We Speak Music
SODA BLONDE release angular and broad-shouldered new single “Bad Machine”

“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-fuelled 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.
The record’s angular and broad-shouldered lead single “Bad Machine” leans into self-acceptance, but it does not do so unilaterally. “We can be slaves to our own impulses,” says guitarist Adam O’Regan of the turbulent, sonically charged song. “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.”

We Speak Music
Marsha Swanson Releases New Song “Like An Angel”

Now out, Marsha Swanson’s most recent track, “Like An Angel,” has already started to stir among listeners of progressive pop. Released on January 31, 2025, the song, which offers a very personal experience, honours the one-year anniversary of her album “Near Life Experience” which came out in 2024.
The track was originally an untitled ghost track from the album and it has been re-recorded with a live band and a string section, bringing a new level of emotional depth. It was produced at Echo Zoo Studios by Henry (King Thumb) Thomas, whose credits include Randy Crawford and Paul Weller, the track blends the ethereal beauty of the original with a fresh, dynamic arrangement. The lineup of talented musicians—Martyn Barker (drums), Tony Qunta (guitar), and Anders Olinder (keyboards)—adds to its lush, atmospheric sound.
Inspired by those who have departed but still lead us, in life “Like An Angel” pushes into themes of love, acceptance, and remembrance accompanied by a visually spectacular video filmed by award-winning filmmaker Sam Chegini. Comparisons to the work of Kate Bush and Tori Amos help one to really relate to the spiritual and cinematic sense of the song.
Having already reached the semi-finals of the UK Songwriting Contest, “Like An Angel” reinforces Swanson’s reputation for insightful lyricism and compelling compositions. With continued airplay and critical acclaim, the single stands as a powerful testament to her artistry—a gift to listeners and a celebration of the album’s lasting impact.
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