Q&A: Soda Blonde Usher in a Bold New Era of Irish Alt-Pop
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY DANIELLE HOLIAN ☆
RISING FROM THE VIBRANT STREETS OF DUBLIN—Soda Blonde are fast becoming one of Ireland’s most compelling alt-pop exports. Known for their emotionally charged performances and immersive soundscapes, the band has spent the past several years carving out a space that bridges heartfelt storytelling with bold, experimental production. Their latest single, “Suit & Tie,” marks a significant new chapter, signaling not just musical evolution but a reflection of Ireland’s recent cultural resurgence. Where earlier releases explored themes of belief and ambition, “Suit & Tie” channels a sense of movement and urgency, built around industrial guitar textures, liquid production and a relentless forward pulse that feels both modern and distinctly Soda Blonde.
Formed in 2019 by members of Little Green Cars, including lead vocalist Faye O’Rourke, Adam O’Regan, Donagh Seaver-O’Leary, and Dylan Lynch, Soda Blonde quickly distinguished themselves with a sound that blends raw emotionality and refined sonic craftsmanship. Over the last four years, they have steadily built a devoted following across Ireland, the U.K. and Europe, performing in venues large and small while earning acclaim for their ability to make every stage feel intimate and immediate. Their music resonates with listeners, not just for its melodies but for the emotional honesty that underpins it; a quality that has carried them from Dublin clubs to international attention.
The band’s trajectory accelerated sharply in 2025, a breakthrough year that saw them play to packed rooms at SXSW, tour extensively across the U.K. and Europe, and release the critically lauded People Pleaser EP. Their live shows, already known for their intensity, reached new heights with an ambitious collaboration alongside the National Symphony Orchestra at Dublin’s National Concert Hall, blending their alt-pop sensibilities with orchestral grandeur. These milestones have not only solidified Soda Blonde’s reputation at home but have positioned them as a rising force on the international stage.
Now, the band is ready to bring their music across the Atlantic. In tandem with the release of “Suit & Tie,” Soda Blonde have announced their first North American tour, kicking off September 11 in Detroit and winding down on October 9 in St. Louis. Along the way, they will perform in major cultural hubs, including Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right on September 15 and The Echo in Los Angeles on October 3, offering both longtime fans and new listeners the chance to experience their live intensity firsthand.
As Soda Blonde enters this next chapter, the combination of a renewed cultural energy at home and a broader international appetite for their music sets the stage for a period of rapid expansion. “Suit & Tie” is not just a single; it’s a statement—a pulse of Ireland’s evolving soundscape carried by a band unafraid to push themselves creatively. From Dublin to Brooklyn, Los Angeles to St. Louis, Soda Blonde are poised to convert critical acclaim into a global connection, inviting audiences everywhere to experience the emotion, ambition and relentless forward motion that define their music.
Read Luna’s interview with Soda Blonde below.
LUNA: Faye, you’ve described “Suit & Tie” as exploring feelings of displacement and identity. How did living in the Liberties shape the emotional core of this song?
SODA BLONDE: Living in the Liberties intensified everything. It’s such a historically layered part of Dublin. There’s pride there, resilience, but also a sense of transition and friction. Being in that environment while carrying my own internal displacement made it easier to access something I wanted to articulate. I was thinking a lot about belonging culturally and personally, and what it means to occupy a space that’s constantly shifting. “Suit & Tie” feels like it is standing directly in that tension.
LUNA: The track blends industrial guitar with liquid production. What drew you toward this sonic direction compared to your previous work?
SODA BLONDE: I saw a wonderful Irish artist called Anna Mieke cover the folk song "Go 'Way from My Window" (originally by John Jacob Niles) at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, and I was blown away. Her performance kind of led me to mess around with more modal things on the guitar initially and to sing something that was really close and internal sounding. Then from there I went completely the other direction sonically once the guitar and voice were down. The sound of industry coming in over something fragile and pure really excited me. I usually am drawn to putting two things together that don’t really belong.
LUNA: How do you balance personal storytelling with themes that resonate universally for your listeners?
SODA BLONDE: When I admit something that feels slightly shameful or difficult, that’s usually the thing people connect with. Everyone has their own version of displacement, of not feeling good enough. My job is just to articulate it honestly and make people feel seen. I kind of throw myself onto the tracks a bit sometimes to connect with others, sometimes to my own detriment. Everyone can relate to the feelings I’m sharing; I’m just decorating them in a way I hope draws people in to access them
LUNA: Was there a particular moment or experience that sparked the lyrics of “Suit & Tie”?
