“I think all good music should be a product of self-reflection. The submission comes in the form of having to understand that you are who you are, and you’ve made what you’ve made,” explains Soda Blonde to us when we converse about their upcoming and second studio album, “Dream Big,” which, besides being a great listen, delves into deeply personal and existential themes and carries the band’s goal to make something other people can insert themselves into and live inside.
The alt-pop band from Dublin, Ireland, Soda Blonde, celebrates the release of their new single ‘Midnight Show‘ today, a captivating track taken from their forthcoming album. Comprised of Faye O’Rourke, Adam O’Regan, Donagh Seaver-O’Leary, and Dylan Lynch, this talented group has been making music together since their teenage years, a time when even the music industry was markedly different from today’s digital age.
Speaking critically about the element of prostitution that comes with this change of times, they also offer invaluable advice to young artists: to feel and know their value, and to turn their backs on the model of being a ‘social media influencer,’ choosing instead to fully embrace their art. And that’s exactly what they are doing. Having received rave reviews and nominations for their debut album, “Small Talk” (2021), their new album, featuring the fresh single ‘Midnight Show,’ promises catchy, cinematic songs and paves the way for dreaming big.
photography by Patricio Cassinoni
Your debut album ‘Small Talk’ received rave reviews and nominations. Did this affect the expectations and pressures you put on yourselves when creating ‘Dream Big’?
I think we’ve always had high ambitions for Soda Blonde, so anything that’s in the past can always be improved upon. I certainly didn’t feel any pressure from past reviews or nominations, just a drive to make something great. I think we feel we’ve only scratched the surface of what we can achieve.
‘Midnight Show’ seems to confront the pressures and realities of the music industry. Can you tell us about the personal experiences that led to these themes in the song?
The landscape of the music industry has changed so dramatically over a short period of time. At 19, I remember feeling that I didn’t look right because of external criticism from label personnel. Now the mechanism has changed- what was once the voice of A&R guys telling us these things is now an internal one. We’re expected to curate ourselves into a certain aesthetic or brand in order to be ‘visible’ and then have the ‘numbers’ to prove our worth. There’s an element of prostitution to what people have to do to try and remain afloat it in this monstrous digital age. But it makes for something to push against- and for some good songs to be written about it. I’m curious to see how the future of music unfolds.
The energy and fusion of genres in ‘Midnight Show’ have a cinematic quality. If you could pick any director to create a music video for this song, who would it be and why?
I would love to see what a music video by Alfred Hitchcock would look like. Anything resembling Rear Window, Vertigo or Psycho would be an amazing accompaniment to the song. His cinematic genius and use of symbolism and metaphor to convey deeper meaning is incredible. He’s very high on our list of inspirations when it comes to making our music videos.
“… There’s an element of prostitution to what people have to do to try and remain afloat it in this monstrous digital age.”
The band has been together since your teenage years. How have you overcome the changes and challenges in your friendship while being in a band together?
We’ve overcome a lot to pursue Soda Blonde. I think sticking with something will always make you grow. We’re bonded by a love of music and that has always superseded any of the other noise that is going on around us. We have a short-hand with each other and we’ve definitely let go of a lot of ego to make this band work. I think there’s something very liberating in knowing your value and not needing to prove it all the time. The band have definitely allowed me to grow into a much more relaxed and confident person and I’m very grateful to them for that.
And what do you love most about each other?
I think we all love each other’s sense of humour. The ability to have a laugh is something that has definitely helped us through the tougher times we’ve experienced over the last ten years. I think we also have a deep admiration for the skill sets that each of us bring to the project. We all have very different roles when it comes to writing and arranging and we never fail to be blown away by each other’s talent.
With your new upcoming album, you delve into deeply personal and existential themes. How do you balance the need to protect your privacy with the desire to express yourself authentically through your music?
In order for art to be truly affecting, there is a need to delve into the more vulnerable parts of one’s humanity. In terms of my lyrics, there’s alway been a slight tension around the experience of having come from an Irish Catholic family and the expectation of keeping your personal life private that comes with that. It’s something that my generation is challenging, but I still feel the need to protect my family from certain issues I present and I’m grateful for the medium of music for allowing me to do that cryptically at times. The goal is always to make something other people can insert themselves into and live inside. I like to leave room in my lyrics for that to happen.
“I think there’s something very liberating in knowing your value and not needing to prove it all the time.”
You mentioned that Dream Big was as much a product of self-reflective reckoning as it is one of submission. Can you talk about a moment during the creation of this album where you felt this most strongly?
I don’t think there was any one moment where this was felt in particular. When you make something, the sense of meaning and analysis comes after the fact. I’d be lying if I said I always set out with a certain intention- and that it always goes to plan. My words sometimes make more sense to me a year after I’ve written them. I think all good music should be a product of self-reflection. The submission comes in the form of having to understand that you are who you are, and you’ve made what you’ve made. It’s out of your hands, in a way. Submission is the artist’s game; we carry on regardless, whether we get the recognition we feel that we deserve or not, because it’s about something bigger.
Your debut album ‘Small Talk’ received rave reviews and nominations. Did this affect the expectations and pressures you put on yourselves when creating ‘Dream Big’?
I think we’ve always had high ambitions for Soda Blonde, so anything that’s in the past can always be improved upon. I certainly didn’t feel any pressure from past reviews or nominations, just a drive to make something great. I think we feel we’ve only scratched the surface of what we can achieve.
How do you feel about the current state of the music industry, particularly for bands trying to break through? What advice would you give to a young band just starting out?
Streaming has undeniably oversaturated the market. We’re seeing fewer and fewer breakthrough acts come through because- in my opinion- labels are backing the wrong horse over and over again. There is, without a doubt, no shortage of great music out there, but so many acts cannot gain visibility because of the immense competition and the dwindling attention spans of the online listener. My advice would be to speak your mind. I think your intentions going into something should be to improve who you are, and to break personal barriers. If you’re willing to do that, you’ll become successful in some avenue of your life no matter what. I would like to see musicians turn their backs on the model of being a ‘social media influencer’ and instead lean into their art. Young people have the power to dictate the trend and I feel there could be a Renaissance coming. I hope young artists can feel their value, independent of the validation of statistics and numbers.
“I would like to see musicians turn their backs on the model of being a ‘social media influencer’ and instead lean into their art. Young people have the power to dictate the trend and I feel there could be a Renaissance coming.”
What does success look like for you? And has this vision changed since you started out?
Right now for me, success is to like myself. The odds can be stacked against us having a positive relationship with ourselves. It’s something that sounds so simple-yet it is now harder to achieve than ever. I won’t deny that there are superficial things I want, like being world-renowned for my work, but for me, success would be to make a lasting impression on the current cultural moment. I want the people of Ireland in particular to relate to me, and to feel that they are represented and cared for in my music. I don’t think my idea of success has ever really changed, but I’m not sure I always recognised what it was that I wanted to achieve. At the end of the day, I think we all want similar things.
What is your ‘Dream Big’; vision for the future of Soda Blonde?
The vision for the future of Soda Blonde is to get in front of as many people as we possibly can. It’s hard to know what the future is for music in general, but I don’t think there’s a risk of us stopping.
Thank you so much for your time!
