In anticipation of their upcoming album ‘Enough of the Sweet Talk,’ Lime Cordiale’s Oli Leimbach candidly chats about the creative journey behind their third studio album, the culture surrounding the Australian music scene, and the band’s commitment to making touring a more environmentally sustainable endeavour.
Stream: “The Big Reveal; Ou L’Hypocrite” – Lime Cordiale
Fifteen years creating riotous, vivacious music, Lime Cordiale’s brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach show no sign of stopping or slowing down.
Their highly anticipated third album Enough of the Sweet Talk is set to be released July 26, 2024, with seven zingy pre-release singles faithfully showcasing their hallmark charisma.
Looking relaxed against the backdrop of a London bus canvas, Oli tells me that Louis is caught up in another meeting (understandable given the looming release date of their new album), so we comfortably chat about the brother’s whirlwind UK trip before beginning the interview. Having been overseas a lot lately, including a ten-day trip to Japan, Oli tells me this is one of Lime Cordiale’s first interviews surrounding the new album.
Sydney-born and based, Lime Cordiale have carved out a unique niche in alternative surf-rock. Their sound is an intoxicating fusion of introspective reflections on life and love, cleverly interwoven with a cheeky and charismatic energy, offering a refreshing novelty to the Australian indie scene. Despite their widespread success, a humorous observation about the ambiguous term ‘Australian Indie’ led Oli to contemplate the country’s music landscape and its distinct cultural quirks.
He reflects, “It’s interesting because it feels like everyone is competitive and Tall Poppy Syndrome is a big thing in Australia, that if you’re a poppy that sticks out from the rest, then you’re going to get cut down. Anything too in-your-face or too pop-y and people will cut you down and make you feel bad about it, which is a super negative thing and creates competitiveness. It does also make people work really hard and make music that is kept really cool and not in-your-face, so there’s an interweaving style in Australian music for sure.”
An interesting insight into the influences shaping the band’s distinctive and dynamic style, Lime Cordiale prove that this conformist culture hasn’t hindered their creative evolution.
Lime Cordiale’s third studio album, Enough of the Sweet Talk, playfully chronicles the lifecycle of a relationship, offering an optimistically sardonic guide through the realities of love.
Oli shares, “We wanted all these songs to make sense within the structure but be vague enough for everyone to relate to.”
The album’s opening tracks, such as ‘Pedestal’ and ‘Facts of Life,’ capture the early stages of infatuation, while later songs like ‘Cold Treatment’ and ‘Love Is Off The Table’ delve into deceptively upbeat tales of conflict and loss. Oli reveals that Lime Cordiale’s earlier albums discovered their structure and theme much later in the creative process. For instance, 14 Steps To A Better You adopted its title in the final stages of recording. In contrast, Enough of the Sweet Talk was guided by the thematic from the start.
“It was a new experience having a concept album,” Oli explains. “We were constantly thinking about what the theme of this album was.”
When I ask about the noticeable French theme within Enough of the Small Talk (most explicit in the strategically placed ‘cues’ within the album featuring a French-speaking female voice), Oli laughs. He reveals, “We have so many food references in our songs, and we were choosing the songs and analysing the lyrics and thought, man, we are constantly talking about coffee or dinner dates, so that at one point we thought the album could be themed like a French menu.”
Despite this delicious concept, Oli shares that the album eventually took on more of a country twang, his reasoning being Louis’ “definite obsession with Nathaniel Rateliff.” The album’s absorbed “country-ness” can be heard in tracks such as ‘Enough Of The Sweet Talk’ and Happiness Season.’ Whatever the origin, Lime Cordiale’s upcoming album is certainly an eclectic accumulation of influences and genres and successfully cements the band’s reputation as genre-defying and intensely unpredictable.
Beyond a more concept-driven structure, Oli shares that this album stands apart from their previous two studio albums by featuring collaborations with other artists, including a guitar solo on ‘Cold Treatment’ by Australian artist Kirin J. Callinan. Oli mentions that Lime Cordiale are “not shy about bringing other people onto the album,” hinting at more collaborations in their future releases.
