We Speak Pop

Stream Soda Blonde’s sophomore album ‘Dream Big’ now!

Published

8 months ago

September 18, 2023

Don Reed

“Dublin darlings Soda Blonde have returned after two long years with a cathartic eruption of passion and purpose.” – Atwood Magazine

“artful pop music that is both inordinately sophisticated and eminently hummable” – The Irish Post

“[Dream Big’s] lush synth and warm pop sensibilities confronting the face of our collective societal angst positions it as one of the more exciting album releases of the fall calendar” – Vanyaland

Irish indie-pop favourites Soda Blonde are delighted to share their “Dream Big” album, available now across music platforms via Overbite Records. The album was preceded by singles“Bad Machine” and “Midnight Show”.

Lead single “Bad Machine” fuses warm vocals with fuzzy synths, bringing a sense of sonic pleasure with its self-acceptance message. Indie pop and vibrant electronica combine to create a song with vigour and excitement.

The band set the tone for “Dream Big” on album opener “Midnight Show,” a stunningly cinematic power ballad weighing disillusionment with the music industry on one hand, and the unapologetic pursuit of one’s desires – to the point of prostituting yourself for success – on the other.

“Dream Big” leaves no stone unturned: “You are so damaged,” O’Rourke sings in Boys,” channelling inner pain and fracture into a visceral and textured anthem. Our physical (and mental) fragility comes to the forefront on the beautifully bittersweet “An Accident,” a tender ballad balancing tragedy with hope:

Meanwhile in “Space Baby,” Soda Blonde breathe fresh energy into a song about love, honesty, and claustrophobia, by quite literally removing the breaths themselves: O’Regan employed a chopped production technique to the track, sucking out all the air to recreate the lyrics’ stifled sensation.

In “Why Die for Danzig,” Soda Blonde revive an anti-WWII slogan, originally written by French Neo-Socialist Marcel Déat, for a song that delves not only into war, but also into how people treat refugees differently depending on where they come from.

Ultimately, “Dream Big” is for everyone. There are many tracks here that speak to different moments, feelings, or expressions of emotion, all intricately stitched together with eloquent synths, musical arrangements, and rhythms.

Tickets are on sale now for Soda Blonde’s November ‘Dream Big’ tour.

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We Speak Music

Emerging Artist Pilar Victoria Drops Mesmerizing Track ‘Headphones’

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2024

Joni Jones

Rising artist Pilar Victoria is known for blending upbeat pop with melancholic undertones. Her latest single, “Headphones”, is here, and it’s a melodic journey through love and loss that’s bound to resonate with anyone who’s ever faced heartbreak.

Pilar Victoria, who grew up in Argentina and now calls Texas home, has a unique multicultural background that seeps into every note she sings. Her music is a beautiful tapestry of soulful melodies and deeply personal lyrics, reflecting her rich heritage and diverse experiences.

Her musical journey started young. Pilar Victoria was writing songs and playing instruments by the age of 11. Despite strict restrictions on social media usage, her passion couldn’t be contained. She began posting snippets of her music on TikTok, quickly gaining a loyal following. “I wasn’t allowed to be on social media growing up, but I decided to be anyways,” Pilar Victoria reveals. “I posted small clips of my songs on TikTok and got a lot of positive attention. It led me to release music on Spotify. I even had to convince my parents to support me financially for the distributor service.”

Now, with “Headphones”, Pilar offers us her take on love and loss. The song, co-written with Nowels in Santa Monica, combines the melancholy of heartbreak with an infectious pop beat. Pilar explains, “I wrote this song during a tough time. I wanted to block out all the pain and intense emotions I was feeling, and putting on headphones became a metaphor for tuning out the world and being alone with my thoughts.”