We caught up with Faye O'Rourke of Soda Blonde to discuss upcoming music festivals, the importance of supporting Irish talent, and the need for vulnerability in art.
After a long two years of festivals and concerts being cancelled due to the COVID-10 pandemic, music fans around the country are rejoicing as a summer filled with gigs lays before them.
Speaking with Faye O'Rourke of Soda Blonde, it seems that the musicians are just as excited:
"Its amazing, every weekend there's something. I want to go to them as a punter, so I'll probably be hanging around every single festival that we play. I'll be wrecked, but I'm really excited. Its been so long, we haven't had time to properly tour this album."
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The album in question, Small Talk, was released on July 9, 2021, and was the band's first album... of sorts.
O'Rourke's former band, Little Green Cars, came to an end in March of 2019 and Soda Blonde - featuring all four members of LGC, sans lead singer Stevie Appleby - was born from the ashes.
With COVID-19 restrictions firmly eased, the group (singer O'Rourke, guitarist Adam O'Regan, drummer Dylan Lynch and bassist Donagh Seaver-O'Leary) say they are more than ready to perform for their fans.
"Festivals are so chaotic, you don't have the chance to be nervous," Faye explains. "You're not getting the sound check, you just check the instruments and go. Everyone's in it together, it's just so exciting."
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One of the band's first festivals of the summer will be Beyond the Pale, Ireland's newest music and arts festival, taking place from Friday June 10th to Sunday June 12th in the valleys of the spectacular Glendalough Estate, Co Wicklow.
With less than 5,000 tickets available and an incredible line up of Irish acts, this boutique festival is set to be one to remember.
"There's so much talent and the Irish line up is the draw," says O'Rourke. "It's so great that we have so much talent that it's the main attraction. And can you think of a better location? That's the top place to be in general let alone have a music festival. Out of all the festivals, I'm excited about that one."
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"There's a revival in Irish music and the love of the sound," she continues, reflecting on the current state of Ireland's music scene. "Traditional sounding Irish music and folk music has come back in vogue, and that's really revitalising because it's tribal."
"I think bands are more supportive of each other and there's more collaboration going on than I remember when I started. Maybe its the age I was at, I was a teenager, but there were bands emulating Brit Pop or Americana Folk and that kind of thing, and there was a competitiveness."
"Now I think there's just a lot more love in the community and a lot of collaborations."
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One artist in the Irish community that has shown O'Rourke support is Sinead O'Connor, an iconic singer who asked the band to open for her in the Iveagh Gardens this Summer.
At time of writing, the status of the upcoming gig remain unknown as O'Connor tragically lost her 17-year-old son this past January, and has suggested she won't be performing in the coming year.
No matter what she decides, Faye insists that the band will support her choice.
"She's so human, and the vulnerability that she's able to share... its something that I feel is lacking now. Being a good person seems to be the priority right now. We all have our s**t, we all have our things and I think she's somebody I've always looked up to because she says it like it is."
"Yes, she has her ups and downs, but that's what an artist is. An artist is somebody who exposes and emotionally mines all that stuff and is vulnerable, and we need that.
"I'll be behind whatever decision she comes to. If that gig gets pulled, I'll support the decision."
For more information on Beyond the Pale, click here.