When asked which songs from Enough of the Sweet Talk he’s currently obsessed with, Oli admits, “Although ‘Enough of the Sweet Talk’ is one of my favourites, I’m a bit scared to play it live because it has so many guitar parts and it’s not the easiest song to play.”
Despite their established success, this theme of imposter syndrome resonates not only in the name of the album’s tenth track, but also in the musicians’ personal experiences.
Oli reflects, “It’s mostly just Louis and I doing the writing and recording, we get the other guys in when we need them, so we’re pretty fussy. We re-do things a lot and change stuff up, so it results in a lot of imposter syndrome. That’s why we get so sick of our songs, we’re just so fussy! I’m finally getting to the stage now where I can listen to this album for fun, because we’ve been sitting on the album for a while.”
Despite these challenges and reflections on imposter syndrome, Lime Cordiale’s Enough of the Sweet Talk not only showcases their growth with a more collaborative approach, but also provides an insight into the vulnerability behind creating and performing music.
Delving into the creative process behind the new album reveals why Lime Cordiale’s sound resonates so deeply with the duo.
Oli explains, “We write most of our songs in one day. Some of the sillier songs, like ‘Country Club,’ come really easily to us. Our personality is about taking the piss, and that comes out quickly and naturally. But the recording process takes us ages. If you listen to the ‘Pedestal’ demo, it’s pretty horrible! I think only we knew something was there, but if anyone else heard it, they wouldn’t be so sure.”
This glimpse into their process underscores how Lime Cordiale uniquely crafts their distinctive style, where both writing and recording amplify the intimacy and personality infused into their music.
Touring is an inevitable consequence of releasing a new album, and Lime Cordiale are gearing up for a massive European, UK, and Australasian tour starting this summer.
This exciting venture provided the perfect opportunity to discuss their upcoming project, ‘Lime Cordiale: On The Road To A Better Tour.’ Passionate environmentalists, Louis and Oli plan to use this 90-minute documentary to address the seemingly dissonant relationship between touring as a successful band and living sustainably.
Oli elaborates, “We feel like massive hypocrites. If you want to call yourself an environmentalist, should you really be flying around the world? But at the same time, are you really going to change the world if you stop doing what you love? That just sounds too far-fetched. It’s an example of trying to change an industry that feels so unchangeable.”
The documentary will conclude with Lime Cordiale’s upcoming Australia tour, during which they plan to implement as many environmentally conscious decisions as possible. From encouraging venues to install solar panels to persuading their bus company to use biodiesel instead of regular fuel, the brothers are determined to make a difference.
Discussing the challenges they’ve faced, Oli shares, “When you have a show this big, you end up working with people you’ve never even met before, so you’re constantly saying, ‘We just want to make the most environmentally conscious decisions we can!’ And they say, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah,’ so you just have to hassle and hassle.”
On the flip side, it’s sometimes much easier, with some companies eager to contribute to the change. Oli says, “Sometimes it’s just one conversation, and they are really keen to help.”
‘On The Road To A Better Tour’ is a pertinent and impressive project, set to come out in the near future. It promises to offer valuable insights into a transforming music industry and Lime Cordiale’s efforts to balance their passion for music with their commitment to the environment.
As our interview concludes, Oli reveals that Lime Cordiale’s next album is already in the works.
“We’re always writing, and around the New Year we have some time off. We want to gather all the gear we have scattered around and build our own little studio in a farm we have up the coast,” he shares. With the band’s self-professed inability to take a holiday, I’m confident Lime Cordiale’s boundless creativity and passion will continue to produce exciting new projects.
Infused with a diverse blend of influences, Lime Cordiale’s third studio album Enough of the Sweet Talk consistently pushes the boundaries of their distinctive surf rock sound. The album’s thematic exploration of love, coupled with their jocular and vibrant style, promises to be the soundtrack of the summer. As they embark on their extensive tour, fans worldwide can look forward to not only electrifying performances, but also their determination to impact an industry often resistant to change.
With their unique blend of introspection, playfulness, and environmental consciousness, Lime Cordiale are set to make waves both musically and ethically, proving that they are far from just another poppy in the field.
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© Oliver Begg
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