NOLA-based Lawn are back with a new single, their first since 2022’s Bigger Sprout LP. Over the past decade or so, the band have release three albums, displaying the undeniable synergy between co-lead singers and songwriters Mac Folger and Rui De Magalhaes. While Folger leans toward breezy and jangly introspection, De Magalhaes offers sharp and driving post-punk energy.
Lawn’s new single “Sports Gun” is an immediate heavy-hitter. It sounds like “protest music” designed to stand up against the man and channel the restless energy of ambition, frustration, and discontent. Built on layers of noise and raw intensity, the song embodies a relentless pursuit while grappling with the cost of that drive. Whether you relate to this through sports, life, or personal struggle, there’s no denying that it’s a track that refuses to sit still, demanding to be heard and felt.
“Sports Gun” is written from the perspective of a relentless coach or parental figure who pushes someone to their absolute limit, without considering their well-being. The song stems from a pre-pandemic short story, written by De Magalhaes, that explores the limited scope of trying to convey complex concepts like ambition and trauma. It reflects on the idea that some people chase accomplishments at the expense of happiness and contentment.
“‘Sports Gun’ is supposed to be written from the point of view of a coach/parental figure who pushes the subject to their absolute limit without regard for them otherwise. It came from a shortstory I wrote pre-pandemic. The idea was that any trauma – long or short term notwithstanding -would only be implied, if that, and that we only get to experience the narrative through a very thin, biased lens. It’s a frail attempt at writing something inspired by Julio Cortazar, but I still thought it fit the drive of the song. It is supposed to be more about the lengths some people go to accomplish something, conflating happiness with ambition, and overall being inept at being content.“
– De Magalhaes of Lawn
Knowing they would be recording in a professional studio, the band designed the song to sound heavier, influenced by producer Greg Obis (of Stuck). Also joining them in Chicago’s Palisades Studio was Dave Vettraino, who has worked previously with bands like Dehd and Deeper. The original demo had a different beat and a rap-like delivery, but in the studio, as each member contributed their own vision, they ultimately opted for an intense, shouted performance instead. The result is a vibrant track that feels charged with raw energy, backed by instruments that push forward with a controlled aggression that mirrors the band’s collective vision.
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