SODA BLONDE: No. There was no one moment. I was just meditating on these feelings of deep shame that I had and relating them back to this cultural moment Ireland was having at the time. The suit became a metaphor, if I’m going to carry this shame, I might as well wear it proudly. That shift felt liberating.
LUNA: Your People Pleaser EP and live orchestral project marked major milestones. What lessons did you take from those experiences into your current music?
SODA BLONDE: I’ve learned a lot about staying connected to what I’m making. Sometimes it’s easy to mentally detach from something once it’s gone past a certain point. I feel like I have more connection to what I’m doing now. Also, I’ve really learned that I don’t care about pleasing the algorithm at all, and I just want to push myself to make work that’s out there and say something strong and uninhibited, through music and through visual art. I don’t care who I upset anymore.
LUNA: Emotionally charged performances have become a hallmark of Soda Blonde. How do you translate that intensity from studio to stage?
SODA BLONDE: Well, I suffer from a lot of social anxiety, so a lot of the time when I’m on stage I’m literally fighting for my life. So I think that makes for some compelling stuff.
LUNA: This is your first North American tour. What are you most excited about for fans in the U.S. and Canada?
SODA BLONDE: To see the energy we can create on stage. Our strength is really in live performance, and going to North America is a huge milestone for us for a million reasons. I’m excited for fans to see just how good the guys are as musicians. I’ve recently become so aware of how lucky I am that I get to play with the caliber of musicianship that these guys hold.
LUNA: Touring internationally can be both exhilarating and exhausting. How do you prepare mentally and physically for such a demanding schedule?
SODA BLONDE: No booze, and I’ll definitely get into some kind of training routine beforehand. Definitely having stuff to keep our minds active in the van will be something that we’ll all be leaning into. A lot of road music and a lot of books and stuff.
LUNA: Are there any cities or venues you’re particularly looking forward to visiting, and why?
SODA BLONDE: Definitely Philadelphia because I love that city so much. There’s just something about it. Also really looking forward to playing Portland as well, as I feel like the weirdness is something that’s very akin to my own nature. I’m also really looking forward to playing Chicago and New York as well; they’re just so iconic.
LUNA: Faye, as someone exploring national identity and personal belonging, how has songwriting helped you navigate those questions?
SODA BLONDE: I’d be lost without songwriting. I often think, who the hell would I be without it? And the answer freaks me out, quite frankly. I’m sure there is a version of me in a paradoxical universe waiting tables happily or working at a library with a smile on my face, but in this reality songwriting really is the best offering I’ve got. I have a lot of flaws, and I’m quite a complicated person, but I like myself a little more when I articulate something that I’ve been struggling with and that connects with people.
LUNA: Your music often touches on Irish cultural themes. How do you see Soda Blonde contributing to the broader Irish music narrative today?
SODA BLONDE: I’m not sure really. My intention is never to represent anyone or anything because I don’t feel particularly qualified to do that. It’s Irish by virtue of the fact that we’re Irish people living in Ireland at this time in history, responding to it in real time. I’ve certainly no desire to be considered any type of role model, I’ve done too many things. But there is an inherent Irishness in our ability to tell stories, the darkness, the humour threaded through it and also a certain defiance in what we do. We will keep on going.
LUNA: Collaborating as a four-piece, how do you negotiate creative differences while maintaining a cohesive sound?
SODA BLONDE: I won’t lie, it can be tricky sometimes to negotiate creative differences in any band, but with us we’ve definitely developed a shorthand and we know the pitfalls now. I think it’s just about prioritising respect and kindness at all times. When there’s other stuff going on in our personal lives, it’s sometimes hard not to let that seep in because we’ve known each other since we were teenagers, but as long as there’s willingness to work on ourselves and prioritise the music over ego, everything works out
LUNA: With three albums under your belt, where do you see Soda Blonde evolving musically over the next few years?
SODA BLONDE: Well, we’re not there yet, but I think it’s about just taking it one project at a time. I serve the art and not the other way around. My life will always be geared towards the next project; what that will be or where it will take me, I don’t know. If there's one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you have to prioritise the work and let everything else fall into place. It’s the healthiest headspace to be in. Soda Blonde will go wherever the music goes, but we will have to wait and see where the inspiration takes us.
LUNA: Looking back at your trajectory from Dublin to SXSW and beyond, what advice would you give to emerging artists trying to balance ambition with authenticity?
SODA BLONDE: Make the art as big a part of your life as you can afford to make it. Try and view everything as an opportunity to do something different and not just follow a trend. And don’t rest on your laurels. Get going on the next thing as soon as you can. Busy yourself with work so you don’t have time to think about believing in yourself or not. Get to know yourself and don’t be distracted by wanting to ease the pain. The writing will do that in a way nothing else can.
