingly some German words („Mutter, Vater, Geschwistern“), how come and what was the idea behind it?
I was born in Ireland, but when I was a few months old our family had to move to Germany for my Father’s work. We ended up living there for 5 years so I grew up semi bi-lingual. We needed some extra lyrics for Ticking in the studio, and the idea just came into my head to do them in German. I thought it was a nice call back to my childhood for a song that’s all about struggling with anxiety and where you belong.
Adore Adore Adore is one of our favorite tracks on the record and features some of your most powerful lyrics as we feel – could you tell us a bit about the story behind it, how and when it was done?
Adore Adore Adore was all about me trying to process negative feedback. We got a pretty terrible review once at a festival performance, which I thought was pretty unfair and harsh. It critiqued me, my personality and appearance as opposed to the music. So I thought that this idea that critics, fans or industry have an expectation of what you should act like or what is acceptable from a female musician was interesting and the words and music just kind of fell out of me.
Overall the record is covering a lot of very personal and intense matters – from the fight of women for their physical autonomy, fighting for self acceptance, psychological problems, sexuality and even catholic feeling of guilt. Was it easy for you to open up in this way always and does it rather help to share these heavy matters in songs or do you also feel a burden being confronted with these problem made songs at times when having to perform them?
It’s definitely difficult, and very scary. We have always been very open and honest in our songs but now that we’re getting bigger, and our platform is getting slightly larger, it’s definitely a bit more daunting as more people are going to hear it. I think that’s probably why it’s important to keep going though. We use music as a way to process our feelings, let go and let loose so it keeps us authentic and honest to keep writing this way.
Is there a song that stands out for you on the record personally, which and why?
Shadow Of A Doubt probably is the stand out for all of us. It’s incredibly emotive. We’re excited for everyone to hear it.
Do you have a work routine when writing songs and if so, how does it look like?
It’s pretty scattered and random. Because we all work and travel a lot, you kind of just find time where you can and when you can to write. A lot of our songs just start out as voice notes in my phone humming or singing the lines, chords or melody. When we get in a room together is when they all start to really form properly.
In which situations do you usually write the lyrics for the songs and is there a special surrounding / atmosphere that you work best in?
Lyrics usually come about when I have a rare moment of rest. Whether it’s lying in bed, sitting on the bus or just walking outside, I feel like when I’m supposed to be relaxing and shutting off that’s when my brain starts to actually go into overdrive with writing.
As mentioned before Dublin feels from the outside like one of the most flourishing rock cities at the moment – how does the scene feel for you as insiders, was it easy for you the find connections and could you profit somehow of it?
I think Dublin is going through quite a hard time politically and socially, and out of that frustration a lot of fantastic music has been born. There is so much talent here in the city and it’s an honour to just be considered among the ranks.
You’re one of the hottest newcomer bands from Dublin at the moment – which other newcomer bands/artists would you suggest to give a listen to?
There are honestly so many it’s hard to keep track but one act that we always come back to and love is Cruel Sister. She’s an incredible songwriter and has a very 90s shoegaze/noise inspired sound. She supported us in our Button Factory show and it was such a good live show. Other acts we love include Fraulein from Northern Ireland, The Love Buzz from Cork and NewDad definitely aren’t up and coming anymore but they’re friends from the circuit so nice to give them a shout out.
You are signed to City Slang – which is kind of a surprising fit as they didn’t sign rock bands up to now, why did you decide to sign with them nevertheless?
The team were just amazing when we met them. They have a rich history of rock acts, having worked with some big names, so the fact they didn’t have any rock acts on their roster at the moment actually appealed to us. Sometimes it helps you stand out when you’re the only heavy band. We couldn’t imagine working with anyone else now that we’ve been with them the last 9 months.
Whats next on your schedule?
The Letter To Self debut album is out January 5th and album tour kicks off then in February. We’re playing shows across Europe, with some amazing German dates in there, the USA, UK and Ireland. Tickets are all available now so go check them out.
What are you doing when you’re not doing music?
Watching football in the pub with friends, gaming or hanging out together.
What was the last record you bought?
I recently picked up the new Romy record which I love, as well as an old Temptations compilation to listen to in the car.
What did you learn in 2023?
Believe in yourself a little bit more, but never stop trying to be better.
Which song makes you dance every time?
LCD Soundsystem – All My Friend.
How would your Bedroomdisco look like?
Me and the Sprints guys on the DJ decks, loads of amazing alternative 80s tunes, close friends, cold beers and just chilling and hanging out.
