Tired Lion could very well be Australia’s best kept secret. But with the release of their debut album Dumb Days all of that is about to change. With festival appearances both in Australia and UK and a swag of support slots under their belt it’s now Tired Lion’s time to shine. We caught up with vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Sophie Hopes to chat about the new album and find out her policy on shoeys.

SCENEzine
Firstly congrats on the new album its really solid. You must be stoked with it?

Sophie Hopes
Yeah we are all pretty excited

SCENEzine
Is it the kind of thing where you just want it out already so the rest of the world can hear it?

Sophie Hopes
Definitely it’s been something that we’ve been sitting on for a while. We had talked of actually pushing it back to next year. So gladly we pulled our shit together and it’s coming out super soon. We area all so psyched.

SCENEzine
Was getting Luke from Violent Soho as simple as asking him to produce the album?

Sophie Hopes
Weirdly enough we didn’t even think of it. He was talking to our A & R rep John at Splendour and said he was branching out and interested in producing and engineering with some bands. John said Tired Lion are gearing up to do a record would you be keen to work with them. We sent him some demos and he said yeah sounds good. He worked with us for a week or so and we hit it off. The rest is history (laughs)

SCENEzine
How was the experience of touring with Violent SoHo and the Bronx?

Sophie Hopes
It was pretty crazy it was psycho. The venues were huge so definitely a step up from our usual touring supports. It was really cool everyone was just like a big family they were all so lovely.

SCENEzine
Is there a story behind the cover art for the album?

Sophie Hopes
Yeah so I actually put it together with my housemate who’s a photographer Rachel Garrett. We were really pressed for time. That was the thing that was holding us back from releasing it this year we didn’t have a cover. We chose a cover from a French artist she wanted way too much money for it. It wasn’t in our budget so they just said we don’t want to put a cover on this record you guys aren’t happy with so we will have to push it back until we find something. I was like I’m determined to get this shit out. So I drank some wine with my housemate Rachel and we were like lets just try shit. It kind of all worked out.

 

 

SCENEzine
I love the summer vibe to the track “Dumb Days”. Can you tell us a little bit about that song?

Sophie Hopes
“Dumb Days” is basically a track that takes you back in time it’s nostalgic. For me it takes me back in time to my teenage years. When I was younger I always wanted to be older so I would be taken seriously but as soon as you get older your like man I want to be younger again. To go back to those days where you didn’t have to adult (laughs)

SCENEzine
Another of my favourites is “Cinderella Dracula”. How did that song come about?

Sophie Hopes
Yeah so that was like the one night stand scenario where I slept with a dude and started writing the song whilst he was still there because I regret it. I was like this is grose and lame and didn’t really achieve anything. So that’s what it’s about

SCENEzine
Were there many songs that didn’t make it onto the album?

Sophie Hopes
Not too many there was a couple though but we think we picked the strongest choices.

SCENEzine
I get a real 90’s vibe from Tired Lion. Do you think it’s important that you guys stick true to yourselves rather than what might be cool right now?

Sophie Hopes
Yeah when we started the band we never really swapped genres or anything you can see that in the progression of our music. I think it’s really important for any band to stay true to themselves. Although if we did start an electronic project we would probably be making heaps of money (laughs)

SCENEzine
We had out first Tired Lion experience recently when we saw you support Dune Rats. That tour must of been a blast?

Sophie Hopes
Yeah it was really cool. All of those dudes are super lovely we had a great time. I would love to tour with them again they are super nice to be around.

SCENEzine
Do you have a policy on shoeys?

Sophie Hopes
I don’t do shoeys anymore I used to. I drew the line in the sand at a show literally when I had sand going down my throat because I drank out of a pleather shoe. So now I don’t do it anymore it’s too unhygienic.

SCENEzine
Is there any downsides when your the only girl on tour with a bunch of dudes?

Sophie Hopes
Yeah sometimes it becomes a boys club to be honest. Sometimes I just need a clean bathroom with a mirror. The dudes don’t really need that shit and sometimes they are like that will do. But I’m like I’m a girl and I need to do my hair and stuff (laughs) so sometimes it’s pretty annoying but usually it’s pretty sick.

SCENEzine
I guess plus the fact they can pee standing up?

Sophie Hopes
Yeah totally (laughs) there’s been some squatting on long road trips where there’s no toilet for a while. Sometimes you have no choice but to embrace natures call.

SCENEzine
One of your older crowd favourites is “I don’t think you like me”. Do you still get a kick out of playing that live?

Sophie Hopes
Yeah we have heaps of fun with that track actually. It’s always really cool because I feel like a lot of the crowd knows the lyrics. It’s good to sometimes stop singing and people sing along. Which is rad it means I get a break.

(Interview by Christian Ross)