Walking On Cars's Patrick Sheehy talks with Olaf Tyaransen about the band's rapid growth, breaking the US & UK music scenes, and a double platinum-selling debut.

"The twenty-something singer and main songwriter – known as “Pa” to his nearest and dearest – is holed up in an isolated rented house a few kilometers outside his hometown. The last time Hot Press met him face-to-face was back in January during the Eurosonic festival in Groningen, the day after Jools Holland had presented the band with a European Border Breakers Award (EBBA), at a widely televised awards ceremony."

Sheehy has some strong opinions...

"Patrick Sheehy may not have a huge interest in politics, but he does have an opinion on Kerry TD Danny Healy Rae’s recent comments on drink driving.
“He said that two or three glasses of Guinness won’t impair your driving,” he scoffs. “I think it’s ridiculous. It’s almost embarrassing. Obviously this is a huge subject in the country, and obviously alcohol hinders your ability, whether you have a pint, two pints or three pints. Some people would fall over after three pints, and some people can have five pints and drive home."

There's some reflection on the band's biggest moment...

“Doing the 3Arena in Dublin was properly the pinnacle of it all so far,” he reflects. “It was on our ‘to do’ list since we started the band. All these big artists play there, so it was always in our minds from the start. Obviously when we did start off it seemed like such a long way away, and so when we got to play there and fill it out… well, it was a pretty amazing feeling.”

Read it all in the latest Hot Press!

Look for the magazine on racks across Ireland, Buy 41-07: Walking On Cars Special direct from hotpress.com, or download the iOS app for iPad.