Ex-Lime Cordiale Musicians Join Rumble Studios, Swapping Tour Buses For Composing Ads

After a decade of globetrotting with Australian band Lime Cordiale, crafting chart-topping hits in the back of tour buses, Nick Polovineo and Felix Bornholdt have traded a nomadic-muso lifestyle for Rumble Studios.

The ARIA-winning duo, known for their dynamic jazz and pop tracks, is now embarking on a new adventure – composing music for advertising.

“We came in to chat with Tone and Michael and have a look around the Rumble Sydney studio and pretty much went, ‘This is it’,” Nick told LBB.

Nick and Felix met at the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where they honed their skills in jazz composition, improvisation, and musical storytelling.

Their time with Lime Cordiale saw them recording and touring internationally, earning two ARIA awards and becoming fixtures in Sydney’s pop, jazz, and improvised music scenes.

But after years of life on the road, the duo felt the pull of a new challenge. Nick explains that they were drawn to a world where the music could change constantly, allowing them to work on a variety of projects.

“Touring is a lot of fun, but it’s also seriously hard work,” he says.

“By the end of a long run overseas, you’re feeling pretty physically and creatively depleted.”

Their decision to join Rumble Studios marks a significant shift in their careers and a completely new creative challenge. Unlike the months-long process of crafting an album, advertising music often requires quick turnarounds and precise emotional beats squeezed into a 30s or 60s spot.

Felix describes it as “performing compositional acrobatics.” Their jazz training, with its emphasis on improvisation and collaboration, has proven invaluable, the pair says.

Nick adds that their creative partnership thrives on real-time collaboration, where they throw ideas at each other and react instinctively.

“It’s a greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts situation,” he says.

After years of making music in hotel rooms and tour buses, the duo is relishing the chance to work in a dedicated studio space – and Nick says that having all their gear set up and ready to go is a game-changer.

“On the road, you get very used to working in places not built for music; a moving tour bus, a hotel room, backstage before a show,” Felix says.

But it’s not just the physical space that’s made a difference, with Felix highlighting the inspiring ethos at Rumble, where everyone pushes to do their absolute best work.

“It’s incredibly motivating,” he says.

Rumble’s executive producer and partner, Michael Gie, adds, “Their diverse backgrounds have equipped them with an exceptional skill set, blending musicianship with a sharp instinct for memorable hooks and melodic storytelling.

“Watching them collaborate with each other and our team of composers has been incredible, and we couldn’t be happier to have them with us.”

While Nick and Felix are fully immersed in their work at Rumble, they haven’t left their independent projects behind. Felix is preparing new releases with his electronic trio, Bike Thief, while Nick is set to drop solo music later this year.

The duo is eager to tackle longer-form film projects and continue contributing to Sydney’s vibrant music scene.

“It’s a thrill to be part of one of the best music scenes in the world,” Nick says.

“This is just the beginning of a new kind of storytelling – and we’re ready to see where it takes us.”