“Dream Big”, the second studio album from Irish band Soda Blonde, is far more than a collection of catchy and cathartic pop songs; it’s a mantra – a mission statement from four lifelong friends. It’s their promise to themselves, and a message to all who come along for the ride: A reminder that life is precious, fragile, and fleeting, so we might as well dream big and hold nothing back. Epic in size and intimate in scope, “Dream Big” holds a microscope in one hand and a mirror in the other as our innermost thoughts and feelings get a soundtrack of their very own.
Following two successful introductory EPs (2019’s “Terrible Hands” and 2020’s “Isolation Content”), Soda Blonde released their debut album, “Small Talk”, in 2021. The LP was subsequently nominated for RTÉ’s Choice Music Prize for Album of the Year and received rave reviews from Paste Magazine, Atwood Magazine, and The Irish Times, who called it “a record so articulate and expressive that its title has to be a wry in-joke.”
The band have grown tremendously in the two years since their debut, and it shows. Whereas “Small Talk” was an anxiety-fueled coming-of-age record about navigating their twenties, “Dream Big” is a mature awakening to the world at large; one that dives deeper and hits harder than its predecessor.
Press release © Mitch Mosk, 2023.
We had the amazing opportunity of sitting down with musical group to discuss the inspiration behind their sound, musical influences and future plans.
What inspired your group “Soda Blonde”? Did you all always have a passion for music?
We’ve been playing together since the age of 15. Growing up in an environment of constant creativity definitely influenced how far we’ve come in terms of our musical expression. In Soda Blonde, everyone knows their value and isn’t afraid to come forward with new ideas and take criticism. We all have very eclectic influences, and the combination of our ideas has produced something we’re really proud of.
How would you describe your overall sound in five words?
Cinematic, expansive, melodious, evocative, and haunting. You have now released multiple albums, including your upcoming release “Dream Big.”
What makes this album special, and what can we expect differently?
With ‘Dream Big,’ we didn’t hold anything back. This album takes you on a very dynamic and layered journey. Lyrically it’s an open wound, but sonically it’s a tonic to the formulaic path a lot of pop music has gone down. I think, for me personally, this record differs from our last because of the confidence I felt while we were making it. That’s not to say that makes for better music, but there’s a strength and authoritative presence on this album that feels like we’ve moved forward.
You have already dropped one of your singles, “Bad Machine” What was the inspiration behind this song?
We can be slaves to our own impulses. This idea that ‘every part of me is a bad machine breaking everything all the time, every part of me has been wired to repeat, I’ve got a bad desire by design,’ it’s this idea of recognizing that this is just a part of who you are and going with that, but it’s a double-edged sword. Sometimes taking a chance, being spontaneous, and taking a risk – they’re not always the safest moves to make, but that propensity to dare is what makes us great. We wouldn’t exist without it.
What is next for Soda Blonde? How can readers support this new release?
Our sophomore album ‘Dream Big’ will be released on September 8th, and we have an upcoming tour around Ireland, the UK, and Europe at the end of the year. You can support us by following ‘soda blonde’ across all the regular social media platforms, buying and listening to our music, and, most importantly, turning it up loud.
Don’t be afraid to check out the last record; you’ll like it, we promise.
Social media Handles: @sodablonde
Website: https://www.sodablonde.com/
