Louis Leimbach from Lime Cordiale (Sydney) talks Road To Paradise EP, performing live, cover art and more

Sydney’s Lime Cordiale are about to head on the road in support of their forthcoming EP, Road To Paradise. We caught up with band member Louis Leimbach to discuss the band’s new music, tour memories, music videos and more.

You’re about to head on tour in support of your new EP, Road to Paradise. How would you describe the mood of the new set of songs?

It’s pretty different to the old stuff, for sure. It’s pretty dark and melancholy-town, but it’s good. We produced three songs with a man called JP (Jean-Paul Fung), and he’s pretty amazing. Then we did three more by ourselves quite recently, just to fill up the EP. We’re pretty happy with it.

You’re known for being a great live band. When you’re recording, do you keep in mind how well the music will translate to a live setting, or is that secondary?

We definitely try to think about a live setting, and if people are going to dance and have a vibe. That’s what I like when I go to see live music; danceable is good!

Tell us about the EP’s lead single, “Not That Easy”.

We actually wrote that song ages ago, and it was really different. I think we’ve been through three different choruses with that song! That song was pretty manufactured, rather than everything else, which was easy and straightforward. Oli (Leimbach; brother and band member) wrote the lyrics. As for the recording process, we wrote it at the start of last year, went to America in between, and then workshopped it.

What was America like? Are there any particularly memorable tour moments?

South by Southwest (SXSW) was amazing – I’m pretty sure I talked to you guys there on a couch at one point (watch that interview here). That was definitely a standout, and probably one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to.

How did the concept for the single and EP’s cover art come about?

I did those. I’ve been really inspired by this artist who used to do a lot of work for Mambo; he’s from the Northern Beaches. My dad and my brother are actually making a doco on him at the moment – his name is Bruce Goold, and he’s a linocut artist. I just love his stuff, so I’ve been getting really into lino print work.

What was it like making the music video for “Feel Alright”?

Oli and I came up with that. Because we didn’t have any money we had to make a clip ourselves, so we contacted a friend of ours that had a semi-nice camera and looked up how to do green screen work, set up our garage with a big green screen backdrop, and went from there. We didn’t have a storyboard or anything; we just put on costumes and acted out a scene or two and it came together really well. We fluked it. There’s a ‘90s, glitchy aesthetic in there which was sort of accidental because we were crap at editing – but it worked well.

What music have you been listening to lately?

I’ve been listening to this guy called Liam Bailey. I don’t even know how I found him, but he’s probably my main inspiration at the moment. He’s sort of a cross between Jimi Hendrix and Ray Charles, and he’s from London. He has such a good album. That’s the main thing I’ve been listening to.

What’s next on the agenda for Lime Cordiale?

We want to write an album. We want to finish it in February, so that’s a big ask, but we’ve got a lot of songs and want to speed up the process of writing. It’s been such a long process; we’ve released three singles in a year and half. So, we just want to speed it up!

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Don’t miss Lime Cordiale on their massive national tour running through November and December. For tour dates, details, and to keep up with the band, visit their website here. Their EP Road To Paradise is out in November

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