Soda Blonde Dream Big Via Bad Machine

by | Aug 14, 2023

Irish indie alt-pop favourites Soda Blonde have revealed the music video for their latest single Bad Machine, the first from the band’s upcoming sophomore album, Dream Big, which drops on 8th September.

Soda Blonde (Press)

Soda Blonde (Press)
Soda Blonde (Press)

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.

When discussing the single’s new music video, guitarist Adam O’Regan writes: “For this video we wanted to explore the idea of ‘malfunction’. In an age of increasing automation, artificial intelligence etc, it’s easy to imagine the many ways things could go awry. But also, we just wanted to break stuff! Our talented & hardworking production designers built the set in 2 days, and we destroyed it in 10 mins of 16mm film.”

Check out the video below:

Born following the disbandment of frontwoman Faye O’Rourke and bass-man Donagh Seaver O’Leary’s folk-driven favourites Little Green Cars, Soda Blonde have grown tremendously in the years since their debut, and it shows. Whereas 2021’s Small Talk was an anxiety-fuelled coming-of-age record about navigating our twenties, Dream Big is a mature awakening to the world at large; one that dives deeper and hits harder than its predecessor.

Little Green Cars @ Scala

Faye O'Rourke with Little Green Cars (Kalpesh Patel)
Faye O'Rourke with Little Green Cars (Kalpesh Patel)

Dream Big is as much a product of self-reflective reckoning as it is one of submission, and both of these experiences are borne out in its songs. Soda Blonde begins Dream Big by asking what they’re willing to sacrifice in order to achieve their dreams, and as the album continues, they wrestle with the sheer weight of that question.

Upcoming 2023 UK & Ireland tour dates:

NOVEMBER
22nd – Lexington, London
24th – Róisín Dubh, Gallway
25th – Dolans Warehouse, Limerick
26th – Connolly’s of Leap, Cork
30th – Cyprus Avenue, Cork

DECEMBER
7th – The Black Box, Belfast
8th – The Spirit Store, Dundalk
14th – Vicar Street, Dublin

Photography of Little Green Cars by Kalpesh Patel

King Princess Finds Safety At Koko

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless @ Brixton Academy (Kalpesh Patel)

The Pretty Reckless Announce New Album ‘Dear God’, Share Punk-Driven Single ‘When I Wake Up’ And Confirm 2026 UK Tour

New York rock outfit The Pretty Reckless have unveiled details of their upcoming album Dear God, set for release on 26th June 2026 via Fearless Records. Alongside the announcement, the band have shared the album’s explosive lead single When I Wake Up and confirmed a run of UK headline shows for later this year.

President @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday (Adam Rossi)

Therapy? Announced As Friday Headliners For Takedown Festival 2026 After Phil Campbell Withdrawal

Northern Irish alt-rock veterans Therapy? have been confirmed as the new Friday night main stage headliners for Takedown Festival 2026, following the unfortunate withdrawal of Phil Campbell and his band Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons due to Campbell’s ill health.

Alana Springsteen @ The Long Road Festival 2025 (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Alana Springsteen: Turning Vulnerability Into Strength

When I caught Alana Springsteen live at the Long Road Festival last summer, the performance felt like something...
Gouge Away (Ian Enger)

Gouge Away Share New Single ‘Figurine’ And Sign To Run For Cover Records

Florida noise rock outfit Gouge Away have announced a new chapter in their career, signing to Run For Cover Records and unveiling the explosive new single Figurine.

Grade 2 (Christopher Bethell)

Grade 2 Confront Mental Health Struggles On New Single ‘Better Today’ Ahead Of Album ‘Talk About It’

Isle of Wight punk trio Grade 2 have released their powerful new single Better Today, offering another preview of their forthcoming album Talk About It, set for release on 3rd April.

Charlotte Sands (Juan Flores)

Charlotte Sands Shares ‘None Of My Business’ Video Following Release Of New Album ‘Satellite’

Alt-pop powerhouse Charlotte Sands has unveiled the official music video for None Of My Business, a standout track from her newly released album Satellite.

Rick McMurray (Ron Mickson)

Ash’s Rick McMurray Launches Solo Project Burned As Witches With Debut Album And New Single ‘Hold Your Nerve’

Rick McMurray, best known as the powerhouse drummer for Northern Irish rock trio Ash, has unveiled his new solo project Burned As Witches alongside the release of its debut single, Hold Your Nerve.

Tarragon (Chung Duc Minh)

Tarragon Shares New Single ‘Tucked In Despair’ Ahead Of Upcoming Album Home At Cofa’s

Coventry-based artist Tarragon has unveiled his latest single, Tucked In Despair, the newest preview of his forthcoming album Home At Cofa’s, set for release on 1st May.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing