Soda Blonde


Soda Blonde are an Irish alternative pop band from Dublin, Ireland, formed in 2019. The group consists of singer and songwriter Faye O'Rourke, guitarist and visual artist Adam O'Regan, bassist Donagh Seaver O’Leary, and drummer Dylan Lynch. All four members were previously part of the critically acclaimed indie band Little Green Cars before forming Soda Blonde following its disbandment.

Career

Formation and early releases (2019–2020)

Soda Blonde formed in 2019 in Dublin following the breakup of the indie rock band Little Green Cars. In March 2019, that band announced they had reached “the end of the road,” and would part ways without acrimony. Four of its members – vocalist Faye O’Rourke, guitarist Adam O’Regan, bassist Donagh Seaver O’Leary, and drummer Dylan Lynch – went on to form Soda Blonde, a new project exploring a more electronic, alt-pop direction.
The band made their live debut at a private show in Dublin in May 2019 and soon after appeared on RTÉ's The [Late Late Show (Irish talk show)|The Late Late Show], performing their debut single "Swimming Through the Night". The single was released on 7 June 2019 and marked a stylistic shift from their former band, embracing a synth-driven, cinematic pop sound. The performance and single drew positive attention, with critics highlighting O'Rourke's distinctive vocal delivery and the track's emotional depth.
In November 2019, Soda Blonde released their debut EP, Terrible Hands, through their own independent label, Overbite Records. The four-track EP featured the singles "Swimming Through the Night" and "Terrible Hands", and was produced by the band at their studio in Dublin. The EP received favourable reviews in the Irish music press, with GoldenPlec praising it as "a clever, poignant and beautifully assembled collection of songs."
To promote the release, the band embarked on their first tour in late 2019, performing across Ireland and the UK. The tour concluded with two sold-out hometown shows at Whelan's in Dublin in December 2019.
In May 2020, Soda Blonde released their second EP, isolation content, which was written and recorded remotely during Ireland's COVID-19 lockdown. Created by exchanging files and layering arrangements from their respective homes, the four-track collection reflected themes of distance, uncertainty and resilience. The band described the process as a way to stay creative and connected during a period of collective upheaval. The EP's release helped maintain the band's momentum and fan engagement despite the pause in live performance.

Debut album: ''Small Talk'' (2021–2022)

Soda Blonde released their debut studio album, Small Talk, on 9 July 2021 via their own label, Velveteen Records. Written and produced entirely by the band, the album featured a blend of indie pop, art rock, and synth-driven soundscapes. It built on the sonic evolution heard in their early EPs while retaining the introspective lyrical focus of frontwoman Faye O'Rourke. Thematically, Small Talk explored the nuances of youth, vulnerability, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. Critics praised the record for its polished production, emotionally honest songwriting, and confident artistic vision.
The title track, "Small Talk", was accompanied by a music video directed by Adam O'Regan, reflecting the album's sleek aesthetic and thematic exploration of performative identity. Other tracks include "Tiny Darkness", "In the Heat of the Night", and "Love Me World". The album was well-received by the Irish press: The Irish Times described it as "candid, stylish and melodically assured," while GoldenPlec called it "a cinematic and richly textured debut that places Soda Blonde among Ireland's most compelling new bands."
Small Talk was shortlisted for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2021, marking the band's first nomination for the prestigious award. To support the album, the band embarked on a national tour in late 2021, including three sold-out shows at Whelan's in Dublin. The tour marked their first substantial run of live performances since forming, having delayed earlier plans due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In interviews surrounding the album's release, O'Rourke noted that the songwriting was largely autobiographical and written in the years following Little Green Cars' breakup, reflecting on themes of growth, heartbreak, and the tension between private and public selves. Small Talk helped solidify Soda Blonde's reputation as one of Ireland's most ambitious and sonically adventurous emerging acts.

Second album: ''Dream Big'' (2023–present)

Soda Blonde released their second studio album, Dream Big, on 8 September 2023 through their independent label, Overbite Records. Written, produced, and mixed by the band themselves, the album marked a creative evolution for the group, showcasing a bolder and more expansive sonic palette than their debut. It incorporated elements of art-pop, rock, and folk, while retaining the emotionally charged lyricism and meticulous arrangements for which the band had become known.
Thematically, Dream Big explored ambition, disillusionment, and the psychological fallout of contemporary life. In interviews, the band described it as "a mature awakening to the world at large," reflecting on systemic pressures and personal limitations in the pursuit of meaning and success. Songs like "Bad Machine" addressed cycles of self-sabotage and conformity, while "Midnight Show" and "Why Die for Danzig" delved into themes of media saturation, performativity, and existential dread.
Dream Big received widespread critical acclaim upon release. The Irish Times described it as "a bolder, more forthright, more experimental affair," while Hot Press praised the album's conceptual depth and stylistic ambition, calling it "a confident artistic leap forward." The album was ranked number one on the Irish Independent's list of the Best Irish Albums of 2023 and was shortlisted for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize for Album of the Year 2023.
The lead single, "Bad Machine", became one of the band's most recognised tracks to date, bolstered by a provocative music video directed by Adam O'Regan. Another track, "Why Die for Danzig", generated media attention due to its politically satirical video and the band's public decision to withdraw from SXSW 2024 in protest of the festival's association with U.S. military sponsors.
The Dream Big tour, launched in autumn 2023, included sold-out shows across Ireland and the UK, including Vicar Street in Dublin and The Lexington in London. In July 2024, Soda Blonde performed orchestral arrangements of the album at Dublin's National Concert Hall alongside the National Symphony Orchestra, which was recorded for a forthcoming concert film and live album.
In the months following the album cycle, the band began releasing standalone singles including "Bully", "The Saddest Thing", and "People Pleaser", while announcing their return to SXSW in 2025 after the festival changed its sponsorship policies. With continued critical support and growing international exposure, Dream Big cemented Soda Blonde's position as one of Ireland's most innovative and self-sufficient indie bands.

Personnel

  • Faye O'Rourke
  • Adam O'Regan
  • Donagh Seaver-O'Leary
  • Dylan Lynch

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

  • ''Dream Big ''

EPs

  • Terrible Hands
  • ''Isolation Content''

Singles